Edgar Filing: CREE INC

Document

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________________________________

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)



ý	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the fiscal year ended June 26, 2016



¨	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 0-21154

__________________________________________

CREE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



North Carolina		56-1572719
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

4600 Silicon Drive Durham, North Carolina		27703
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(919) 407-5300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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



Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.00125 par value		The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights		The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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

None

__________________________________________

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý 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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):



Large accelerated filer	ý	Accelerated filer	¨

Non-accelerated filer	¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

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

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of December 24, 2015, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $2,821,982,837 (based on the closing sale price of $27.96 per share).

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.00125 par value per share, outstanding as of August 22, 2016 was 100,850,243.

__________________________________________

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held October 26, 2016 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

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CREE, INC.

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended June 26, 2016

INDEX



		Page
Part I
Item 1.	Business	4

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	10

Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	23

Item 2.	Properties	24

Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	24

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	24

Part II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	25

Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	27

Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	28

Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	46

Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	47

Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	86

Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	87

Item 9B.	Other Information	87

Part III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	88

Item 11.	Executive Compensation	88

Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	88

Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	88

Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	88

PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	89

SIGNATURES		92

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Forward-Looking Information

Information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). All information contained in this report relative to future markets for our products and trends in and anticipated levels of revenue, gross margins and expenses, as well as other statements containing words such as “believe,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and other similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to business, economic and other risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements we make are as of the date made, and except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), we have no duty to update them if our views later change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this Annual Report. Examples of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical performance and any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report.

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PART I

Item 1. Business

Overview

Cree, Inc. (Cree, we, our, or us) is a leading innovator of lighting-class light emitting diode (LED) products, lighting products and wide bandgap semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications. Our products are targeted for applications such as indoor and outdoor lighting, video displays, transportation, electronic signs and signals, power supplies, inverters and wireless systems. As discussed more fully below, we operate in three reportable segments: Lighting Products, LED Products and Power and RF Products.

Our lighting products primarily consist of LED lighting systems and bulbs. We design, manufacture and sell lighting fixtures and lamps for the commercial, industrial and consumer markets.

Our LED products consist of LED components, LED chips and silicon carbide (SiC) materials. Our LED products enable our customers to develop and market LED-based products for lighting, video screens and other industrial applications.

In addition, we develop, manufacture and sell power and RF devices based on wide bandgap semiconductor materials such as SiC and gallium nitride (GaN). Our power products are made from SiC and provide increased efficiency, faster switching speeds and reduced system size and weight over comparable silicon-based power devices. Our RF devices are made from GaN and provide improved efficiency, bandwidth and frequency of operation as compared to silicon or gallium arsenide (GaAs).

As discussed more fully below in “Recent Developments,” on July 13, 2016, we executed a definitive agreement to sell our Power and RF Products segment and certain related portions of our SiC materials and gemstones business included in our LED Products segment to Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon).

The majority of our products are manufactured at our production facilities located in North Carolina, Wisconsin and China. We also use contract manufacturers for certain products and aspects of product fabrication, assembly and packaging. We operate research and development facilities in North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, India, Italy and China (including Hong Kong).

Cree, Inc. is a North Carolina corporation established in 1987 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. For further information about our consolidated revenue and earnings, please see our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Recent Developments

On July 13, 2016, we executed an Asset Purchase Agreement (the APA) with Infineon. The transaction, which was approved by both our Board of Directors and Infineon’s Supervisory Board, is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2016, subject to customary closing conditions and governmental approvals.

Pursuant to the APA, we will sell to Infineon, and Infineon will (i) purchase from us (a) the assets comprising our Power and RF Products segment, including manufacturing facilities and equipment, inventory, intellectual property rights, contracts, real estate, and the outstanding equity interests of Cree Fayetteville, Inc, one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and (b) certain non-LED related portions of our SiC materials and gemstones business included within our LED Products segment (we refer to the business that we are selling, collectively, as our Wolfspeed Business) and (ii) assume certain liabilities related to the Wolfspeed business. We will retain certain liabilities associated with the Wolfspeed business arising prior to the closing of the transaction. Infineon is expected to hire most of our approximately 545 Wolfspeed employees either at the closing of the transaction or following a transition period.

The purchase price for the Wolfspeed business will be $850 million in cash, which is subject to certain adjustments. In connection with the transaction, we will also enter into certain ancillary and related agreements with Infineon, including (i) an intellectual property assignment and license agreement, which will assign to Infineon certain intellectual property that we own and license to Infineon certain additional intellectual property that we own, (ii) a transition services agreement, which is designed to ensure a smooth transition of the Wolfspeed business to Infineon, and (iii) a wafer supply agreement, pursuant to which we will supply Infineon with silicon carbide wafers and silicon carbide boules for a transitional period of time.

The APA contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants to cooperate in seeking regulatory approvals, as well as our agreement to not compete with the Wolfspeed business for five years following the closing of the transaction and to indemnify Infineon for certain damages that Infineon may suffer following the closing of the transaction.

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Infineon’s obligation to purchase the Wolfspeed business is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions set forth in the APA, including regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and certain similar non-U.S. regulations, the approval of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and other customary closing conditions. The APA provides for customary termination rights of the parties and also provides that in the event the APA is terminated for certain specified regulatory-related circumstances, Infineon may be required to pay us a termination fee ranging from $12.5 million to $42.5 million.

Reportable Segments

Our three reportable segments are:


•	Lighting Products


•	LED Products


•	Power and RF Products

Reportable segments are components of an entity that have separate financial data that the entity’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) regularly reviews when allocating resources and assessing performance. Our CODM is the Chief Executive Officer.

For financial results by reportable segment, please refer to Note 14, “Reportable Segments,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Products by Reportable Segment

Lighting Products Segment

Lighting Products revenue was $889.1 million, $906.5 million, and $706.4 million, representing 55%, 55%, and 43% of our revenue for the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. Lighting Products gross profit was $238.2 million, $235.5 million and $197.3 million and gross margin was 27%, 26% and 28% for the fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Our Lighting Products segment primarily consists of LED lighting systems and bulbs. We design, manufacture and sell lighting systems for indoor and outdoor applications, with our primary focus on LED lighting systems for the commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Lighting products are sold to distributors, retailers and direct to customers. Our portfolio of lighting products is designed for use in settings such as office and retail space, restaurants and hospitality, schools and universities, manufacturing, healthcare, airports, municipal, residential, street lighting and parking structures, among other applications.

LED Products Segment

LED Products revenue was $610.8 million, $602.1 million and $833.7 million representing 38%, 37%, and 51% of revenue for the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. LED Products gross profit was $212.4 million, $190.9 million and $381.0 million and gross margin was 35%, 32% and 46% for the fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Our LED Products segment includes LED chips, LED components and SiC materials.

LED Chips

Our LED chip products include blue and green LED chips based on GaN and related materials. LED chips or die are solid state electronic components used in a number of applications and are currently available in a variety of brightness levels, wavelengths (colors) and sizes. We use our LED chips in the manufacturing of our LED components. Customers use our blue and green LED chips in a variety of applications including video screens, gaming displays, function indicator lights and automotive backlights, headlamps and directional indicators. Customers may also combine our blue LED chips with phosphors to create white LEDs, which are used in various applications for indoor and outdoor illumination and backlighting, full-color display screens, liquid crystal display (LCD) backlighting, white keypads and the camera flash function.

LED Components

Our LED components include a range of packaged LED products, from our XLamp^® LED components and LED modules for lighting applications to our high-brightness LED components.

Our XLamp LED components and LED modules are designed to meet a broad range of market needs for lighting applications including general illumination (both indoor and outdoor applications), portable, architectural, signal and transportation lighting.

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We use our XLamp LED components in our own lighting products. We also sell XLamp LED components externally to customers and distributors for use in a variety of products, primarily for lighting applications.

Our high-brightness LED components consist of surface mount (SMD) and through-hole packaged LED products. Our SMD LED component products are available in a full range of colors designed to meet a broad range of market needs, including video, signage, general illumination, transportation, gaming and specialty lighting. Our through-hole packaged LED component products are available in a full range of colors primarily designed for the signage market and provide users with color and brightness consistency across a wide viewing area.

SiC Materials

Our SiC materials are targeted for customers who use them to manufacture products for RF, power switching, gemstones and other applications. Corporate, government and university customers also buy SiC materials for research and development directed at RF and high power devices. We sell our SiC materials in bulk form, as a bare wafer and with SiC or GaN epitaxial films.

Power and RF Products Segment

Power and RF Products revenue was $116.7 million, $123.9 million, and $107.5 million, representing 7%, 8% and 6% of our revenue for the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. Power and RF Products gross profit was $56.1 million, $67.8 million and $60.7 million and gross margin was 48%, 55% and 56% for the fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Our Power and RF Products segment includes power devices and RF devices.

Power Devices

Our SiC-based power products include Schottky diodes, SiC metal semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), and SiC power modules at various voltages. Our power products provide increased efficiency, faster switching speeds and reduced system size and weight over comparable silicon-based power devices. Power products are sold primarily to customers and distributors for use in power supplies used in computer servers, solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies, industrial power supplies and other applications. We are working to develop additional and improved SiC-based power device solutions to expand the potential uses and applications for our products.

RF Devices

Our RF products include a variety of GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), which are optimized for military, telecom and other commercial applications. Our RF devices are made from SiC and GaN and provide improved efficiency, bandwidths and frequency of operation as compared to silicon or GaAs. We also provide custom die manufacturing for GaN HEMTs and MMICs that allow a customer to design its own custom RF circuits to be fabricated by us, or have us design and fabricate products that meet their specific requirements.

Financial Information about Geographic Areas of Customers and Assets

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from product sales to international customers. For information concerning geographic areas of our customers and geographic information concerning our long-lived assets, please see Note 14, “Reportable Segments,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. International operations expose us to risks that are different from operating in the United States, including foreign currency translation and transaction risk, risk of changes in tax laws, application of import/export laws and regulations and other risks described further in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of this Annual Report.

Research and Development

We invest significant resources in research and development. Our research and development activity includes efforts to:


•	increase the quality, performance and diameter of our substrate and epitaxial materials;


•	continually improve our manufacturing processes;


•	develop brighter, more efficient and lower cost LED chip and component products;


•	create new, and improve existing, LED components;


•	improve existing LED lighting products and develop new LED lighting systems and related controls; and


•	develop higher power diodes/switches and higher power/linearity RF devices.

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When our customers participate in funding our research and development programs, we recognize the amount funded as a reduction of research and development expenses to the extent that our customers’ funding does not exceed our respective research and development costs. Research and development expenses were $168.8 million, $182.8 million and $181.4 million for the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. For further information about our research and development, see “Research and Development” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

Sales and Marketing

We continue to make investments to expand our sales, marketing, technical applications support, and distribution capabilities to sell our lighting products and further enable new and existing customers to implement LED and power technology into their products. We also continue to make investments to promote and build market awareness of the Cree brand. Our sales, marketing and technical applications teams include personnel throughout North America, Asia and Europe.

Customers

We have historically had a few key customers who represented more than 10% of our consolidated revenue. In fiscal 2016, revenue from Arrow Electronics, Inc. (Arrow) accounted for 10% of our total consolidated revenue. In fiscal 2015, revenue from Arrow and The Home Depot, Inc. (Home Depot) accounted for 12% and 11% of our total consolidated revenue, respectively. In fiscal 2014, revenue from Arrow and Home Depot accounted for 13% and 11% of our total consolidated revenue. Arrow is a customer of our LED Products and Power and RF Products segments. Home Depot is a customer of our Lighting Products segment. For further discussion regarding customer concentration, please see Note 15, “Concentrations of Risk,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. The loss of any large customer could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Distribution

A substantial portion of our products are sold to distributors. Distributors stock inventory and sell our products to their own customer base, which may include: value added resellers, manufacturers who incorporate our products into their own manufactured goods and ultimate end users of our products. We also utilize third-party sales representatives who generally do not maintain a product inventory; instead, their customers place orders directly with us or through distributors. We also sell a portion of our products through retailers, which stock inventory and sell our products directly to consumers.

Seasonality

Our Lighting Products segment historically has experienced, and in the future may experience, seasonally lower lighting fixture sales due to winter weather, impacting our fiscal second and third quarters. In addition, the retail lighting industry has historically had seasonally lower sales of light bulbs in the summer, which has impacted our fiscal fourth quarter and which may impact our fiscal first quarter. Our LED Products segment historically has experienced, and in the future may experience, seasonally lower sales during our fiscal third quarter due to the Chinese New Year holiday. Our Power and RF Products segment is not generally subject to seasonality.

Our sales also vary based on other factors such as customer demand and government regulation.

If anticipated sales or shipments do not occur when expected, our results of operations for that quarter, and potentially for future quarters, may be adversely affected.

Backlog

Our backlog at June 26, 2016, the last day of our 2016 fiscal year, was approximately $181.7 million, compared with a backlog of approximately $238.4 million at June 28, 2015, the last day of our 2015 fiscal year. Because of the generally short cycle time between order and shipment and occasional customer changes in delivery schedules or cancellation of orders (which at times may be made without significant penalty), we do not believe that our backlog, as of any particular date, is necessarily indicative of actual net revenue for any future period. Additionally, our June 26, 2016 backlog contained $45.0 million of research contracts signed with the U.S. Government, for which approximately $33.7 million had not been appropriated as of the last day of fiscal 2016. Our June 28, 2015 backlog contained $29.5 million of research contracts signed with the U.S. Government, for which approximately $17.6 million was not appropriated as of the last day of fiscal 2015. Our backlog could be adversely affected if

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the U.S. Government exercises its rights to terminate our government contracts or does not appropriate and allocate all of the funding contemplated by the contracts.

Sources of Raw Materials

We depend on a number of suppliers for certain raw materials, components and equipment used in manufacturing our products, including certain key materials and equipment used in critical stages of our manufacturing processes. We generally purchase these limited source items pursuant to purchase orders and have limited guaranteed supply arrangements with our suppliers. Our suppliers, located around the world, can be subject to many constraints limiting supply that are beyond our control. We believe our current supply of essential materials is sufficient to meet our needs. However, shortages have occurred from time to time and could occur again.

Competition by Reportable Segment

Our success depends on our ability to keep pace with the evolving technology standards of the industries we serve. These industries are characterized by rapid technological change, frequent introduction of new products, short product life cycles, changes in end user and customer requirements, and a competitive pricing environment. The evolving nature of these industries may render our existing or future products obsolete, noncompetitive or unmarketable. Any of these developments could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Lighting Products Segment

Our Lighting Products segment currently faces competition from traditional lighting fixture companies, lamp manufacturers and from non-traditional companies focused on LED lighting systems including fixtures and lamps. Lighting companies such as Acuity Brands, Inc., the Cooper Lighting division of Eaton Corporation plc, General Electric Company, Hubbell Incorporated, Philips and OSRAM are the main competitors in this market, but there are also many small and medium sized lighting competitors. Increasingly, other start-up companies are also beginning to emerge in the LED lighting markets in which we compete.

Our LED lighting products compete against traditional lighting products that use incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, ceramic metal halide, high pressure sodium or other lighting technologies. Our LED lighting products compete against traditional lighting products based upon superior energy savings, extended life, improved lighting quality and lower total cost of ownership. We also compete with LED-based products from traditional and non-traditional lamp and fixture companies, some of which are customers for our LED chips and LED components. Our products compete on the basis of color quality and consistency, superior light output, reduced energy consumption, brand, customer service and lower total cost of ownership.

LED Products Segment

Our LED Products segment’s primary competitors are Nichia Corporation (Nichia), OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH (OSRAM), Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Philips), and Samsung LED Company (Samsung).

LED Chips

The primary competition for our LED chip products comes from companies that manufacture and/or sell nitride-based LED chips. We consider Nichia to be a competitor because it sells LED chips to a select number of LED packaging companies and it sells packaged LEDs that most often compete directly with packaged LEDs made and sold by our chip customers. We believe, based on industry information, that Nichia currently has the largest market share for nitride-based LEDs.

There are many other LED chip producers who sell blue, green and white LED chip products, including OSRAM, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Epistar Corporation, and Sanan Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. These competitors make products for a variety of applications in a range of performance levels that compete directly with our LED chip products.

Overall, we believe that performance, price and strength of intellectual property are the most significant factors to compete successfully in the nitride LED market. We believe our products are well positioned to meet the market performance requirements; however, there is significant pricing pressure from a number of competitors, including new companies based in China. We continually strive to improve our competitive position by developing brighter and higher performing LED chips while focusing on lowering costs.

LED Components

The market for lighting class LED components is concentrated primarily in indoor and outdoor commercial lighting; specialty lighting, including torch lamps (flashlights); color changing architectural lighting; signs and signals; and transportation. Nichia, OSRAM, Lumileds Holding B.V. and Samsung are the main competitors in these markets. These companies sell LED components

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that compete indirectly with our target customers for LED chips and compete directly with our XLamp LED components and LED modules. There are a large number of other companies, primarily based in Asia, that offer products designed to compete both directly and indirectly with our LED components in lighting and other applications. We are positioning our XLamp LED components and LED modules to compete in this market based on performance, price and usability.

Our high-brightness LED components compete with a larger number of companies around the world in a variety of applications including signage, video, transportation, gaming and specialty lighting. We are positioning our high-brightness LED components to compete in this market based on performance, price, availability and usability.

SiC Materials

We have continued to maintain our well-established leadership position in the sale of SiC bulk material, SiC wafer and SiC and GaN epitaxy products. As the market adoption of the technology increases enabling greatly improved performance levels of the power device designs by our customer base, we are experiencing increased competition from companies such as Dow Corning, II-VI Advanced Materials, SiCrystal and Nippon Steel. We believe our leading technology and leveraged production scale position us to supply high yield wafers in volume to the device manufacturers in the market.

Power and RF Products Segment

Power Devices

Our SiC-based power devices compete with SiC power semiconductor solutions offered by Infineon, Microsemi Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Rohm Co. Ltd. and STMicroelectronics, Inc. Our products also compete with existing semiconductor devices offered by a variety of manufacturers. Our power products compete in the power semiconductor market on the basis of performance and reliability.

RF Devices

Our RF devices compete with M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc., Microsemi Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc. and Qorvo, Inc. which all offer GaN RF products that compete directly with our GaN HEMT products. Our products also compete with a variety of companies offering silicon and GaAs-based products. Our products compete in the RF semiconductor market on the basis of reliability, performance, design predictability and overall system price.

Patents and Other Intellectual Property Rights

We believe it is important to protect our investment in technology by obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights, including rights under patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright laws. We seek to protect inventions we consider significant by applying for patents in the United States and other countries when appropriate. We have also acquired, through license grants, purchases and assignments, rights to patents on inventions originally developed by others. As of June 26, 2016, we owned or were the exclusive licensee of 1,821 issued U.S. patents and approximately 2,978 foreign patents with various expiration dates extending up to 2040. We do not consider our business to be materially dependent upon any one patent, and we believe our business will not be materially adversely affected by the expiration of any one patent. For proprietary technology that is not patented, we generally seek to protect the technology and related know-how and information as trade secrets by keeping confidential the information that we believe provides us with a competitive advantage. We attempt to create strong brands for our products and promote our products through trademarks that distinguish them in the market. We may license our customers to use our trademarks in connection with the sale of our products, and we monitor for the proper and authorized use of our marks.

Licensing activities and lawsuits to enforce intellectual property rights, particularly patent rights, are a common aspect of the semiconductor, LED and lighting industries, and we attempt to ensure respect for our intellectual property rights through appropriate actions. The breadth of our intellectual property rights and the extent to which they can be successfully enforced varies across jurisdictions. We both make and receive inquiries regarding possible patent infringements and possible violations of other intellectual property rights in the normal course of business. Depending on the circumstances, we may seek to negotiate a license or other acceptable resolution. If we are unable to achieve a resolution by agreement, we may seek to enforce our rights or defend our position through litigation. Patent litigation in particular is expensive and the outcome is often uncertain. We believe that the strength of our portfolio of patent rights is important in helping us resolve or avoid such disputes with other companies in our industry.

Environmental Regulation

We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. These include statutory and regulatory provisions under which we are responsible for the management of hazardous materials we use and the disposition of hazardous wastes resulting from our manufacturing processes. Failure to comply with such provisions could result in fines and other liabilities to the government or

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third parties, injunctions requiring us to suspend or curtail operations or other remedies, and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Working Capital

For a discussion of our working capital practices, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

Employees

As of June 26, 2016, we employed 6,237 regular full and part-time employees. We also employ individuals on a temporary full-time basis and use the services of contractors as necessary. Certain of our employees in various countries outside of the United States are subject to laws providing representation rights.

Available Information

Our website address is www.cree.com. We make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including Interactive Data Files, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC. These reports may be accessed from our website by following the links under “Investors,” then “SEC Filings.” The information found on our website is not part of this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC. We have no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report or in other reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless we are required to do so by law. A copy of this Annual Report and our other reports is available without charge upon written request to Investor Relations, Cree, Inc., 4600 Silicon Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27703.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Described below are various risks and uncertainties that may affect our business. If any of the risks described below actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Our operating results are substantially dependent on the development and acceptance of new products.

Our future success may depend on our ability to develop new, higher performing and lower cost solutions for existing and new markets and for customers to accept those solutions. We must introduce new products in a timely and cost-effective manner, and we must secure production orders for those products from our customers. The development of new products is a highly complex process, and we have in some instances experienced delays in completing the development and introduction of new products, , which impacted our results for our fiscal third quarter and beyond. Our research and development efforts are aimed at solving increasingly complex problems, and we do not expect that all of our projects will be successful. The successful development, introduction and acceptance of new products depend on a number of factors, including the following:


•	achievement of technology breakthroughs required to make commercially viable devices;


•	the accuracy of our predictions for market requirements;


•	our ability to predict, influence and/or react to evolving standards;


•	acceptance of our new product designs;


•	acceptance of new technology in certain markets;


•	the availability of qualified research and development personnel;


•	our timely completion of product designs and development;


•	our ability to develop repeatable processes to manufacture new products in sufficient quantities, with the desired specifications and at competitive costs;


•	our ability to effectively transfer products and technology from development to manufacturing;


•	our customers’ ability to develop competitive products incorporating our products; and

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•	market acceptance of our products and our customers’ products.

If any of these or other similar factors becomes problematic, we may not be able to develop and introduce new products in a timely or cost-effective manner.

We operate in industries that are subject to significant fluctuation in supply and demand and ultimately pricing that affects our revenue and profitability.

The LED lighting industry is in the relatively early stages of adoption and is characterized by constant and rapid technological change, rapid product obsolescence and price erosion, evolving standards, short product life-cycles and fluctuations in product supply and demand. The LED industry has experienced significant fluctuations, often in connection with, or in anticipation of, product cycles and changes in general economic conditions. As the markets for our products mature, additional fluctuations may result from variability and consolidations within the industry’s customer base. These fluctuations have been characterized by lower product demand, production overcapacity, higher inventory levels and increased pricing pressure. These fluctuations have also been characterized by higher demand for key components and equipment used in, or in the manufacture of, our products resulting in longer lead times, supply delays and production disruptions.

We have experienced these conditions in our business and may experience such conditions in the future, which could have a material negative impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition. For example, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, we commenced a restructuring plan for our LED business that reduced excess capacity and overhead as well as increased reserves as the result of a more aggressive pricing environment. The restructuring activity ended in the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

In addition, as we diversify our product offerings and as pricing differences in the average selling prices among our product lines widen, a change in the mix of sales among our product lines may increase volatility in our revenue and gross margin from period to period.

We face significant challenges managing our growth as the market adopts LEDs for general lighting.

Our potential for growth depends significantly on the adoption of LEDs within the general lighting market and our ability to affect this rate of adoption. In order to manage our growth and business strategy effectively relative to the uncertain pace of adoption, we must continue to:


•	expand the capability of information systems to support a more complex business;


•	maintain, expand and purchase adequate manufacturing facilities and equipment, as well as secure sufficient third-party manufacturing resources, to meet customer demand;


•	manage an increasingly complex supply chain that has the ability to scale to maintain a sufficient supply of raw materials and deliver on time to our manufacturing facilities or our third party manufacturing facilities;


•	expand research and development, sales and marketing, technical support, distribution capabilities, manufacturing planning and administrative functions;


•	manage organizational complexity and communication;


•	expand the skills and capabilities of our current management team;


•	add experienced senior level managers;


•	attract and retain qualified employees; and


•	adequately maintain and adjust the operational and financial controls that support our business.

We are also increasingly dependent on information technology to enable us to improve the effectiveness of our operations and to maintain financial accuracy and efficiency. For example, the implementation of a new information technology platform at our Racine operations in our 2016 fiscal third quarter led to service interruptions that resulted in lower commercial lighting orders and revenues during that quarter and beyond. Allocation and effective management of the resources necessary to successfully implement, integrate, train personnel and sustain this new platform will remain critical to ensure that we are not subject to transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, loss of customers, business disruptions or loss of or damage to intellectual property through security breach in the near term. Additionally, we face these same risks if we fail to allocate and effectively manage the resources necessary to build, implement, upgrade, integrate and sustain appropriate technology infrastructure over the longer term.

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While we intend to focus on managing our costs and expenses, over the long term we expect to invest to support our growth and may have additional unexpected costs. Such investments take time to become fully operational, and we may not be able to expand quickly enough to exploit targeted market opportunities. In addition to our own manufacturing capacity, we are increasingly utilizing contract manufacturers and original design manufacturers (ODMs) to produce our products for us. There are also inherent execution risks in starting up a new factory or expanding production capacity, whether one of our own factories or that of our contract manufacturers or ODMs, that could increase costs and reduce our operating results, including design and construction cost overruns, poor production process yields and reduced quality control.

In connection with our efforts to cost-effectively manage our growth, we have also increasingly relied on contractors for production capacity, logistics support and certain administrative functions including hosting of certain information technology software applications. If our contract manufacturers, ODMs or other service providers do not perform effectively, we may not be able to achieve the expected cost savings and may incur additional costs to correct errors or fulfill customer demand. Depending on the function involved, such errors may also lead to business disruption, processing inefficiencies, the loss of or damage to intellectual property through security breach, or an impact on employee morale. Our operations may also be negatively impacted if any of these contract manufacturers, ODMs or other service providers do not have the financial capability to meet our growing needs.

We are subject to a number of risks associated with the proposed sale of the Wolfspeed business, and these risks could adversely impact our operations, financial condition and business.

On July 13, 2016, we executed an APA with Infineon to sell the Wolfspeed business. We are subject to a number of risks associated with this transaction, including risks associated with:


•	the failure to obtain, on a timely basis or at all, the regulatory approvals required to complete the transaction without the imposition of conditions that may cause the parties to abandon the transaction, or the failure to satisfy, on a timely basis or at all, the other closing conditions set forth in the APA;


•	the disruption to and uncertainty in our business and our relationships with our customers, including attempts by our customers to renegotiate their relationships with us or decisions by our customers to defer or delay purchases from us;


•	the diversion of our management’s attention away from the operation of the businesses we are retaining;


•	difficulties in hiring, retaining and motivating key personnel during this process or as a result of uncertainties generated by this process or any developments or actions relating to it;


•	our incurrence of significant transaction costs in connection with the transaction, regardless of whether it is completed;


•	the restrictions on and obligations with respect to our business set forth in the APA and, following closing, the transition services agreement and the wafer supply agreement;


•	the separation of the Wolfspeed business from the businesses we are retaining and the operation of our retained businesses without the Wolfspeed business;


•	any required payments of indemnification obligations under the APA for retained liabilities and breaches of representations, warranties or covenants;


•	fluctuations in our market value, including the depreciation in our market value if the transaction is not completed or the failure of the transaction, even if completed, to increase our market value;


•	failure to realize the full purchase price anticipated under the APA;

As a result of these risks, we may be unable to complete the transaction or realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including the total amount of cash we expect to realize. Our failure to complete the transaction or realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction would adversely impact our operations, financial condition and business and could limit our ability to pursue strategic transactions or engage in stock repurchases.

If we are unable to effectively develop, manage and expand our sales channels for our products, our operating results may suffer.

We have expanded into business channels that are different from those in which we have historically operated as we grow our business and sell more lighting and LED products. Lighting sales agents have in the past and may in the future choose to drop our product lines from their portfolios to avoid losing access to our competitors’ lighting products, resulting in a disruption in the

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project pipeline and lower than targeted sales for our lighting products. Lighting sales agents have the ability to shift business to different suppliers within their product portfolios based on a number of factors, including customer service and new product availability. We sell a portion of our lighting products through retailers who may alter their promotional pricing or inventory strategies, which could impact our targeted sales of these products. If we are unable to effectively penetrate these channels or develop alternate channels to ensure our products are reaching the intended customer base, our financial results may be adversely impacted. In addition, if we successfully penetrate or develop these channels, we cannot guarantee that customers will accept our products or that we will be able to manufacture and deliver them in the timeline established by our customers.

We sell a substantial portion of our products to distributors. We rely on distributors to develop and expand their customer base as well as anticipate demand from their customers. If they are not successful, our growth and profitability may be adversely impacted. Distributors must balance the need to have enough products in stock in order to meet their customers’ needs against their internal target inventory levels and the risk of potential inventory obsolescence. The risks of inventory obsolescence are especially relevant to technological products. The distributors’ internal target inventory levels vary depending on market cycles and a number of factors within each distributor over which we have very little, if any, control. Distributors also have the ability to shift business to different manufacturers within their product portfolios based on a number of factors, including new product availability and performance.

We typically recognize revenue on products sold to distributors when the item is shipped and title passes to the distributor (sell-in method). Certain distributors have limited rights to return inventory under stock rotation programs and have limited price protection rights for which we make estimates. We evaluate inventory levels in the distribution channel, current economic trends and other related factors in order to account for these factors in our judgments and estimates. As inventory levels and product return trends change, we may have to revise our estimates and incur additional costs, and our gross margins and operating results could be adversely impacted.

The markets in which we operate are highly competitive and have evolving technical requirements.

The markets for our products are highly competitive. In the LED market, we compete with companies that manufacture and sell LED chips and LED components. In the lighting market, we compete with companies that manufacture and sell traditional and LED lighting products, many of which have larger and more established sales channels. Competitors continue to offer new products with aggressive pricing, additional features and improved performance. Competitive pricing pressures remain a challenge and continue to accelerate the rate of decline of our sales prices, particularly in our LED Products segment. Aggressive pricing actions by our competitors in our lighting business could reduce margins if we are not able to reduce costs at an equal or greater rate than the sales price decline.

With the growth potential for LEDs, we will continue to face increased competition in the future across our businesses. If the investment in capacity exceeds the growth in demand, such as exists in the current LED market, the LED market is likely to become more competitive with additional pricing pressures. Additionally, new technologies could emerge or improvements could be made in existing technologies that may also reduce the demand for lighting and LEDs in certain markets. There are also new technologies, such as organic LEDs (OLEDs), which could potentially reduce LED demand for backlighting, potentially impacting the overall LED market.

As competition increases, we need to continue to develop new products that meet or exceed the needs of our customers. Therefore, our ability to continually produce more efficient, higher brightness and lower cost LEDs and lighting products that meet the evolving needs of our customers will be critical to our success. Competitors may also try to align with some of our strategic customers. This could lead to lower prices for our products, reduced demand for our products and a corresponding reduction in our ability to recover development, engineering and manufacturing costs. Any of these developments could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our results of operations, financial condition and business could be harmed if we are unable to balance customer demand and capacity.

As customer demand for our products changes, we must be able to adjust our production capacity to meet demand. We are continually taking steps to address our manufacturing capacity needs for our products. If we are not able to increase or decrease our production capacity at our targeted rate or if there are unforeseen costs associated with adjusting our capacity levels, we may not be able to achieve our financial targets. In addition, as we introduce new products and change product generations, we must balance the production and inventory of prior generation products with the production and inventory of new generation products, whether manufactured by us or our contract manufacturers, to maintain a product mix that will satisfy customer demand and mitigate the risk of incurring cost write-downs on the previous generation products, related raw materials and tooling.

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Due to the proportionately high fixed cost nature of our business (such as facility costs), if demand does not materialize at the rate forecasted, we may not be able to scale back our manufacturing expenses or overhead costs to correspond to the demand. This could result in lower margins and adversely impact our business and results of operations. Additionally, if product demand decreases or we fail to forecast demand accurately, our results may be adversely impacted due to higher costs resulting from lower factory utilization, causing higher fixed costs per unit produced. Further, we may be required to recognize impairments on our long-lived assets or recognize excess inventory write-off charges, as we did in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. We may in the future be required to recognize excess capacity charges, which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.

In addition, our efforts to improve quoted delivery lead-time performance may result in corresponding reductions in order backlog. A decline in backlog levels could result in more variability and less predictability in our quarter-to-quarter net revenue and operating results.

If our products fail to perform or fail to meet customer requirements or expectations, we could incur significant additional costs, including costs associated with the recall of those items.

The manufacture of our products involves highly complex processes. Our customers specify quality, performance and reliability standards that we must meet. If our products do not meet these standards, we may be required to replace or rework the products. In some cases, our products may contain undetected defects or flaws that only become evident after shipment. Even if our products meet standard specifications, our customers may attempt to use our products in applications for which they were not designed or in products that were not designed or manufactured properly, resulting in product failures and creating customer satisfaction issues.

We have experienced product quality, performance or reliability problems from time to time and defects or failures may occur in the future. If failures or defects occur, they could result in significant losses or product recalls due to:


•	costs associated with the removal, collection and destruction of the product;


•	payments made to replace product;


•	costs associated with repairing the product;


•	the write-down or destruction of existing inventory;


•	insurance recoveries that fail to cover the full costs associated with product recalls;


•	lost sales due to the unavailability of product for a period of time;


•	delays, cancellations or rescheduling of orders for our products; or


•	increased product returns.

A significant product recall could also result in adverse publicity, damage to our reputation and a loss of customer or consumer confidence in our products. We also may be the target of product liability lawsuits or regulatory proceedings by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and could suffer losses from a significant product liability judgment or adverse CPSC finding against us if the use of our products at issue is determined to have caused injury or contained a substantial product hazard.

We provide warranty periods ranging from 90 days to 10 years on our products. The standard warranty on nearly all of our new LED lighting products, which now represent the majority of our revenue, is 10 years. Although we believe our reserves are appropriate, we are making projections about the future reliability of new products and technologies, and we may experience increased variability in warranty claims. Increased warranty claims could result in significant losses due to a rise in warranty expense and costs associated with customer support.

Global economic conditions could materially adversely impact demand for our products and services.

Our operations and performance depend significantly on worldwide economic conditions. Uncertainty about global economic conditions could result in customers postponing purchases of our products and services in response to tighter credit, unemployment, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values and other macroeconomic factors, which could have a material negative effect on demand for our products and services and, accordingly, on our business, results of operations or financial condition. For example, any economic and political uncertainty caused by the United Kingdom's impending exit from the European Union may negatively impact demand for our products.

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Additionally, our international sales are subject to variability as our selling prices become less competitive in countries with currencies that are declining in value against the U.S. Dollar and more competitive in countries with currencies that are increasing in value against the U.S. Dollar. In addition, our international purchases can become more expensive if the U.S. Dollar weakens against the foreign currencies in which we are billed.

We rely on a number of key sole source and limited source suppliers and are subject to high price volatility on certain commodity inputs, variations in parts quality, and raw material consistency and availability.

We depend on a number of sole source and limited source suppliers for certain raw materials, components, services and equipment used in manufacturing our products, including key materials and equipment used in critical stages of our manufacturing processes. Although alternative sources generally exist for these items, qualification of many of these alternative sources could take up to six months or longer. Where possible, we attempt to identify and qualify alternative sources for our sole and limited source suppliers.

We generally purchase these sole or limited source items with purchase orders, and we have limited guaranteed supply arrangements with such suppliers. Some of our sources can have variations in attributes and availability which can affect our ability to produce products in sufficient volume or quality. We do not control the time and resources that these suppliers devote to our business, and we cannot be sure that these suppliers will perform their obligations to us. Additionally, general shortages in the marketplace of certain raw materials or key components may adversely impact our business. In the past, we have experienced decreases in our production yields when suppliers have varied from previously agreed upon specifications or made other modifications we do not specify, which impacted our cost of revenue.

Additionally, the inability of our suppliers to access capital efficiently could cause disruptions in their businesses, thereby negatively impacting ours. This risk may increase if an economic downturn negatively affects key suppliers or a significant number of our other suppliers. Any delay in product delivery or other interruption or variation in supply from these suppliers could prevent us from meeting commercial demand for our products. If we were to lose key suppliers, if our key suppliers were unable to support our demand for any reason or if we were unable to identify and qualify alternative suppliers, our manufacturing operations could be interrupted or hampered significantly.

We rely on arrangements with independent shipping companies for the delivery of our products from vendors and to customers both in the United States and abroad. The failure or inability of these shipping companies to deliver products or the unavailability of shipping or port services, even temporarily, could have a material adverse effect on our business. We may also be adversely affected by an increase in freight surcharges due to rising fuel costs and added security.

In our fabrication process we consume a number of precious metals and other commodities, which are subject to high price volatility. Our operating margins could be significantly affected if we are not able to pass along price increases to our customers. In addition, production could be disrupted by the unavailability of the resources used in production such as water, silicon, electricity and gases. Future environmental regulations could restrict supply or increase the cost of certain of those materials.

We depend on a limited number of customers, including distributors and retailers, for a substantial portion of our revenue, and the loss of, or a significant reduction in purchases by, one or more of these customers could adversely affect our operating results.

We receive a significant amount of our revenue from a limited number of customers, including distributors and retailers, one of which represented 10% of our consolidated revenue in fiscal 2016. Most of our customer orders are made on a purchase order basis, which does not generally require any long-term customer commitments. Therefore, these customers may alter their purchasing behavior with little or no notice to us for various reasons, including developing, or, in the case of our distributors, their customers developing, their own product solutions; choosing to purchase or distribute product from our competitors; incorrectly forecasting end market demand for their products; or experiencing a reduction in their market share in the markets for which they purchase our products. In the case of retailers, these customers may alter their promotional pricing; increase promotion of competitors' products over our products; or reduce their inventory levels; all of which could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations. If our customers alter their purchasing behavior, if our customers’ purchasing behavior does not match our expectations or if we encounter any problems collecting amounts due from them, our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted.

Our results may be negatively impacted if customers do not maintain their favorable perception of our brand and products.

We have a developing brand with increasing value. Maintaining and continually enhancing the value of this brand is critical to the success of our business. Brand value is based in large part on customer perceptions. Success in promoting and enhancing brand value depends in large part on our ability to provide high-quality products. Brand value could diminish significantly due

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to a number of factors, including adverse publicity about our products (whether valid or not), a failure to maintain the quality of our products (whether perceived or real), the failure of our products or Cree to deliver consistently positive consumer experiences, the products becoming unavailable to consumers or consumer perception that we have acted in an irresponsible manner. Damage to our brand, reputation or loss of customer confidence in our brand or products could result in decreased demand for our products and have a negative impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Variations in our production could impact our ability to reduce costs and could cause our margins to decline and our operating results to suffer.

All of our products are manufactured using technologies that are highly complex. The number of usable items, or yield, from our production processes may fluctuate as a result of many factors, including but not limited to the following:


•	variability in our process repeatability and control;


•	contamination of the manufacturing environment;


•	equipment failure, power outages, fires, flooding, information or other system failures or variations in the manufacturing process;


•	lack of consistency and adequate quality and quantity of piece parts, other raw materials and other bill of materials items;


•	inventory shrinkage or human errors;


•	defects in production processes (including system assembly) either within our facilities or at our suppliers; and


•	any transitions or changes in our production process, planned or unplanned.

In the past, we have experienced difficulties in achieving acceptable yields on certain products, which has adversely affected our operating results. We may experience similar problems in the future, and we cannot predict when they may occur or their severity.

In some instances, we may offer products for future delivery at prices based on planned yield improvements or increased cost efficiencies from other production advances. Failure to achieve these planned improvements or advances could have a significant impact on our margins and operating results.

In addition, our ability to convert volume manufacturing to larger diameter substrates can be an important factor in providing a more cost effective manufacturing process. If we are unable to make this transition in a timely or cost effective manner, our results could be negatively impacted.

If we fail to evaluate and execute strategic opportunities successfully, our business may suffer.

In addition to the planned divestiture of the Wolfspeed business, from time to time, we evaluate strategic opportunities available to us for product, technology or business transactions, such as business acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, divestitures, or spin-offs. If we choose to enter into such transactions, we face certain risks including:


•	the failure of an acquired business, investee or joint venture to meet our performance expectations;


•	identification of additional liabilities relating to an acquired business;


•	loss of existing customers of our current and acquired businesses due to concerns that new product lines may be in competition with the customers’ existing product lines;


•	difficulty integrating an acquired business's operations, personnel and financial and operating systems into our current business;


•	diversion of management attention;


•	difficulty separating the operations, personnel and financial and operating systems of a spin-off or divestiture from our current business;


•	uncertainty of the financial markets or circumstances that cause conditions that are less favorable and/or different than expected; and

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•	expenses incurred to complete a transaction may be significantly higher than anticipated.

We may not be able to adequately address these risks or any other problems that arise from our prior or future acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, divestitures or spin-offs. Any failure to successfully evaluate strategic opportunities and address risks or other problems that arise related to any such business transaction could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

As a result of our continued expansion into new markets, we may compete with existing customers who may reduce their orders.

Through acquisitions and organic growth, we continue to expand into new markets and new market segments. Many of our existing customers who purchase our LED products develop and manufacture products using those chips and components that are offered into the same lighting markets. As a result, some of our current customers perceive us as a competitor in these market segments. In response, our customers may reduce or discontinue their orders for our LED products. This reduction in or discontinuation of orders could occur faster than our sales growth in these new markets, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our revenue is highly dependent on our customers’ ability to produce, market and sell more integrated products.

Our revenue in our LED Products and Power and RF Products segments depends on getting our products designed into a larger number of our customers’ products and in turn, our customers’ ability to produce, market and sell their products. For example, we have current and prospective customers that create, or plan to create, lighting systems using our LED components. Even if our customers are able to develop and produce LED lighting products or products that incorporate our power and RF products, there can be no assurance that our customers will be successful in marketing and selling these products in the marketplace.

The adoption of or changes in government and/or industry policies, standards or regulations relating to the efficiency, performance, use or other aspects of lighting could impact the demand for our products.

The adoption of or changes in government and/or industry policies, standards or regulations relating to the efficiency, performance or other aspects of LED lighting may impact the demand for our products. Demand for our products may also be impacted by changes in government and/or industry policies, standards or regulations that discourage the use of certain traditional lighting technologies. These constraints may be eliminated or delayed by legislative action, which could have a negative impact on demand for our products. For example, on December 31, 2015 Energy Star announced its release of Energy Star Lamps V2.0 specification that will replace V1.2 on January 2, 2017. Our ability and the ability of our competitors to meet these new requirements could impact competitive dynamics in the market.

If governments, their agencies or utilities reduce their demand for our products or discontinue or curtail their funding, our business may suffer.

Changes in governmental budget priorities could adversely affect our business and results of operations. U.S. and foreign government agencies have purchased products directly from us and products from our customers, and U.S. government agencies have historically funded a portion of our research and development activities. When the government changes budget priorities, such as in times of war or financial crisis, or reallocates its research and development spending to areas unrelated to our business, our research and development funding and our product sales to government entities and government-funded customers are at risk. For example, demand and payment for our products and our customers’ products may be affected by public sector budgetary cycles, funding authorizations or utility rebates. Funding reductions or delays could negatively impact demand for our products. If government or utility funding is discontinued or significantly reduced, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We are exposed to fluctuations in the market value of our investment portfolio and in interest rates, and therefore, impairment of our investments or lower investment income could harm our earnings.

We are exposed to market value and inherent interest rate risk related to our investment portfolio. We have historically invested portions of our available cash in fixed interest rate securities such as high-grade corporate debt, commercial paper, municipal bonds, certificates of deposit, government securities and other fixed interest rate investments. The primary objective of our cash investment policy is preservation of principal. However, these investments are generally not Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured and may lose value and/or become illiquid regardless of their credit rating.

From time to time, we have also made investments in public and private companies that engage in complementary businesses. For example, during fiscal 2015 we made an investment in Lextar Electronics Corporation (Lextar), a public company in Taiwan.

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An investment in another company is subject to the risks inherent in the business of that company and to trends affecting the equity markets as a whole. Investments in publicly held companies are subject to market risks and, like our investment in Lextar, may not be liquidated easily. As a result, we may not be able to reduce the size of our position or liquidate our investments when we deem appropriate to limit our downside risk. Should the value of any such investments we hold decline, the related write-down in value could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. For example, the value of our Lextar investment declined from the date of our investment in December 2014 through the end of fiscal 2016 with variability between quarters, and may continue to decline in the future. As required by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X, we have filed Lextar’s financial statements, prepared by Lextar and audited by its independent public accounting firm, as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 as an exhibit to this Annual Report.

Our operations in foreign countries expose us to certain risks inherent in doing business internationally, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We have operations, manufacturing facilities and contract manufacturing arrangements in foreign countries that expose us to certain risks. For example, fluctuations in exchange rates may affect our revenue, expenses and results of operations as well as the value of our assets and liabilities as reflected in our financial statements. We are also subject to other types of risks, including the following:


•	protection of intellectual property and trade secrets;


•	tariffs, customs, trade sanctions, trade embargoes and other barriers to importing/exporting materials and products in a cost effective and timely manner, or changes in applicable tariffs or custom rules;


•	timing and availability of export licenses;


•	rising labor costs;


•	disruptions in or inadequate infrastructure of the countries where we operate;


•	difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;


•	difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;


•	the burden of complying with foreign and international laws and treaties; and


•	the burden of complying with and changes in international taxation policies.

In some instances, we have received and may continue to receive incentives from foreign governments to encourage our investment in certain countries, regions or areas outside of the United States. In particular, we have received and may continue to receive such incentives in connection with our operations in Asia, as Asian national and local governments seek to encourage the development of the technology industry. Government incentives may include tax rebates, reduced tax rates, favorable lending policies and other measures, some or all of which may be available to us due to our foreign operations. Any of these incentives could be reduced or eliminated by governmental authorities at any time or as a result of our inability to maintain minimum operations necessary to earn the incentives. Any reduction or elimination of incentives currently provided for our operations could adversely affect our business and results of operations. These same governments also may provide increased incentives to or require production processes that favor local companies, which could further negatively impact our business and results of operations.

Changes in regulatory, geopolitical, social, economic, or monetary policies and other factors, including those which may result from the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, if any, may have a material adverse effect on our business in the future, or may require us to exit a particular market or significantly modify our current business practices. Abrupt political change, terrorist activity and armed conflict pose a risk of general economic disruption in affected countries, which could also result in an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. For example, the results of the United Kingdom’s referendum on whether to remain a part of the European Union have created political and economic uncertainty not only in the United Kingdom, but in many European countries in which we do business. If the referendum is passed into law, there could be further uncertainty as the United Kingdom determines the future terms of its relationship with the European Union.

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In order to compete, we must attract, motivate and retain key employees, and our failure to do so could harm our results of operations.

Hiring and retaining qualified executives, scientists, engineers, technical staff and sales personnel is critical to our business, and competition for experienced employees in our industry can be intense. As a global company, this issue is not limited to the United States, but includes our other locations such as Europe and China. For example, there is substantial competition in China for qualified and capable personnel, particularly experienced engineers and technical personnel, which may make it difficult for us to recruit and retain qualified employees. Also, within Huizhou, China, there are other large companies building manufacturing plants that will likely compete for qualified employees. If we are unable to staff sufficient and adequate personnel at our China facilities, we may experience lower revenue or increased manufacturing costs, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

To help attract, motivate and retain key employees, we use benefits such as stock-based compensation awards. If the value of such awards does not appreciate, as measured by the performance of the price of our common stock or if our stock-based compensation otherwise ceases to be viewed as a valuable benefit, our ability to attract, retain and motivate employees could be weakened, which could harm our business and results of operations.

Litigation could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

We are often involved in litigation, primarily patent litigation. Defending against existing and potential litigation will likely require significant attention and resources and, regardless of the outcome, result in significant legal expenses, which could adversely affect our results unless covered by insurance or recovered from third parties. If our defenses are ultimately unsuccessful or if we are unable to achieve a favorable resolution, we could be liable for damage awards that could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Where necessary, we may initiate litigation to enforce our patent or other intellectual property rights, which could adversely impact our relationship with certain customers. Any such litigation may require us to spend a substantial amount of time and money and could distract management from our day-to-day operations. Moreover, there is no assurance that we will be successful in any such litigation.

Our business may be impaired by claims that we, or our customers, infringe the intellectual property rights of others.

Vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights characterize our industry. These traits have resulted in significant and often protracted and expensive litigation. Litigation to determine the validity of patents or claims by third parties of infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights could result in significant legal expense and divert the efforts of our technical personnel and management, even if the litigation results in a determination favorable to us. In the event of an adverse result in such litigation, we could be required to:


•	pay substantial damages;


•	indemnify our customers;


•	stop the manufacture, use and sale of products found to be infringing;


•	incur asset impairment charges;


•	discontinue the use of processes found to be infringing;


•	expend significant resources to develop non-infringing products or processes; or


•	obtain a license to use third party technology.

There can be no assurance that third parties will not attempt to assert infringement claims against us, or our customers, with respect to our products. In addition, our customers may face infringement claims directed to the customer’s products that incorporate our products, and an adverse result could impair the customer’s demand for our products. We have also promised certain of our customers that we will indemnify them in the event they are sued by our competitors for infringement claims directed to the products we supply. Under these indemnification obligations, we may be responsible for future payments to resolve infringement claims against them.

From time to time, we receive correspondence asserting that our products or processes are or may be infringing patents or other intellectual property rights of others. If we believe the assertions may have merit or in other appropriate circumstances, we may take steps to seek to obtain a license or to avoid the infringement. We cannot predict, however, whether a license will be available;

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that we would find the terms of any license offered acceptable; or that we would be able to develop an alternative solution. Failure to obtain a necessary license or develop an alternative solution could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and costs and to suspend the manufacture of affected products.

There are limitations on our ability to protect our intellectual property.

Our intellectual property position is based in part on patents owned by us and patents licensed to us. We intend to continue to file patent applications in the future, where appropriate, and to pursue such applications with U.S. and certain foreign patent authorities.

Our existing patents are subject to expiration and re-examination and we cannot be sure that additional patents will be issued on any new applications around the covered technology or that our existing or future patents will not be successfully contested by third parties. Also, since issuance of a valid patent does not prevent other companies from using alternative, non-infringing technology, we cannot be sure that any of our patents, or patents issued to others and licensed to us, will provide significant commercial protection, especially as new competitors enter the market.

We periodically discover products that are counterfeit reproductions of our products or that otherwise infringe on our intellectual property rights. The actions we take to establish and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights may not be adequate to prevent imitation of our products by others, and therefore, may adversely affect our sales and our brand and result in the shift of customer preference away from our products. Further, the actions we take to establish and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights could result in significant legal expense and divert the efforts of our technical personnel and management, even if the litigation or other action results in a determination favorable to us.

We also rely on trade secrets and other non-patented proprietary information relating to our product development and manufacturing activities. We try to protect this information through appropriate efforts to maintain its secrecy, including requiring employees and third parties to sign confidentiality agreements. We cannot be sure that these efforts will be successful or that the confidentiality agreements will not be breached. We also cannot be sure that we would have adequate remedies for any breach of such agreements or other misappropriation of our trade secrets, or that our trade secrets and proprietary know-how will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by others.

We may be required to recognize a significant charge to earnings if our goodwill or other intangible assets become impaired.

Goodwill and purchased intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment annually and more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. We assess the recoverability of the unamortized balance of our finite-lived intangible assets when indicators of potential impairment are present. Factors that may indicate that the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets may not be recoverable include a decline in our stock price and market capitalization and slower growth rates in our industry. The recognition of a significant charge to earnings in our consolidated financial statements resulting from any impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets could adversely impact our results of operations.

We may be subject to confidential information theft or misuse, which could harm our business and results of operations.

We face attempts by others to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems on which we maintain proprietary and other confidential information. Our security measures may be breached as the result of industrial or other espionage actions of outside parties, employee error, malfeasance or otherwise, and as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to our systems. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to access our confidential information through other means, for example by fraudulently inducing our employees to disclose confidential information. We actively seek to prevent, detect and investigate any unauthorized access, which sometimes occurs. We might be unaware of any such access or unable to determine its magnitude and effects. The theft and/or unauthorized use or publication of our trade secrets and other confidential business information as a result of such an incident could adversely affect our competitive position and the value of our investment in research and development could be reduced. Our business could be subject to significant disruption and we could suffer monetary or other losses.

We are subject to risks related to international sales and purchases.

We expect that revenue from international sales will continue to represent a significant portion of our total revenue. As such, a significant slowdown or instability in relevant foreign economies, including economic instability in Europe, or lower investments in new infrastructure could have a negative impact on our sales. We also purchase a portion of the materials included in our products from overseas sources.

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Our international sales and purchases are subject to numerous U.S. and foreign laws and regulations, including, without limitation, tariffs, trade sanctions, trade barriers, trade embargoes, regulations relating to import-export control, technology transfer restrictions, the International Traffic in Arms Regulation promulgated under the Arms Export Control Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the anti-boycott provisions of the U.S. Export Administration Act. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be liable for administrative, civil or criminal liabilities, and, in the extreme case, we could be suspended or debarred from government contracts or have our export privileges suspended, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

International sales and purchases are also subject to a variety of other risks, including risks arising from currency fluctuations, collection issues and taxes. We have entered and may in the future enter into foreign currency derivative financial instruments in an effort to manage or hedge some of our foreign exchange rate risk. We may not be able to engage in hedging transactions in the future, and, even if we do, foreign currency fluctuations may still have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our business may be adversely affected by uncertainties in the global financial markets and our or our customers’ or suppliers’ ability to access the capital markets.

Global financial markets continue to reflect uncertainty about a sustained global economic recovery. Given these uncertainties, there could be future disruptions in the global economy, financial markets and consumer confidence. If economic conditions deteriorate unexpectedly, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. For example, our customers, including our distributors and their customers, may experience difficulty obtaining the working capital and other financing necessary to support historical or projected purchasing patterns, which could negatively affect our results of operations.

Although we believe we have adequate liquidity and capital resources to fund our operations internally and under our existing line of credit, our inability to access the capital markets on favorable terms in the future, or at all, may adversely affect our financial performance. The inability to obtain adequate financing from debt or capital sources in the future could force us to self-fund strategic initiatives or even forego certain opportunities, which in turn could potentially harm our performance.

Changes in our effective tax rate may affect our results.

Our future effective tax rates may be affected by a number of factors including:


•	the jurisdiction in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed;


•	changes in government administrations, such as the Presidency and Congress of the U.S. as well as in the states and countries in which we operate;


•	changes in tax laws or interpretation of such tax laws and changes in generally accepted accounting principles;


•	the resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various authorities;


•	changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;


•	adjustments to estimated taxes upon finalization of various tax returns;


•	increases in expenses not deductible for tax purposes, including impairment of goodwill in connection with acquisitions;


•	changes in available tax credits;


•	the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions;


•	the lack of sufficient excess tax benefits (credits) in our additional paid-in-capital pool in situations where our realized tax deductions for certain stock-based compensation awards (such as non-qualified stock options and restricted stock) are less than those originally anticipated; and


•	the repatriation of non-U.S. earnings for which we have not previously provided for U.S. taxes or any changes in legislation that may result in these earnings being taxed within the U.S., regardless of our decision regarding repatriation of funds.

Any significant increase or decrease in our future effective tax rates could impact net income (loss) for future periods. In addition, the determination of our income tax provision requires complex estimations, significant judgments and significant knowledge and experience concerning the applicable tax laws. To the extent our income tax liability materially differs from our income tax

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provisions due to factors, including the above, which were not anticipated at the time we estimated our tax provision, our net income (loss) or cash flows could be affected.

Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations worldwide could harm our business and results of operations.

The manufacturing, assembling and testing of our products require the use of hazardous materials that are subject to a broad array of environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with any of these applicable laws or regulations could result in:


•	regulatory penalties, fines, legal liabilities and the forfeiture of certain tax benefits;


•	suspension of production;


•	alteration of our fabrication, assembly and test processes; and


•	curtailment of our operations or sales.

In addition, our failure to manage the use, transportation, emission, discharge, storage, recycling or disposal of hazardous materials could subject us to increased costs or future liabilities. Existing and future environmental laws and regulations could also require us to acquire pollution abatement or remediation equipment, modify our product designs or incur other expenses, such as permit costs, associated with such laws and regulations. Many new materials that we are evaluating for use in our operations may be subject to regulation under existing or future environmental laws and regulations that may restrict our use of one or more of such materials in our manufacturing, assembly and test processes or products. Any of these restrictions could harm our business and results of operations by increasing our expenses or requiring us to alter our manufacturing processes.

Our results could vary as a result of the methods, estimates and judgments that we use in applying our accounting policies, including changes in the accounting standards to be applied.

The methods, estimates and judgments that we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on our results (see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report). Such methods, estimates and judgments are, by their nature, subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and factors may arise over time that lead us to change our methods, estimates and judgments. Changes in those methods, estimates and judgments could significantly affect our results of operations or financial condition.

Likewise, our results may be impacted due to changes in the accounting standards to be applied, such as the increased use of fair value measurement standards and changes in revenue recognition requirements.

Catastrophic events may disrupt our business.

A disruption or failure of our systems or operations in the event of a natural disaster, health pandemic, such as an influenza outbreak within our workforce, or man-made catastrophic event could cause delays in completing sales, continuing production or performing other critical functions of our business, particularly if a catastrophic event occurred at our primary manufacturing locations or our subcontractors' locations. Any of these events could severely affect our ability to conduct normal business operations and, as a result, our operating results could be adversely affected. There may also be secondary impacts that are unforeseeable as well, such as impacts to our customers, which could cause delays in new orders, delays in completing sales or even order cancellations.

Our stock price may be volatile.

Historically, our common stock has experienced substantial price volatility, particularly as a result of significant fluctuations in our revenue, earnings and margins over the past few years, and variations between our actual financial results and the published expectations of analysts. For example, the closing price per share of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market ranged from a low of $22.12 to a high of $32.44 during the 12 months ended June 26, 2016. If our future operating results or margins are below the expectations of stock market analysts or our investors, our stock price will likely decline.

Speculation and opinions in the press or investment community about our strategic position, financial condition, results of operations or significant transactions can also cause changes in our stock price. In particular, speculation around our market opportunities for energy efficient lighting may have a dramatic effect on our stock price, especially as various government agencies announce their planned investments in energy efficient technology, including lighting.

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We have outstanding debt which could materially restrict our business and adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

Our indebtedness consists of borrowings from our revolving line of credit. Our ability to pay interest and repay the principal for our indebtedness is dependent upon our ability to manage our business operations and generate sufficient cash flows to service such debt. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage any of these risks successfully.

The level of outstanding debt under this line of credit may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition by, among other things:


•	increasing our vulnerability to downturns in our business, to competitive pressures and to adverse general economic and industry conditions;


•	requiring the dedication of an increased portion of our expected cash flows from operations to service our indebtedness, thereby reducing the amount of expected cash flow available for other purposes, including capital expenditures, research and development and stock repurchases;


•	limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;


•	placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our peers that may have less indebtedness than we have by limiting our ability to borrow additional funds needed to operate and grow our business; and


•	increasing our interest expense if interest rates increase.

Our line of credit requires us to maintain compliance with certain financial ratios. In addition, our line of credit contains certain restrictions that could limit our ability to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness, dispose of assets, create liens on assets, make acquisitions or engage in mergers or consolidations, and engage in certain transactions with our subsidiaries and affiliates. These restrictions could limit our ability to plan for or react to changing business conditions, or could otherwise restrict our business activities and plans.

Our ability to comply with our loan covenants may also be affected by events beyond our control and if any of these restrictions or terms is breached, it could lead to an event of default under our line of credit. A default, if not cured or waived, may permit acceleration of our indebtedness. In addition, our lenders could terminate their commitments to make further extensions of credit under our line of credit. If our indebtedness is accelerated, we cannot be certain that we will have sufficient funds to pay the accelerated indebtedness or that we will have the ability to refinance accelerated indebtedness on terms favorable to us or at all.

Regulations related to conflict-free minerals may force us to incur additional expenses.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act contains provisions to improve transparency and accountability concerning the supply of minerals originating from the conflict zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries. As a result, in August 2012 the SEC established new annual disclosure and reporting requirements for those companies who may use “conflict” minerals mined from the DRC and adjoining countries in their products. Our most recent disclosure regarding our due diligence was filed in May 2016 for calendar year 2015. These requirements could affect the sourcing and availability of certain minerals used in the manufacture of our products. As a result, we may not be able to obtain the relevant minerals at competitive prices and there will likely be additional costs associated with complying with the due diligence procedures as required by the SEC. In addition, because our supply chain is complex, we may face reputational challenges with our customers and other stakeholders if we are unable to sufficiently verify the origins of all minerals used in our products through the due diligence procedures, and we may incur additional costs as a result of changes to product, processes or sources of supply as a consequence of these requirements.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

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Item 2. Properties

The table below sets forth information with respect to our significant owned and leased facilities as of June 26, 2016. The sizes of the locations represent the approximate gross square footage of each site’s buildings.



		Size (approximate gross square footage)
Location	Segment Utilization¹	Total	Production	Facility Services and Warehousing	Administrative Function	Housing / Other
Owned Facilities
Durham, NC	All	966,844	536,169	83,860	346,815	—
Research Triangle Park, NC	3	203,995	90,613	62,855	50,527	—
Racine, WI	1	802,845	160,000	418,000	224,845	—
Huizhou, China	2	808,488	332,271	101,105	41,764	333,348
Total owned		2,782,172	1,119,053	665,820	663,951	333,348

Leased Facilities
Durham, NC	1	189,430	15,200	167,584	6,646	—
Laredo, TX	1	100,545	—	97,545	3,000	—
Goleta, CA	1,2	25,623	—	1,882	23,741	—
Yorkville, WI	1	79,016	—	77,316	1,700	—
Fayetteville, AR	3	26,076	10,767	—	15,309
Sesto Fiorentino, Italy	1,2	63,670	20,672	24,998	18,000	—
Hong Kong	All	29,955	—	—	29,955	—
Misc. sales and support offices	All	59,661	—	9,976	49,685	—
Total leased		573,976	46,639	379,301	148,036	—

Total gross square footage		3,356,148	1,165,692	1,045,121	811,987	333,348

¹ Segments listed in the “Segment Utilization” column above are identified as follows: 1) Lighting Products; 2) LED Products and 3) Power and RF Products.

In the United States, our corporate headquarters as well as our primary research and development and manufacturing operations are located at the Durham, North Carolina facilities that we own. These Durham facilities sit on 149 acres of land that we own. Our power and RF products are primarily produced at our owned manufacturing facility located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. This facility sits on 55 acres of land that we own. Domestically, our lighting products are primarily produced at our owned facility in Racine, Wisconsin, which sits on 33 acres of land that we own, and a leased facility in Durham, North Carolina.

LED products are produced at our owned manufacturing facilities located in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. We also own dormitories for housing our Chinese employees near and adjacent to the owned manufacturing facilities. The owned manufacturing facilities, dormitories, and support buildings are located on land that is leased from the Chinese government through two leases. The first land lease is for twelve acres that expires in June 2057 and supports the manufacturing facilities. The second land lease is for five acres that expires in December 2082 and is used for dormitory buildings.

We also maintain sales and support offices, through our subsidiaries, in leased office premises in North America, Asia, and Europe. In addition, we lease a facility in Goleta, California that is used for research and development and administrative functions.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The information required by this item is set forth under Note 13, “Commitments and Contingencies,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

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

Common Stock Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and is quoted under the symbol CREE. There were 357 holders of record of our common stock as of August 22, 2016. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the high and low closing sales prices as reported by NASDAQ.



	Fiscal 2016				Fiscal 2015
	High		Low		High		Low
First Quarter		$27.56		$23.95		$52.83		$41.11
Second Quarter	28.16		22.12		41.42		27.28
Third Quarter	32.44		24.07		39.56		29.75
Fourth Quarter	30.14		22.43		35.90		27.00

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate that we will do so in the foreseeable future. Our credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other lenders party thereto, contains certain dividend distribution restrictions. Applicable state laws may also limit the payment of dividends. Our present policy is to retain earnings, if any, to provide funds to invest in our business.

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Stock Performance Graph

The following information in this Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Exchange Act or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.

The following graph compares the cumulative total return on our common stock with the cumulative total returns of the NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ Electronic Components Index for the five-year period commencing June 26, 2011. The stock price performance shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*

Among Cree, Inc., the NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ Electronic Components Index

* Assumes (1) $100 invested on June 26, 2011 in Cree, Inc. Common Stock, the NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ Electronic Components Index and (2) the immediate reinvestment of all dividends.



	6/26/2011		6/24/2012		6/30/2013		6/29/2014		6/28/2015		6/26/2016
Cree, Inc.		$100.00		$72.00		$187.96		$142.76		$79.51		$68.29
NASDAQ Composite Index	100.00		110.21		131.57		172.15		201.17		184.18
NASDAQ Electronic Components Index	100.00		103.07		121.86		155.49		171.82		168.74

Sale of Unregistered Securities

There were no unregistered securities sold during fiscal 2016.

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Stock Repurchase Program

On June 18, 2015, our Board of Directors approved our fiscal 2016 stock repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase shares of common stock having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $500 million for all purchases from June 29, 2015 through the expiration of the program on June 26, 2016. There were no shares repurchased under the stock repurchase program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Since the inception of our stock repurchase program in January 2001 through June 26, 2016, we have repurchased 34.2 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $29.34 per share with an aggregate value of $1.0 billion. The repurchase program could be implemented through open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of our management.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The consolidated statement of (loss) income data set forth below with respect to the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015, and June 29, 2014 and the consolidated balance sheet data at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015 are derived from, and are qualified by reference to, the audited consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements and notes thereto. The consolidated statement of income data for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2013 and June 24, 2012 and the consolidated balance sheet data at June 29, 2014, June 30, 2013, and June 24, 2012 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not included herein.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

(In thousands, except per share data)



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015*			June 29, 2014*		June 30, 2013*		June 24, 2012*
Consolidated Statement of Income Data¹
Revenue, net		$1,616,627			$1,632,505			$1,647,641		$1,385,982		$1,164,658
Operating (loss) income	(10,471		)	(73,550		)	133,236		95,454		38,231
Net (loss) income	(21,536		)	(64,692		)	123,490		86,227		43,715
(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic		($0.21	)		($0.57	)		$1.02		$0.74		$0.38
Diluted		($0.21	)		($0.57	)		$1.00		$0.73		$0.38
Weighted average shares used in per share calculation:
Basic	101,783			113,022			120,623		116,621		114,693
Diluted	101,783			113,022			122,914		117,979		115,225


	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015*			June 29, 2014*		June 30, 2013*		June 24, 2012*
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data¹
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments		$605,305			$713,191			$1,162,466		$1,023,915		$744,513
Working capital	933,708			1,053,464			1,467,236		1,308,355		1,015,104
Total assets	2,766,060			2,948,033			3,338,981		3,048,062		2,744,192
Total long-term liabilities	175,237			231,295			45,943		37,061		37,481
Total shareholders’ equity	2,367,824			2,461,952			2,986,383		2,803,590		2,557,534

¹ Consolidated statement of income data and balance sheet data for fiscal year 2012 include Ruud Lighting from the date of its acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

*As revised to reflect the correction of an immaterial error. For additional information, see Note 2, "Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

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

Executive Summary

The following discussion is designed to provide a better understanding of our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, including a brief discussion of our business and products, key factors that impacted our performance and a summary of our operating results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. Historical results and percentage relationships among any amounts in the financial statements are not necessarily indicative of trends in operating results for any future periods.

Overview

Our lighting products primarily consist of LED lighting systems and bulbs. We design, manufacture and sell lighting fixtures and lamps for the commercial, industrial and consumer markets.

Our LED products consist of LED components, LED chips, and silicon carbide (SiC) materials. Our LED products enable our customers to develop and market LED-based products for lighting, video screens and other industrial applications.

As discussed more fully below in “Business Outlook,” on July 13, 2016, we executed a definitive agreement to sell our Power and RF Products segment and certain related portions of our SiC materials and gemstones business included within our LED Products segment (which we collectively also refer to as our Wolfspeed business) to Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon).

The majority of our products are manufactured at our production facilities located in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and China. We also use contract manufacturers for certain products and aspects of product fabrication, assembly and packaging. We operate research and development facilities in North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, India, Italy and China (including Hong Kong).

Cree, Inc. is a North Carolina corporation established in 1987, and our headquarters are in Durham, North Carolina. For further information about our consolidated revenue and earnings, please see our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Reportable Segments

Our three reportable segments are:


•	Lighting Products


•	LED Products


•	Power and RF Products

Our CODM does not review inter-segment transactions when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources to each segment, and inter-segment transactions are not included in our segment revenue disclosure. As such, total segment revenue is equal to our consolidated revenue.

Our CODM reviews gross profit as the lowest and only level of segment profit. As such, all items below gross profit in the Consolidated Statements of Income must be included to reconcile the consolidated gross profit to our consolidated (loss) income before income taxes.

For financial results by reportable segment, please refer to Note 14, “Reportable Segments,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Industry Dynamics and Trends

There are a number of industry factors that affect our business which include, among others:

•

Overall Demand for Products and Applications using LEDs. Our potential for growth depends significantly on the continued adoption of LEDs within the general lighting market and our ability to affect this rate of adoption. Demand also fluctuates based on various market cycles, a continuously evolving LED industry supply chain, and evolving competitive dynamics in the market. These uncertainties make demand difficult to forecast for us and our customers.

•

Intense and Constantly Evolving Competitive Environment. Competition in the LED and lighting industries is intense. Many companies have made significant investments in LED development and production equipment. Product pricing pressures exist as market participants often undertake pricing strategies to gain or protect market share, increase the utilization of their production capacity and open new applications to LED-based solutions. To remain competitive, market participants must continuously increase product performance and reduce costs. To address these competitive pressures, we have invested in research and development activities to support new product development and to deliver higher levels of performance and lower costs to differentiate our products in the market.

•

Lighting Sales Channel Development. Commercial lighting is usually sold through lighting agents and distributors in the North American lighting market. The lighting agents typically have exclusive sales rights for a defined territory and are typically aligned with one large lighting company for a majority of their product sales. The size, quality and capability of the lighting agent has a significant effect on winning new projects and sales in a given geographic market. While these agents or distributors can sell other lighting products, the large traditional lighting companies have taken steps to prevent their channel partners from selling competing product lines. We are constantly working to improve the capabilities of our existing channel partners as well as develop new partners to improve our sales effectiveness in each geographic market.


•	Technological Innovation and Advancement. Innovations and advancements in LEDs and lighting continue to expand the potential commercial application for our products. However, new technologies or standards could emerge or improvements could be made in existing technologies that could reduce or limit the demand for our products in certain markets.

•

Intellectual Property Issues. Market participants rely on patented and non-patented proprietary information relating to product development, manufacturing capabilities and other core competencies of their business. Protection of intellectual property is critical. Therefore, steps such as additional patent applications, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, as well as other security measures are generally taken. To enforce or protect intellectual property rights, litigation or threatened litigation is common.

Fiscal 2016 Overview

The following is a summary of our financial results for the year ended June 26, 2016:


•	Our year-over-year revenue remained flat at $1.6 billion.


•	Gross margin increased to 30%. Gross profit increased by $13 million to $487 million.


•	Operating loss was $10 million in fiscal 2016 compared to operating loss of $74 million in fiscal 2015. Net loss per diluted share was $0.21 in fiscal 2016 compared to net loss per diluted share of $0.57 in fiscal 2015.


•	Combined cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased to $0.6 billion at June 26, 2016 compared to $0.7 billion at June 28, 2015. Cash provided by operating activities was $203 million in fiscal 2016, compared to $181 million in fiscal 2015.


•	We spent $150 million to repurchase 5.8 million shares of our common stock.


•	Inventories increased to $304 million at June 26, 2016 compared to $281 million at June 28, 2015.


•	We spent $120 million on purchases of property and equipment in fiscal 2016 compared to $206 million in fiscal 2015.

Business Outlook

We announced Cree 3.0 during fiscal 2016 and updated our strategy to become a more focused LED lighting technology company. As part of this strategy, we outlined a plan to separate Wolfspeed through an initial public offering (IPO). The decision to sell the Wolfspeed business to Infineon, instead of continuing down the IPO path, speeds our transition to an LED lighting company while providing significant resources to accelerate our growth. Divesting Wolfspeed is expected to reduce short-term profits, but at the same time increase free cash flow. We believe this transaction will increase management focus on the core growth business and provide capital to support our mission to build a more valuable company.

We project that the markets for commercial LED lighting products will expand in fiscal 2017, while the consumer LED bulb and LED components market will remain highly competitive.

We are focused on the following goals to further support our transition to a more focused LED lighting company:


•	Complete the sale of our Wolfspeed business to Infineon.


•	Grow company revenue.


◦	Grow commercial lighting revenue with the market, potentially adding to that growth through product line expansion and/or strategic acquisitions, and maintain consumer lighting revenue in a similar range while transitioning to a new generation LED bulb family.


◦	Maintain LED revenue in a similar range through new product design wins to offset the competitive environment.


•	Improve operating margin.


◦	Increase lighting margins through a combination of lower costs and higher value new products.


◦	Maintain LED margins in a similar range by reducing product costs and increasing performance levels.


◦	Manage company operating expenses to grow slower than revenue.


•	Continue to innovate in all of our businesses to differentiate our products in the market.


•	Improve the customer experience and service levels in all of our businesses.

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain consolidated statement of (loss) income data for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016					June 28, 2015					June 29, 2014
	Dollars			% of Revenue		Dollars			% of Revenue		Dollars		% of Revenue
Revenue, net		$1,616,627		100	%		$1,632,505		100	%		$1,647,641	100	%
Cost of revenue, net	1,129,553			70	%	1,158,586			71	%	1,029,885		63	%
Gross profit	487,074			30	%	473,919			29	%	617,756		37	%
Research and development	168,848			10	%	182,797			11	%	181,382		11	%
Sales, general and administrative	283,052			18	%	290,730			18	%	268,460		16	%
Amortization or impairment of acquisition-related intangibles	28,732			2	%	26,220			2	%	31,988		2	%
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets	16,913			1	%	47,722			3	%	2,690		0	%
Operating (loss) income	(10,471		)	(1	)%	(73,550		)	(5	)%	133,236		8	%
Non-operating (expense) income, net	(13,035		)	(1	)%	(10,389		)	(1	)%	13,295		1	%
(Loss) income before income taxes	(23,506		)	(1	)%	(83,939		)	(5	)%	146,531		9	%
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,970		)	—	%	(19,247		)	(1	)%	23,041		1	%
Net (loss) income		($21,536	)	(1	)%		($64,692	)	(4	)%		$123,490	7	%
Basic (loss) earnings per share		($0.21	)				($0.57	)				$1.02
Diluted (loss) earnings per share		($0.21	)				($0.57	)				$1.00

LED Business Restructuring

In June 2015, our Board of Directors approved a plan to restructure the LED Products business. The restructuring reduced excess capacity and overhead in order to improve the cost structure moving forward. The primary components of the restructuring include the planned sale or abandonment of certain manufacturing equipment, facility consolidation and the elimination of certain positions. The restructuring activity ended in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. During fiscal 2016, we realized $18.8 million in LED restructuring charges, which were partially offset by a $1.1 million gain on the sale of long-lived assets related to the restructuring which were sold for a value in excess of their estimated net realizable value during fiscal 2016.

The following table summarizes the actual charges incurred (in thousands):



Capacity and overhead cost reductions	Amounts incurred through June 28, 2015		Amounts incurred during fiscal year 2016		Cumulative amounts incurred through June 26, 2016		Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss)Income
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets	$	42,716	$	15,506	$	58,222	Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets
Severance expense	2,019		264		2,283		Sales, general and administrative expenses
Lease termination and facility consolidation costs	1,246		3,079		4,325		Sales, general and administrative expenses
Increase in channel inventory reserves	26,479		—		26,479		Revenue, net
Increase in inventory reserves	11,091		—		11,091		Cost of revenue, net
Total restructuring charges	$	83,551	$	18,849	$	102,400

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Revenue

Revenue was comprised of the following (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended									Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014			2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Lighting Products	$	889,133		$	906,502		$	706,425		$	(17,369	)	(2	)%	$	200,077		28	%
Percent of revenue	55		%	55		%	43		%
LED Products	610,835			602,082			833,684			8,753			1	%	(231,602		)	(28	)%
Percent of revenue	38		%	37		%	51		%
Power and RF Products	116,659			123,921			107,532			(7,262		)	(6	)%	16,389			15	%
Percent of revenue	7		%	8		%	6		%
Total revenue		$1,616,627			$1,632,505			$1,647,641			($15,878	)	(1	)%		($15,136	)	(1	)%

Our consolidated revenue remained flat at $1.6 billion in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015. Lighting Products revenue and Power and RF Products revenue decreased by 2% and 6%, respectively, while LED Products revenue increased by 1%. For the fiscal year ended 2015, our consolidated revenue also remained flat at $1.6 billion compared to fiscal 2014. Lighting Products revenue and Power and RF Products revenue increased by 28% and 15% respectively, while LED Products revenue decreased by 28%

Lighting Products Segment Revenue

Lighting Products revenue represented approximately 55%, 55%, and 43% of our total revenue for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014 respectively. Lighting Products revenue was $889.1 million, $906.5 million, and $706.4 million for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively.

Lighting Products revenue decreased 2% to $889.1 million in fiscal 2016 from $906.5 million in fiscal 2015. This decrease was the result of lower consumer lighting sales which offset higher commercial lighting sales. The number of units sold decreased 22% in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 due to lower consumer bulb sales and a change in mix, which was partially offset by an increase in average selling prices (ASP). The ASP increased 26% in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 primarily due to a higher mix of commercial lighting fixtures, which have a higher ASP than our other lighting products.

Lighting Products revenue increased 28% to $906.5 million in fiscal 2015 from $706.4 million in fiscal 2014. This increase was the result of an overall increase in the number of units sold, partially offset by a reduction in ASP. The overall number of units sold increased 44% in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 primarily driven by LED bulb products due to increased market adoption of LED lighting products. The ASP decreased 11% in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 primarily due to a higher mix of lower priced LED bulb products.

LED Products Segment Revenue

LED Products revenue represented 38%, 37%, and 51% of our total revenue for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. LED Products revenue was $610.8 million, $602.1 million, and $833.7 million for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

LED Products revenue increased 1% to $610.8 million in fiscal 2016 from $602.1 million in fiscal 2015. This increase was primarily the result of license revenue associated with new patent license agreements. Additionally, the overall number of units sold increased, partially offset by a reduction in ASP due to increased global competition for LED products which impacted both our LED chip and LED component product lines. The overall number of units sold increased 12% in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 and the ASP decreased 11% in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015.

LED Products revenue decreased 28% to $602.1 million in fiscal 2015 from $833.7 million in fiscal 2014. This decrease was the result of an overall decrease in the number of units sold and a reduction in ASP due to increased global competition for LED products which impacted both our LED chip and LED component product lines. The reduction in ASP includes the impact of the increase in channel inventory reserves pursuant to our restructuring plan discussed above. The overall number of units sold decreased 14% in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 and the ASP decreased 15% in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014.

Power and RF Products Segment Revenue

Power and RF Products revenue represented approximately 7%, 8%, and 6% of our total revenue for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Power and RF Products revenue was $116.7 million, $123.9 million, and $107.5 million for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

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Power and RF Products revenue decreased 6% to $116.7 million in fiscal 2016 from $123.9 million in fiscal 2015. This decrease was primarily the result of a 17% decrease in the number of units sold, partially offset by a 4% increase in the ASP in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015. The decrease in units sold was primarily the result of lower RF units sold. The increase in ASP was due to an increase in both power and RF product ASP resulting from a greater mix of higher priced power and RF products.

Power and RF Products revenue increased 15% to $123.9 million in fiscal 2015 from $107.5 million in fiscal 2014. This increase was primarily the result of increased market adoption of power products that resulted in an overall increase in the number of units sold due to increased demand for SiC based devices. The overall number of units sold increased 21% in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit and gross margin were as follows (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended									Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014			2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Lighting Products gross profit	$	238,242		$	235,542		$	197,304		$	2,700		1	%	$	38,238		19	%
Lighting Products gross margin	27		%	26		%	28		%
LED Products	212,367			190,912			381,003			21,455			11	%	(190,091		)	(50	)%
LED Products Gross Margin	35		%	32		%	46		%
Power and RF Products gross profit	56,069			67,764			60,723			(11,695		)	(17	)%	7,041			12	%
Power and RF Products gross margin	48		%	55		%	56		%
Unallocated costs	(19,604		)	(20,299		)	(21,274		)	695			(3	)%	975			(5	)%
Consolidated gross profit		$487,074			$473,919			$617,756			$13,155		3	%		($143,837	)	(23	)%
Consolidated gross margin	30		%	29		%	37		%

Our consolidated gross profit increased 3% to $487.1 million in fiscal 2016 from $473.9 million in fiscal 2015. Our consolidated gross margin increased to 30% in fiscal 2016 from 29% in fiscal 2015. Our consolidated gross profit decreased 23% to $473.9 million in fiscal 2015 from $617.8 million in fiscal 2014. Our consolidated gross margin decreased to 29% in fiscal 2015 from 37% in fiscal 2014.

Lighting Products Segment Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Lighting Products gross profit was $238.2 million, $235.5 million, and $197.3 million in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Lighting Products gross margin was 27%, 26%, and 28% in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Lighting Products gross profit increased 1% to $238.2 million in fiscal 2016 from $235.5 million in fiscal 2015. Lighting Products gross margin increased to 27% in fiscal 2016 from 26% in fiscal 2015. Lighting Products gross profit and gross margin increased due to a more favorable mix of commercial lighting fixtures and the benefit of factory cost reductions.

Lighting Products gross profit increased 19% to $235.5 million in fiscal 2015 from $197.3 million in fiscal 2014, due to growth in LED lighting products sales as discussed above. Lighting Products gross margin decreased to 26% in fiscal 2015 from 28% in fiscal 2014, primarily due to lower LED bulb margins resulting from a more competitive pricing environment.

LED Products Segment Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Our LED Products gross profit was $212.4 million, $190.9 million, and $381.0 million in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. LED Products gross margin was 35%, 32%, and 46% in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

LED Products gross profit increased 11% to $212.4 million in fiscal 2016 from $190.9 million in fiscal 2015, and LED Products gross margin increased to 35% in fiscal 2016 from 32% in fiscal 2015. LED Products gross profit and gross margin increased due to higher license revenue and higher units sold, partially offset by lower pricing. In fiscal 2015, LED Products gross profit and gross margin were negatively impacted by increases in channel inventory reserves and inventory reserves pursuant to our restructuring plan, as well as lower factory utilization resulting from lower demand and our targeted actions in the latter half of fiscal 2015 to reduce inventory balances for our LED Products segment.

LED Products gross profit decreased 50% to $190.9 million in fiscal 2015 from $381.0 million in fiscal 2014, and LED Products gross margin decreased to 32% in fiscal 2015 from 46% in fiscal 2014. LED Products gross profit and gross margin decreased during fiscal 2015 due to lower units sold, lower pricing, increases in channel inventory reserves and inventory reserves pursuant

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to our restructuring plan, as well as lower factory utilization resulting from lower demand and our targeted actions in the latter half of fiscal 2015 to reduce inventory balances for our LED Products segment.

Power and RF Products Segment Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Power and RF Products gross profit was $56.1 million, $67.8 million, and $60.7 million in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Power and RF Products gross margin was 48%, 55%, and 56% in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Power and RF Products gross profit decreased 17% to $56.1 million in fiscal 2016 from $67.8 million in fiscal 2015. Power and RF Products gross margin decreased to 48% in fiscal 2016 from 55% in fiscal 2015. Power and RF Products gross profit and gross margin decreased primarily due to costs associated with new product ramp ups related to new customer sales and changes in product mix.

Power and RF Products gross profit increased 12% to $67.8 million in fiscal 2015 from $60.7 million in fiscal 2014 primarily due to higher revenue. Power and RF Products gross margin decreased to 55% in fiscal 2015 from 56% in fiscal 2014 primarily due to changes in product mix.

Unallocated Costs

Unallocated costs were $19.6 million, $20.3 million, and $21.3 million for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. These costs consisted primarily of manufacturing employees’ stock-based compensation, expenses for profit sharing and quarterly or annual incentive plans and matching contributions under our 401(k) plan. These costs were not allocated to the reportable segments’ gross profit because our CODM does not review them regularly when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources.

Unallocated costs decreased by $0.7 million in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015, primarily due to lower stock-based compensation incurred as a result of our lower average share price.

Unallocated costs decreased by $1.0 million in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014, primarily due to lower incentive and stock-based compensation incurred as a result of declining business performance year over year.

For further information on the allocation of costs to segment gross profit, refer to Note 14, “Reportable Segments,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses include costs associated with the development of new products, enhancements of existing products and general technology research. These costs consisted primarily of employee salaries and related compensation costs, occupancy costs, consulting costs and the cost of development equipment and supplies.

The following sets forth our research and development expenses in dollars and as a percentage of revenue (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended									Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014			2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Research and development		$168,848			$182,797			$181,382			($13,949	)	(8	)%		$1,415	1	%
Percent of revenue	10		%	11		%	11		%

Research and development expenses decreased in fiscal 2016 to $168.8 million compared to $182.8 million in fiscal 2015, which increased slightly from $181.4 million in fiscal 2014. The decrease in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 was primarily due to a shift in emphasis to lighting-related research and development, which is inherently less expensive than LED research and development.

Our research and development expenses vary significantly from year to year based on a number of factors, including the timing of new product introductions and the number and nature of our ongoing research and development activities.

Sales, General and Administrative

Sales, general and administrative expenses were comprised primarily of costs associated with our sales and marketing personnel and our executive and administrative personnel (for example, finance, human resources, information technology and legal) and consisted of salaries and related compensation costs; consulting and other professional services (such as litigation and other outside legal counsel fees, audit and other compliance costs); marketing and advertising expenses; facilities and insurance costs and travel and other costs. The following table sets forth our sales, general and administrative expenses in dollars and as a percentage of revenue (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended									Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014			2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Sales, general and administrative		$283,052			$290,730			$268,460			($7,678	)	(3	)%		$22,270	8	%
Percent of revenue	18		%	18		%	16		%

Sales, general and administrative expenses in fiscal 2016 decreased 3% to $283.1 million from $290.7 million in fiscal 2015, which was an 8% increase from $268.5 million in fiscal 2014. The decrease in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 was primarily due to lower spending on corporate sales and marketing expenses related to lower sales, partially offset by an increase in legal fees associated with intellectual property protection and enforcement. The increase in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 was primarily due to an increase in legal fees associated with intellectual property protection and enforcement, severance and lease termination costs pursuant to our restructuring plan, and higher spending on sales and marketing for lighting products, including commissions, trade shows and advertising, as we continued to expand our direct sales resources and channels and invested in building and promoting the Cree brand.

Amortization or Impairment of Acquisition-Related Intangibles

As a result of our acquisitions, we have recognized various amortizable intangible assets, including customer relationships, developed technology, non-compete agreements and trade names.

Amortization of intangible assets related to our acquisitions is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended						Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014		2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Customer relationships		$6,374		$5,614		$7,359		$760		14	%		($1,745	)	(24	)%
Developed technology	20,321		18,642		19,446		1,679			9	%	(804		)	(4	)%
Non-compete agreements	2,037		1,960		1,960		77			4	%	—			—	%
Trade names, finite-lived			4		23		(4		)	(100	)%	(19		)	(83	)%
Total		$28,732		$26,220		$28,788		$2,512		10	%		($2,568	)	(9	)%

Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles increased in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 primarily due to the amortization of intangibles related to the APEI acquisition as discussed in Note 3, “Acquisition,” in our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles decreased in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 primarily due to decreases in amortization expense for customer relationships and developed technology.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, based on our qualitative impairment assessment of our indefinite-lived trade names, we impaired the Ruud Lighting trade name which had a book value of $3.2 million.

Loss on Disposal or Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We operate a capital intensive business. As such, we dispose of a certain level of our equipment in the normal course of business as our production processes change due to production improvement initiatives or product mix changes. Due to the risk of technological obsolescence or changes in our production process, we regularly review our equipment and capitalized patent costs for possible impairment. The following table sets forth our loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended						Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014		2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets		$16,913		$47,722		$2,690		($30,809	)	(65	)%		$45,032	1,674	%

We recognized a net loss of $16.9 million, $47.7 million, and $2.7 million on the disposal of long-lived assets in fiscal years 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. The net losses in fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 were primarily due to the planned sale or abandonment of certain long-lived assets to reduce excess manufacturing capacity pursuant to our restructuring plan discussed above. The net loss for fiscal 2014 was primarily the result of disposals of equipment due to changes in various manufacturing processes and the abandonment of certain patent assets as a result of technological obsolescence.

Non-Operating (Expense) Income, net

The following table sets forth our non-operating (expense) income, net (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended								Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014		2015 to 2016					2014 to 2015
Gain on sale of investments, net		$238			$925			$68		($687	)	(74	)%		$857		1,260	%
Loss on equity method investment	(15,357		)	(22,624		)	—		7,267			(32	)%	(22,624		)	—
Dividends from equity method investment	1,655			2,581			—		(926		)	(36	)%	2,581			—
Interest income, net	4,472			9,086			11,932		(4,614		)	(51	)%	(2,846		)	(24	)%
Foreign currency (loss) gain, net	(4,500		)	(929		)	45		(3,571		)	384	%	(974		)	(2,164	)%
Other, net	457			572			1,250		(115		)	(20	)%	(678		)	(54	)%
Non-operating (expense) income, net		($13,035	)		($10,389	)		$13,295		($2,646	)	25	%		($23,684	)	(178	)%

During fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014 we were in a net interest income position. Our short-term investments consisted primarily of municipal bonds, corporate bonds, U.S. agency securities, non-U.S. certificates of deposit and non-U.S. government securities. The primary objective of our investment policy is preservation of principal. Other long-term investments consisted of our approximately 14% common stock ownership interest in Lextar Electronics Corporation (Lextar), which was completed in December 2014. This investment was accounted for under the equity method from the date of investment until June 2016 when we chose not to stand for re-election as a member of the Lextar board of directors. We utilize the fair value option in accounting for our investment in Lextar.

Gain on sale of investments, net. Gain on sale of investments, net was $238 thousand, $925 thousand and $68 thousand in fiscal 2016, fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, respectively. Gain on sale of investments, net decreased in fiscal 2016 primarily due to lower sales of investments. Gain on sale of investments, net increased in fiscal 2015 primarily due to gains realized on the sale of investments liquidated in order to fund the repurchase of our common stock.

Loss on equity method investment. Loss on equity method investment was $15.4 million in fiscal 2016 and $22.6 million in fiscal 2015 due to decreases in the fair value of our Lextar investment. Lextar’s stock is publicly traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and its share price declined from 30 New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) at the date of our investment in December 2014 to 21.55 TWD at June 28, 2015 and to 15.70 TWD at June 26, 2016. This downward stock price trend may continue in the future given the risks inherent in Lextar’s business and trends affecting the Taiwan and global equity markets. Any future stock price declines will be recorded as further losses based on the decrease in the fair value of the investment during the applicable fiscal period, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Dividends from equity method investment. Dividends from equity method investment were $1.7 million in fiscal 2016 and $2.6 million in fiscal 2015 due to our Lextar investment.

Interest income, net. Interest income, net was $4.5 million, $9.1 million and $11.9 million in fiscal 2016, fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, respectively. The decrease in interest income, net in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015 was primarily due to lower invested balances and higher interest expense due to overall higher borrowings associated with our line of credit, partially offset by higher investment yields. The decrease in interest income, net in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 was primarily due to earning lower investment yields and lower invested balances, partially offset by interest expense associated with our revolving line of credit.

Foreign currency (loss) gain, net. Foreign currency (loss) gain, net consisted primarily of remeasurement adjustments resulting from our Lextar investment and consolidating our international subsidiaries. The foreign currency loss, net in fiscal 2016 was primarily due to unfavorable fluctuation in the exchange rate between the TWD and the United States Dollar related to our Lextar investment and unfavorable fluctuation in the exchange rate between the Chinese Yuan and the United States Dollar. The foreign currency loss, net in fiscal 2015 was primarily due to unfavorable fluctuation in the exchange rate between the TWD and the United States Dollar related to our Lextar investment and unfavorable fluctuation in the exchange rate between the Euro and the United States Dollar. The foreign currency gain, net for fiscal 2014 was primarily due to favorable fluctuation in the exchange rate between the Chinese Yuan and the United States Dollar.

Other, net. Other, net was $0.5 million, $0.6 million and $1.3 million in fiscal 2016, fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, respectively. Other, net decreased from $1.3 million in fiscal 2014 to $0.6 million in fiscal 2015 primarily due to the receipt of a Chinese government subsidy in fiscal 2014.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

The following table sets forth our income tax (benefit) expense in dollars and our effective tax rate (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended									Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014			2015 to 2016			2014 to 2015
Income tax (benefit) expense		($1,970	)		($19,247	)		$23,041		17,277	(90	)%	(42,288	)	(184	)%
Effective tax rate	8		%	23		%	16		%

We recognized income tax benefit of $2.0 million in fiscal 2016 as compared to income tax benefit of $19.2 million in fiscal 2015. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 23% in fiscal 2015 to 8% in fiscal 2016 was primarily due to the establishment of a valuation allowance on foreign net operating loss carryovers during fiscal 2016, which had the impact of decreasing the tax benefit realized. The increase in the effective tax rate from 16% in fiscal 2014 to 23% in fiscal 2015 was primarily due to the inverse relationship that tax credits had on the fiscal 2015 effective tax rate due to the pre-tax loss, offset by a higher percentage of our pre-tax loss being derived from international operations in fiscal 2015, which are taxed at lower tax rates than U.S. operations.

The variation between our effective income tax rate and the U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent is due to the impact of our pre-tax income or loss relative to favorable tax rate impacts associated predominantly with our: (i) income derived from international locations with lower tax rates than the U.S. and (ii) tax credits generated, which were offset by the establishment of a valuation allowance on foreign net operating loss carryovers. Tax credits and other deductions have the impact of increasing the tax rate above the statutory rate of 35% in periods in which we report pre-tax losses as they provide a benefit recoverable in future periods. In addition, our effective tax rate may be negatively impacted by the lack of sufficient excess tax benefits (credits) that accumulate in our equity as additional paid-in-capital (APIC) and referred to as the “APIC pool” of credits. In situations where our realized tax deductions for certain stock-based compensation awards, such as non-qualified stock options and restricted stock, are less than those originally anticipated, which accumulate in the APIC pool, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) requires that we recognize the difference as an increase to income tax expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

We require cash to fund our operating expenses and working capital requirements, including outlays for research and development, capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions and investments. Our principal sources of liquidity are cash on hand, marketable securities, cash generated from operations and availability under our line of credit. Our ability to generate cash from operations has been one of our fundamental strengths and has provided us with substantial flexibility in meeting our operating, financing and investing needs. We have a $500 million line of credit as discussed in Note 8, “Long-term Debt,” in our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. The purpose of this facility is to provide short term flexibility to optimize returns on our cash and investment portfolio while funding share repurchases, capital expenditures and other general business needs.

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Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe our current working capital, availability under our line of credit and anticipated cash flows from operations will be adequate to meet our cash needs for our daily operations and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. We may use a portion of our available cash and cash equivalents, line of credit or funds underlying our marketable securities to repurchase shares of our common stock pursuant to repurchase programs authorized by our Board of Directors. With our strong working capital position, we believe that we have the ability to continue to invest in further development of our products and, when necessary or appropriate, make selective acquisitions or other strategic investments to strengthen our product portfolio, secure key intellectual properties or expand our production capacity.

From time to time, we evaluate strategic opportunities, including potential acquisitions, divestitures or investments in complementary businesses, and we anticipate continuing to make such evaluations. We may also access capital markets through the issuance of debt or additional shares of common stock in connection with the acquisition of complementary businesses or other significant assets or for other strategic opportunities. On July 8, 2015, Cree closed on the acquisition of Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc. (APEI) as discussed in Note 3, “Acquisition,” in our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. Additionally, as discussed more fully above in “Business Outlook” and in Note 19, “Subsequent Event,” in our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report, on July 13, 2016, we executed a definitive agreement to sell the Wolfspeed business to Infineon. We anticipate using the proceeds from this transaction, combined with our expected improved free cash flow following the closing of the transaction, to fund potential acquisitions as well as to support additional share repurchases.

Contractual Obligations

At June 26, 2016, payments to be made pursuant to significant contractual obligations are as follows (in thousands):



			Payments Due by Period
	Total		Less than One Year		One to Three Years		Three to Five Years		More Than Five Years
Operating lease obligations		$11,359		$4,850		$4,637		$1,846		$26
Purchase obligations	134,494		131,482		1,321		895		796
Long-term debt	160,000						160,000
Interest payments on long-term debt¹	12,329		2,723		5,446		4,160
Other long-term liabilities²	—		—		—		—		—
Total contractual obligations		$318,182		$139,055		$11,404		$166,901		$822

¹Interest payments on long-term debt are based on the interest rate at June 26, 2016.

²Other long-term liabilities as of June 26, 2016 included long-term tax contingencies and other tax liabilities of $9.3 million, deferred liabilities of $0.2 million and other long-term contingent liabilities (for example, warranties) of $4.8 million. These liabilities were not included in the table above as they will either not be settled in cash and/or the timing of any payments is uncertain.

Operating lease obligations include rental amounts due on leases of certain office and manufacturing space under the terms of non-cancelable operating leases. These leases expire at various times through May 2022. Most of the lease agreements provide for rental adjustments for increases in base rent, property taxes and general property maintenance that would be recognized as rent expense, if applicable.

Purchase obligations represent purchase commitments, including open purchase orders and contracts, and are generally related to the purchase of goods and services in the ordinary course of business such as raw materials, supplies and capital equipment.

Financial Condition

The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		Change
Cash and cash equivalents		$166,154		$139,710		$26,444
Short-term investments	439,151		573,481		(134,330		)
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments		$605,305		$713,191		($107,886	)

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Our liquidity and capital resources primarily depend on our cash flows from operations and our working capital. The significant components of our working capital are liquid assets such as cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and inventories reduced by trade accounts payable.

The following table presents the components of our cash conversion cycle:



	Three Months Ended
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		Change
Days of sales outstanding (a)	38		44		(6	)
Days of supply in inventory (b)	99		83		16
Days in accounts payable (c)	(43	)	(48	)	5
Cash conversion cycle	94		79		15


a)	Days of sales outstanding (DSO) measures the average collection period of our receivables. DSO is based on the ending net trade receivables and the revenue, net for the quarter then ended. DSO is calculated by dividing ending accounts receivable, net of applicable allowances and reserves, by the average net revenue per day for the respective 90 day period.


b)	Days of supply in inventory (DSI) measures the average number of days from procurement to sale of our product. DSI is based on ending inventory and cost of revenue, net for the quarter then ended. DSI is calculated by dividing ending inventory by average cost of revenue, net per day for the respective 90 day period.


c)	Days in accounts payable (DPO) measures the average number of days our payables remain outstanding before payment. DPO is based on ending accounts payable and cost of revenue, net for the quarter then ended. DPO is calculated by dividing ending accounts payable by the average cost of revenue, net per day for the respective 90 day period.

The increase in the cash conversion cycle was primarily driven by an increase in days of supply in inventory and a decrease in days in accounts payable, partially offset by a decrease in days of sales outstanding.

As of June 26, 2016, we had unrealized losses on our investments of $0.1 million. All of our investments had investment grade ratings, and any such investments that were in an unrealized loss position at June 26, 2016 were in such position due to interest rate changes, sector credit rating changes or company-specific rating changes. As we intend and believe that we have the ability to hold such investments for a period of time that will be sufficient for anticipated recovery in market value, we currently expect to receive the full principal or recover our cost basis in these securities. The declines in value of the securities in our portfolio are considered to be temporary in nature and, accordingly, we do not believe these securities are impaired as of June 26, 2016.

Cash Flows

In summary, our cash flows were as follows (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended									Year-Over-Year Change
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014			2015 to 2016			2014 to 2015
Cash provided by operating activities		$203,316			$181,254			$319,308			$22,062			($138,054	)
Cash used in investing activities	(7,903		)	(16,137		)	(242,265		)	8,234			226,128
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(167,859		)	(311,353		)	19,542			143,494			(330,895		)
Effect of foreign exchange changes	(1,110		)	(878		)	170			(232		)	(1,048		)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		$26,444			($147,114	)		$96,755			$173,558			($243,869	)

The following is a discussion of our primary sources and uses of cash in our operating, investing and financing activities.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $203.3 million in fiscal 2016 from $181.3 million in fiscal 2015, primarily due to a lower net loss in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $181.3 million in fiscal 2015 from $319.3 million in fiscal 2014, primarily due to a net loss in fiscal 2015 as compared to net income in fiscal 2014.

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Our investing activities primarily relate to transactions within our short-term investments, purchases of property and equipment and payments for patents and licensing rights. Net cash used in investing activities was $7.9 million in fiscal 2016 compared to $16.1 million in fiscal 2015. Net purchases of property and equipment decreased by $91.2 million in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015. Net proceeds from the sale of short-term investments decreased $156 million in fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015. This year over year decrease was primarily due to a decrease in proceeds from the sale and maturities of short-term investments, partially offset by a decrease in short-term investment purchase activity. Fiscal 2016 included $12.5 million in net expenditures to acquire APEI while fiscal 2015 included the $80.6 million investment in Lextar.

Net cash used in investing activities was $16.1 million in fiscal 2015 compared to $242.3 million in fiscal 2014. Net proceeds from the sale of short-term investments increased $333.4 million in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. This year over year increase was primarily due to an overall net decrease in short-term investment purchase activity and increase in proceeds from the sale of short-term investments. This net increase was partially offset by the $80.6 million investment in Lextar and a $26.9 million increase in capital spending to support our future growth.

For fiscal 2017, we target committing approximately $50 million of capital to support Lighting and LED products growth and strategic priorities. Additionally, we target spending approximately $75 million to support the Power and RF business growth and longer-term infrastructure needs, however, this amount is expected to be less if the sale to Infineon is closed before our fiscal year end.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $167.9 million in fiscal 2016 compared to net cash used by financing activities of $311.4 million in fiscal 2015. Our financing activities for fiscal 2016 primarily consisted of repurchases of common stock of $149.6 million and net payments on long-term debt borrowings of $40.0 million on our line of credit, partially offset by proceeds of $21.7 million from net issuances of common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan, including the excess tax benefit on those exercises.

In fiscal 2015, net cash used in financing activities was $311.4 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $19.5 million in fiscal 2014. Our financing activities in fiscal 2015 primarily consisted of repurchases of common stock of $549.7 million, partially offset by net proceeds from long-term borrowings of $200 million on our line of credit and proceeds of $38.3 million from net issuances of common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan, including the excess tax benefit on those exercises.

On June 18, 2015, the Board of Directors approved our fiscal 2016 stock repurchase program, authorizing us to repurchase shares of our common stock having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $500 million for all purchases from June 29, 2015 through the expiration of the program on June 26, 2016. Since the inception of our stock repurchase program in 2001, we have repurchased 34.2 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $29.34 per share with an aggregate value of $1.0 billion. The repurchase program could be implemented through open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of our management.

Fair Value

Under U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, we use various valuation approaches, including quoted market prices and discounted cash flows. U.S. GAAP also 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 most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are obtained from independent sources and can be validated by a third party, whereas unobservable inputs reflect assumptions regarding what a third party would use in pricing an asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:


•	Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments that we are able 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.


•	Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for instruments that are similar, or quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar instruments, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.


•	Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The financial assets for which we perform recurring fair value remeasurements are cash equivalents and short-term investments. As of June 26, 2016, financial assets utilizing Level 1 inputs included money market funds. Financial assets utilizing Level 2

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inputs included corporate bonds, municipal bonds, U.S. agency securities, non-U.S. certificates of deposit and non-U.S. government securities. Level 2 assets are valued using a third-party pricing service's consensus price which is a weighted average price based on multiple sources. These sources determine prices utilizing market income models which factor in, where applicable, transactions of similar assets in active markets, transactions of identical assets in infrequent markets, interest rates, bond or credit default swap spreads and volatility. We do not have any financial assets requiring the use of Level 3 inputs. Please refer to Note 6, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report for further information.

Financial and Market Risks

We are exposed to financial and market risks, including changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodities risk. We have entered and may in the future enter into foreign currency derivative financial instruments in an effort to manage or hedge some of our foreign exchange rate risk. We may not be able to engage in hedging transactions in the future, and even if we do, foreign currency fluctuations may still have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial performance. All of the potential changes noted below are based on sensitivity analysis performed on our financial positions at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015. Actual results may differ materially.

Interest Rates

We maintain an investment portfolio principally composed of money market funds, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper and certificates of deposit. In order to minimize risk, our cash management policy permits us to acquire investments rated “A” grade or better. As of June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015, our cash equivalents and short-term investments had a fair value of $0.4 billion and $590.1 million, respectively. If interest rates were to hypothetically increase by 100 basis points, the fair value of our cash equivalents and short-term investments would decrease by $9.6 million at June 26, 2016 and $9.7 million at June 28, 2015. We do not believe that a 10% change in interest rates would have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

As of June 26, 2016, we maintained a secured revolving line of credit under which we can borrow, repay and reborrow loans from time to time prior to its scheduled maturity date of January 9, 2020. At June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015, we had $160 million and $200 million outstanding, respectively, under the line of credit. If interest rates were to increase by 100 basis points, the annual interest incurred under our line of credit would have increased by $1.6 million at June 26, 2016 and $2.0 million at June 28, 2015.

Currency Exchange Rates

Because we operate internationally and have transactions denominated in foreign currencies, including the Chinese Yuan and Euro, among others, we are exposed to currency exchange rate risks. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect our expenses and results of operations as well as the value of our assets and liabilities. Our primary exposures relate to the exchange rates between (1) the U.S. Dollar and the Chinese Yuan and (2) the U.S. Dollar and the Taiwanese Dollar. The potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% increase in the value of the U.S. Dollar compared to the Chinese Yuan was approximately $1.0 million at June 26, 2016 and $2.4 million at June 28, 2015. The potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% increase in the value of the U.S. Dollar compared to the Taiwanese Dollar was approximately $4.2 million at June 26, 2016 and $6.0 million at June 28, 2015.

Commodities

We utilize significant amounts of precious metals, gases and other commodities in our manufacturing processes. General economic conditions, market specific changes or other factors outside of our control may affect the pricing of these commodities. We do not use financial instruments to hedge commodity prices.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not use off-balance sheet arrangements with unconsolidated entities or related parties, nor do we use any other forms of off-balance sheet arrangements. Accordingly, our liquidity and capital resources are not subject to off-balance sheet risks from unconsolidated entities. As of June 26, 2016, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

We have entered into operating leases primarily for certain of our U.S. and international facilities in the normal course of business. Future minimum lease payments under our operating leases as of June 26, 2016 are detailed above in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in the section entitled “Contractual Obligations.”

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In the application of U.S. GAAP, we are required to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. Changes in the accounting estimates from period to period are reasonably likely to occur. Accordingly, actual results could differ significantly from the estimates made by management. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our future financial statement presentation of our financial condition or results of operations may be affected.

We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to revenue recognition, product warranty obligations, valuation of inventories, tax related contingencies, valuation of stock-based compensation, valuation of long-lived and intangible assets, other contingencies and litigation, among others. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions, including expected trends that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. We believe that the following are our most critical accounting policies and estimates, each of which is critical to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and requires our most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. Our management has reviewed our critical accounting policies and the related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize product revenue when the earnings process is complete, as evidenced by persuasive evidence of an arrangement (typically in the form of a purchase order), when the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of revenue is reasonably assured, and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer.

We provide our customers with limited rights of return for non-conforming shipments and product warranty claims. We estimate an allowance for anticipated sales returns based upon an analysis of historical sales returns and other relevant data. We recognize an allowance for non-conforming returns at the time of sale as a reduction of product revenue and as a reduction to the related accounts receivable balance. We recognize a liability for product warranty claims at the time of sale as an increase to cost of revenue.

For the year ended June 26, 2016, 55% of our revenue was from sales to distributors. Distributors stock inventory and sell our products to their own customer base, which may include: value added resellers; manufacturers who incorporate our products into their own manufactured goods; or ultimate end users of our products. We recognize revenue upon shipment of our products to our distributors. This arrangement is often referred to as a “sell-in” or “point-of-purchase” model as opposed to a “sell-through” or “point-of-sale” model, where revenue is deferred and not recognized until the distributor sells the product through to their customer.

Our distributors may be provided limited rights that allow them to return a portion of inventory (product exchange rights or stock rotation rights) and receive credits for changes in selling prices (price protection rights) or customer pricing arrangements under our “ship and debit” program or other targeted sales incentives. When determining our net revenue, we make significant judgments and estimates corresponding with product shipments. We recognize a reserve for estimated future returns, changes in selling prices, and other targeted sales incentives when product ships. We also recognize an asset for the estimated value of product returns that we believe will be returned to inventory in the future and resold, and these estimates are based upon historical data, current economic trends, distributor inventory levels and other related factors. Our financial condition and operating results are dependent upon our ability to make reliable estimates. Actual results may vary and could have a significant impact on our operating results.

From time to time, we will issue a new price book for our products, and provide a credit to certain distributors for inventory quantities on hand if required by our agreement with the distributor. This practice is known as price protection. These credits are applied against the reserve that we establish upon initial shipment of product to the distributor.

Under the ship and debit program, products are sold to distributors at negotiated prices and the distributors are required to pay for the products purchased within our standard commercial terms. Subsequent to the initial product purchase, a distributor may request a price allowance for a particular part number(s) for certain target customers, prior to the distributor reselling the particular part to that customer. If we approve an allowance and the distributor resells the product to the target customer, we credit the distributor according to the allowance we approved. These credits are applied against a reserve we establish upon initial shipment of product to the distributor.

In addition, we run sales incentive programs with certain distributors and retailers, such as product rebates and cooperative advertising campaigns. We recognize these incentives at the time they are offered to customers and record a credit to their account

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with an offsetting expense as either a reduction to revenue, increase to cost of revenue, or marketing expense depending on the type of sales incentive.

Warranties

Product warranties are estimated and recognized at the time we recognize revenue. The warranty periods range from 90 days to 10 years. We estimate these warranty liabilities at the time of sale, based on historical and projected incident rates and expected future warranty costs. We estimate costs related to product recalls based on a formal campaign soliciting repair or return of that product when they are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. We evaluate our warranty reserves on a quarterly basis based on various factors including historical warranty claims, assumptions about the frequency of warranty claims, and assumptions about the frequency of product failures derived from quality testing, field monitoring and our reliability estimates. Actual product failure rates that materially differ from our estimates could have a significant impact on our operating results.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or an average cost method; and with market not to exceed net realizable value. We write-down our inventories for estimated obsolescence equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and its estimated market value based upon an aging analysis of the inventory on hand, specifically known inventory-related risks (such as technological obsolescence), and assumptions about future demand. We also analyze sales levels by product type, including historical and estimated future customer demand for those products to determine if any additional reserves are appropriate. For example, we adjust for items that are considered obsolete based upon changes in customer demand, manufacturing process changes or new product introductions that may eliminate demand for the product. Any adjustment to our inventories as a result of an estimated obsolescence or net realizable condition is reflected as a component of our cost of revenue. At the point of the loss recognition, a new, lower-cost basis for that inventory is established, and any subsequent improvements in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established lower-cost basis.

In order to determine what costs can be included in the valuation of inventories, we determine normal capacity for our manufacturing facilities based on historical patterns. If our estimates regarding customer demand are inaccurate, or market conditions or technology change in ways that are less favorable than those projected by management, we may be required to take excess capacity charges in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which could have an adverse effect on our operating results.

Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowances

In assessing the adequacy of a recognized valuation allowance, we consider all positive and negative evidence and a variety of factors including historical and projected future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. When we establish or increase a valuation allowance, our income tax expense increases in the period such determination is made. If we decrease a valuation allowance, our income tax expense decreases in the period such a determination is made.

Tax Contingencies

We are subject to periodic audits of our income tax returns by federal, state, local and foreign agencies. These audits typically include questions regarding our tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (ASC 740), we regularly evaluate the exposures associated with our various tax filing positions. ASC 740 states that a tax benefit should not be recognized for financial statement purposes for an uncertain tax filing position where it is not more likely than not (likelihood of greater than 50%) for being sustained by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position.

In accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, we have established unrecognized tax benefits (as a reduction to the deferred tax asset or as an increase to other liabilities) to reduce some or all of the tax benefit of any of our tax positions at the time we determine that the positions become uncertain based upon one of the following: the tax position is not “more likely than not” to be sustained; the tax position is “more likely than not” to be sustained, but for a lesser amount; or the tax position is “more likely than not” to be sustained, but not in the financial period in which the tax position was originally taken. For purposes of evaluating whether or not a tax position is uncertain, we presume the tax position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information; the technical merits of a tax position are derived from authorities such as legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings and case law and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position; and each tax position is evaluated without consideration of the possibility of offset or aggregation with other tax positions taken.

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We adjust these unrecognized tax benefits, including any impact on the related interest and penalties, in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit.

A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which we have established an unrecognized tax benefit is audited and fully resolved. To the extent we prevail in matters for which we have established an unrecognized benefit or are required to pay amounts in excess of what we have recognized, our effective tax rate in a given financial statement period could be materially affected. An unfavorable tax settlement might require use of our cash and/or result in an increase in our effective tax rate in the year of resolution. A favorable tax settlement would be recognized as a reduction in our effective tax rate in the year of resolution.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for awards of stock-based compensation under our employee stock-based compensation plans using the fair value method. Accordingly, we estimate the grant date fair value of our stock-based awards and amortize this fair value to compensation expense over the requisite service period or vesting term. We currently use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of our stock option and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) awards. The determination of the fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our then current stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate and expected dividends.

Due to the inherent limitations of option-valuation models, future events that are unpredictable and the estimation process utilized in determining the valuation of the stock-based awards, the ultimate value realized by award holders may vary significantly from the amounts expensed in our financial statements. For restricted stock and stock unit awards, grant date fair value is based upon the market price of our common stock on the date of the grant. This fair value is then amortized to compensation expense over the requisite service period or vesting term.

We estimate expected forfeitures at the time of grant and revise this estimate, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. Our determination of an estimated forfeiture rate is primarily based upon a review of historical experience but may also include consideration of other facts and circumstances we believe are indicative of future activity. The assessment of an estimated forfeiture rate will not alter the total compensation expense to be recognized, only the timing of this recognition as compensation expense is adjusted to reflect instruments that actually vest.

If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and judgments used in estimating key assumptions, we may be required to adjust compensation expense, which could be material to our results of operations.

Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets such as property, equipment and finite-lived intangible assets, such as patents, for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets recognized in our financial statements may not be recoverable. Factors that we consider include whether there has been a significant decrease in the market value of an asset, a significant change in the way an asset is being used, or a significant change, delay or departure in our strategy for that asset. Our assessment of the recoverability of long-lived assets involves significant judgment and estimation. These assessments reflect our assumptions, which, we believe, are consistent with the assumptions hypothetical marketplace participants use. Factors that we must estimate when performing recoverability and impairment tests include, among others, the economic life of the asset, sales volumes, prices, cost of capital, tax rates, and capital spending. These factors are often interdependent and therefore do not change in isolation. If impairment is indicated, we first determine if the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amounts of the asset or assets. If so, an impairment loss is measured and recognized.

After an impairment loss is recognized, a new, lower cost basis for that long-lived asset is established. Subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the reversal of a previously recognized impairment loss.

Our impairment loss calculations require that we apply judgment in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, including estimating useful lives of the assets. To make these judgments, we may use internal discounted cash flow estimates, quoted market prices when available and independent appraisals as appropriate to determine fair value.

If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and judgments used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, we may be required to recognize additional impairment losses which could be material to our results of operations.

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Goodwill

We test goodwill for impairment at least annually as of the first day of the fiscal fourth quarter, or when indications of potential impairment exist. We monitor for the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the fiscal year. We conduct impairment testing for goodwill at the reporting unit level. Reporting units, as defined by FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other” (ASC 350), may be operating segments as a whole or an operation one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. We have determined that our reporting units are our three operating and reportable segments.

We may initiate goodwill impairment testing by considering qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s carrying value is greater than its fair value. Such factors may include the following, among others: a significant decline in the reporting unit’s expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in our stock price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates; as well as changes in management, key personnel, strategy, and customers. If our qualitative assessment indicates that goodwill impairment is more likely than not, we perform the two-step impairment test. Alternatively, we may bypass the qualitative test and initiate goodwill impairment testing with the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test.

During the first step of the goodwill impairment test, we compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. We derive a reporting unit’s fair value through a combination of the market approach (a guideline transaction method) and the income approach (a discounted cash flow analysis). The income approach utilizes a discount rate from the capital asset pricing model. If all reporting units are analyzed during the first step of the goodwill impairment test, their respective fair values are reconciled back to our consolidated market capitalization.

If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then we conclude that no goodwill impairment has occurred. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure possible goodwill impairment loss. During the second step, we hypothetically value the reporting unit’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Then, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying value of its goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, we recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. Once an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying value of the goodwill becomes the new accounting basis of the goodwill for the reporting unit.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

We test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually in the fiscal fourth quarter, or when indications of potential impairment exist. We monitor for the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the fiscal year. Our impairment test may begin with a qualitative test to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset’s carrying value is greater than its fair value. In performing this test, we may consider the following qualitative factors, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; changes in industry and market conditions such as the deterioration in the environment in which we operate or an increased competitive environment; changes in management, key personnel, strategy, or customers; as well as other economic factors. If our qualitative assessment indicates that asset impairment is more likely than not, we perform a quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset to its carrying value. Alternatively, we may bypass the qualitative test and initiate impairment testing with the quantitative impairment test.

Determining the fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets entails significant estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, determining the timing and expected costs to complete development projects, estimating future cash flows from product revenue, developing appropriate discount rates, estimating probability rates for the successful completion of development projects, continuation of customer relationships and renewal of customer contracts, and approximating the useful lives of the intangible assets acquired.

If the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its carrying value, we conclude that no impairment has occurred. If the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, we recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value. Once an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying value becomes the new accounting basis of the indefinite-lived intangible asset.

Contingent Liabilities

We provide for contingent liabilities in accordance with U.S. GAAP, under which a loss contingency is charged to income when (1) it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and (2) the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

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Periodically, we review the status of each significant matter to assess the potential financial exposure. If a potential loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we reflect the estimated loss in our results of operations. Significant judgment is required to determine the probability that a liability has been incurred or an asset impaired and whether such loss is reasonably estimable. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based on the best information available at the time. Further, estimates of this nature are highly subjective, and the final outcome of these matters could vary significantly from the amounts that may have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In determining the probability of an unfavorable outcome of a particular contingent liability and whether such liability is reasonably estimable, we consider the individual facts and circumstances related to the liability, opinions of legal counsel and recent legal rulings by the appropriate regulatory bodies, among other factors. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to our pending and threatened claims and litigation and may revise our estimates accordingly. Such revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position. See also a discussion of specific contingencies in Note 13, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report for a description of recent accounting pronouncements, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated financial statements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

See the section entitled “Financial and Market Risks” included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of this Annual Report.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements



	Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	48

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015	49

Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014	50

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014	51

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014	52

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014	53

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	54

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To Board of Directors and Shareholders of Cree, Inc.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statement of (loss) income, comprehensive (loss) income, cash flows and shareholders’ equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cree, Inc. and its subsidiaries at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 26, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 26, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework 2013 issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing under Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements 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.

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
Raleigh, North Carolina
August 25, 2016

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CREE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015
	(In thousands, except par value)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$166,154			$139,710
Short-term investments	439,151			573,481
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	605,305			713,191
Accounts receivable, net	165,611			186,157
Income tax receivable	6,304			—
Inventories	303,542			280,576
Deferred income taxes	—			39,190
Prepaid expenses	26,810			29,932
Other current assets	44,788			54,851
Assets held for sale	4,347			4,353
Total current assets	1,156,707			1,308,250
Property and equipment, net	599,723			635,072
Goodwill	618,828			616,345
Intangible assets, net	302,810			310,729
Other long-term investments	40,179			57,595
Deferred income taxes	38,564			8,951
Other assets	9,249			11,091
Total assets		$2,766,060			$2,948,033
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable, trade		$132,286			$163,128
Accrued salaries and wages	44,642			45,415
Income taxes payable	—			2,035
Other current liabilities	46,071			44,208
Total current liabilities	222,999			254,786
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	160,000			200,000
Deferred income taxes	943			10,211
Other long-term liabilities	14,294			21,084
Total long-term liabilities	175,237			231,295
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01; 3,000 shares authorized at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015; none issued and outstanding	—			—
Common stock, par value $0.00125; 200,000 shares authorized at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015; 100,829 and 105,507 shares issued and outstanding at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015, respectively	125			131
Additional paid-in-capital	2,359,584			2,285,554
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes	8,728			5,798
(Accumulated deficit)/retained earnings	(613		)	170,469
Total shareholders’ equity	2,367,824			2,461,952
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$2,766,060			$2,948,033

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

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CREE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenue, net		$1,616,627			$1,632,505			$1,647,641
Cost of revenue, net	1,129,553			1,158,586			1,029,885
Gross profit	487,074			473,919			617,756
Operating expenses:
Research and development	168,848			182,797			181,382
Sales, general and administrative	283,052			290,730			268,460
Amortization or impairment of acquisition-related intangibles	28,732			26,220			31,988
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets	16,913			47,722			2,690
Total operating expenses	497,545			547,469			484,520
Operating (loss) income	(10,471		)	(73,550		)	133,236
Non-operating (expense) income, net	(13,035		)	(10,389		)	13,295
(Loss) income before income taxes	(23,506		)	(83,939		)	146,531
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,970		)	(19,247		)	23,041
Net (loss) income		($21,536	)		($64,692	)		$123,490
(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic		($0.21	)		($0.57	)		$1.02
Diluted		($0.21	)		($0.57	)		$1.00
Weighted average shares used in per share calculation:
Basic	101,783			113,022			120,623
Diluted	101,783			113,022			122,914

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

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CREE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
	(In thousands)
Net (loss) income		($21,536	)		($64,692	)		$123,490
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation (loss) gain, net of tax benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively	(362		)	(3,563		)	57
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($1,936), $1,284, and ($1,946), respectively	3,292			(2,044		)	3,104
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,930			(5,607		)	3,161
Comprehensive (loss) income		($18,606	)		($70,299	)		$126,651

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

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CREE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income		($21,536	)		($64,692	)		$123,490
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	159,145			173,323			164,010
Stock-based compensation	58,728			64,299			61,686
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements	(12		)	(1,395		)	(19,235		)
Impairment of acquisition-related intangibles	—			254			3,200
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets	16,913			47,722			2,690
Amortization of premium/discount on investments	5,314			6,152			10,158
Loss on equity method investment	15,357			22,624			—
Foreign exchange loss on equity method investment	2,057			347			—
Deferred income taxes	(15,839		)	(21,346		)	2,371
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition:
Accounts receivable, net	21,800			37,853			(32,651		)
Inventories	(23,269		)	3,528			(87,012		)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	8,103			(11,112		)	7,926
Accounts payable, trade	(12,090		)	(44,796		)	66,297
Accrued salaries and wages and other liabilities	(11,355		)	(31,507		)	16,378
Net cash provided by operating activities	203,316			181,254			319,308
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(120,018		)	(206,160		)	(178,557		)
Purchases of patent and licensing rights	(14,443		)	(19,491		)	(20,183		)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	5,296			285			117
Purchases of short-term investments	(220,823		)	(349,802		)	(625,820		)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments	312,524			419,802			493,288
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	42,074			219,795			88,890
Purchase of other long-term investments	—			(80,566		)	—
Purchase of acquired business, net of cash acquired	(12,513		)	—			—
Net cash used in investing activities	(7,903		)	(16,137		)	(242,265		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	653,000			695,000			—
Payments on long-term debt borrowings	(693,000		)	(495,000		)	—
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	21,682			36,929			100,006
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements	12			1,395			19,235
Repurchases of common stock	(149,553		)	(549,677		)	(99,699		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(167,859		)	(311,353		)	19,542
Effects of foreign exchange changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,110		)	(878		)	170
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	26,444			(147,114		)	96,755
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period	139,710			286,824			190,069
End of period		$166,154			$139,710			$286,824
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest		$3,110			$1,002			$—
Cash paid for income taxes		$14,722			$28,834			$10,292
Significant non-cash transactions:
Accrued property and equipment		$3,721			$24,243			$15,700

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

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CREE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY



	Common Stock					Additional Paid-in Capital			(Accumulated deficit)/Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Total Shareholders’ Equity
	Number of Shares		Par Value			Additional Paid-in Capital			(Accumulated deficit)/Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Total Shareholders’ Equity
	(In thousands)
Balance at June 30, 2013	119,623			$148			$2,025,764			$769,434			$8,244			$2,803,590
Net income	—		—			—			123,490			—			123,490
Currency translation gain, net of tax benefit of $0	—		—			—			—			57			57
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense of $1,946	—		—			—			—			3,104			3,104
Comprehensive income															126,651
Income tax benefit from stock option exercises	—		—			8,198			—			—			8,198
Repurchased shares	(2,259	)	(3		)	—			(108,106		)				(108,109		)
Stock-based compensation	—		—			62,415			—			—			62,415
Exercise of stock options and issuance of shares	2,750		4			93,634			—			—			93,638
Balance at June 29, 2014	120,114			$149			$2,190,011			$784,818			$11,405			$2,986,383
Net loss	—		—			—			(64,692		)	—			(64,692		)
Currency translation loss, net of tax benefit of $0	—		—			—			—			(3,563		)	(3,563		)
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax benefit of $1,284	—		—			—			—			(2,044		)	(2,044		)
Comprehensive income															(70,299		)
Income tax expense from stock option exercises	—		—			(1,010		)	—			—			(1,010		)
Repurchased shares	(16,034	)	(20		)	—			(549,657		)				(549,677		)
Stock-based compensation	—		—			64,720			—			—			64,720
Exercise of stock options and issuance of shares	1,427		2			31,833			—			—			31,835
Balance at June 28, 2015	105,507			$131			$2,285,554			$170,469			$5,798			$2,461,952
Net loss	—		—			—			(21,536		)	—			(21,536		)
Currency translation loss, net of tax benefit of $0	—		—			—			—			(362		)	(362		)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense of $1,936	—		—			—			—			3,292			3,292
Comprehensive loss															(18,606		)
Income tax expense from stock option exercises	—		—			(3,525		)	—			—			(3,525		)
Repurchased shares	(5,842	)	(7		)	—			(149,546		)				(149,553		)
Stock-based compensation	—		—			58,425			—			—			58,425
Exercise of stock options and issuance of shares	1,164		1			19,130			—			—			19,131
Balance at June 26, 2016	100,829			$125			$2,359,584			($613	)		$8,728			$2,367,824

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

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CREE, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – Business

Cree, Inc. (the Company) is a leading innovator of lighting-class light emitting diode (LED) products, lighting products and wide bandgap semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications. The Company's products are targeted for applications such as indoor and outdoor lighting, video displays, transportation, electronic signs and signals, power supplies, inverters and wireless systems.

The Company's lighting products primarily consist of LED lighting systems and bulbs. The Company designs, manufactures and sells lighting fixtures and lamps for the commercial, industrial and consumer markets.

The Company's LED products consist of LED components, LED chips and silicon carbide (SiC) materials. The Company's success in selling LED products depends upon its ability to offer innovative products and to enable its customers to develop and market LED-based products that successfully compete against other LED-based products and drive LED adoption against traditional lighting products.

In addition, the Company develops, manufactures and sells power and RF devices based on wide bandgap semiconductor materials such as SiC and gallium nitride (GaN). The Company's power products are made from SiC and provide increased efficiency, faster switching speeds and reduced system size and weight over comparable silicon-based power devices. The Company's RF devices are made from GaN and provide improved efficiency, bandwidth and frequency of operation as compared to silicon or gallium arsenide (GaAs).

As discussed more fully below in Note 19, “Subsequent Event,” on July 13, 2016, the Company executed a definitive agreement to sell its Power and RF Products segment and certain related portions of its SiC materials and gemstones business included within its LED Products segment (the Company refers to the business that it is selling, collectively, as the Wolfspeed business) to Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon).

The majority of the Company's products are manufactured at its production facilities located in North Carolina, Wisconsin and China. The Company also uses contract manufacturers for certain products and aspects of product fabrication, assembly and packaging. The Company operates research and development facilities in North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, India, Italy and China (including Hong Kong).

Cree, Inc. is a North Carolina corporation established in 1987 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

The Company's three reportable segments are:


•	Lighting Products


•	LED Products


•	Power and RF Products

For financial results by reportable segment, please refer to Note 14, “Reportable Segments.”

Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year is a 52 or 53-week period ending on the last Sunday in the month of June. The Company’s 2016, 2015 and 2014 fiscal years were 52-week fiscal years. The Company’s 2017 fiscal year will be a 52-week fiscal year.

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Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements

During the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company identified errors in its previously reported financial statements in which amortization expense was understated as certain patents were being amortized over a life longer than the life of the underlying patent right.

The Company assessed the materiality of these errors on prior periods’ financial statements in accordance with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 99, Materiality, codified in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 250, Presentation of Financial Statements, and concluded that they were not material individually or in the aggregate to any prior annual or interim periods. However, through the second quarter of fiscal 2016 the aggregate amount of the prior period errors of $6.8 million before income taxes would have been material to our interim Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Consequently, in accordance with ASC 250, the Company corrected these errors, and other immaterial errors, for all prior periods presented by revising the consolidated financial statements and other financial information included herein. Periods not presented herein will be revised, as applicable, in future filings.

The following table summarizes the effects of the revision on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 28, 2015 (in thousands):



	As Previously Reported		Revision Adjustments			As Revised
Intangible assets, net	$	317,154	$	(6,425	)	$	310,729
Deferred income taxes	8,893		58			8,951
Total assets	2,954,400		(6,367		)	2,948,033

Deferred income taxes	12,174		(1,963		)	10,211
Total long-term liabilities	233,258		(1,963		)	231,295
Retained earnings	174,873		(4,404		)	170,469
Total shareholders' equity	2,466,356		(4,404		)	2,461,952
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,954,400		(6,367		)	2,948,033

The following table summarizes the effects of the revision on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 28, 2015									June 29, 2014
	As Previously Reported			Revision Adjustments			As Revised			As Previously Reported		Revision Adjustments			As Revised
Cost of revenue, net	$	1,157,549		$	1,037		$	1,158,586		$	1,028,846	$	1,039		$	1,029,885
Gross profit	474,956			(1,037		)	473,919			618,795		(1,039		)	617,756
Operating (loss) income	(72,513		)	(1,037		)	(73,550		)	134,275		(1,039		)	133,236
(Loss) income before income taxes	(82,902		)	(1,037		)	(83,939		)	147,570		(1,039		)	146,531
Income tax (benefit) expense	(18,851		)	(396		)	(19,247		)	23,379		(338		)	23,041
Net (loss) income	(64,051		)	(641		)	(64,692		)	124,191		(701		)	123,490
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	(0.57		)	—			(0.57		)	1.03		(0.01		)	1.02
Diluted	(0.57		)	—			(0.57		)	1.01		(0.01		)	1.00

The revision had no net impact on the Company’s net cash provided by operating activities.

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Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to revenue recognition, product warranty obligations, valuation of inventories, tax related contingencies, valuation of stock-based compensation, valuation of long-lived and intangible assets, other contingencies and litigation, among others. The Company generally bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Segment Information

U.S. GAAP requires segmentation based on an entity’s internal organization and reporting of revenue and operating income based upon internal accounting methods commonly referred to as the “management approach.” Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (CODM), or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company has determined that it currently has three operating and reportable segments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of unrestricted cash accounts and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company holds cash and cash equivalents at several major financial institutions, which often exceed insurance limits set by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Company has not historically experienced any losses due to such concentration of credit risk.

Investments

Investments in certain securities may be classified into three categories:


•	Held-to-Maturity – Debt securities that the entity has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, which are reported at amortized cost.


•	Trading – Debt and equity securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near term, which are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.


•	Available-for-Sale – Debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity or trading securities, which are reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

The Company reassesses the appropriateness of the classification (i.e. held-to-maturity, trading or available-for-sale) of its investments at the end of each reporting period.

When the fair value of an investment declines below its original cost, the Company considers all available evidence to evaluate whether the decline is other-than-temporary. Among other things, the Company considers the duration and extent of the decline and economic factors influencing the capital markets. For the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015, and June 29, 2014, the Company had no other-than-temporary declines below the cost basis of its investments. The Company utilizes specific identification in computing realized gains and losses on the sale of investments. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are reported in other income and expense.

Investments in marketable securities with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term based on their highly liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations.

Other long-term investments consist of the Company's approximately 14% common stock ownership interest in Lextar Electronics Corporation (Lextar), which the Company acquired in December 2014. This investment was accounted for under the equity method from the date of investment until June 2016 when the Company chose not to stand for re-election as a member of the Lextar board of directors. The Company utilizes the fair value option in accounting for its investment in Lextar. The Company has determined that for its fiscal years ended June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015, Lextar has met the conditions of a significant subsidiary under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X for which the Company is required, pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X,

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to file separate financial statements as an exhibit to its Annual Report on Form 10-K. As such, separate financial statements for Lextar, prepared by Lextar and audited by its independent public accounting firm, are filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Annual Report.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or an average cost method; and with market not to exceed net realizable value. The Company writes down its inventory balances for estimates of excess and obsolete amounts. These write-downs are recognized as a component of cost of revenue. At the point of the write-down, a new lower-cost basis for that inventory is established, and any subsequent improvements in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established lower-cost basis. The Company recognized charges for write-downs in inventories of $3.6 million, $15.2 million and $5.2 million, for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the assets’ estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the asset life or the life of the related lease. In general, the Company’s policy for useful lives is as follows:



Machinery and equipment		3 to 15 years
Buildings and building improvements		5 to 40 years
Furniture and fixtures		3 to 5 years
Aircraft and vehicles		5 to 20 years
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of estimated useful life or lease term

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The costs for major renewals and improvements are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of the assets are removed from the accounts upon disposition and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operating income.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in Cost of revenue, net in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and are recognized as a period expense during the period in which they are incurred.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company recognizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations at their respective fair values at the date of acquisition, with any excess purchase price recognized as goodwill. Valuation of intangible assets entails significant estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, estimating future cash flows from product revenue, developing appropriate discount rates, continuation of customer relationships and renewal of customer contracts, and approximating the useful lives of the intangible assets acquired.

Goodwill

The Company recognizes goodwill as an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually as of the first day of the fiscal fourth quarter, or when indications of potential impairment exist. The Company monitors for the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the fiscal year.

The Company conducts impairment testing for goodwill at the reporting unit level. Reporting units may be operating segments as a whole or an operation one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. The Company has determined that its reporting units are its three operating and reportable segments.

The Company may initiate goodwill impairment testing by considering qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s carrying value is greater than its fair value. Such factors may include the following, among others: a significant decline in the reporting unit’s expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in the Company’s stock

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price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates; as well as changes in management, key personnel, strategy and customers. If the Company’s qualitative assessment indicates that goodwill impairment is more likely than not, the Company performs the two-step goodwill impairment test. Alternatively, the Company may bypass the qualitative test and initiate goodwill impairment testing with the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test.

During the first step of the goodwill impairment test, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. The Company derives a reporting unit’s fair value through a combination of the market approach (a guideline transaction method) and the income approach (a discounted cash flow analysis). The income approach utilizes a discount rate from the capital asset pricing model. If all reporting units are analyzed during the first step of the goodwill impairment test, their respective fair values are reconciled back to the Company’s consolidated market capitalization.

If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then the Company concludes that no goodwill impairment has occurred. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company performs the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure possible goodwill impairment loss. During the second step, the Company hypothetically values the reporting unit’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Then, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying value of its goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, the Company recognizes an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. Once an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying value of the goodwill becomes the new accounting basis of the goodwill for the reporting unit.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually in the fiscal fourth quarter or when indications of potential impairment exist. The Company monitors for the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the fiscal year.

The Company’s impairment test may begin with a qualitative test to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset’s carrying value is greater than its fair value. In performing this test, the Company may consider the following qualitative factors, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; changes in industry and market conditions such as the deterioration in the environment in which the Company operates or an increased competitive environment; changes in management, key personnel, strategy, or customers; as well as other economic factors. If the Company’s qualitative assessment indicates that asset impairment is more likely than not, the Company performs a quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset to its carrying value. Alternatively, the Company may bypass the qualitative test and initiate impairment testing with the quantitative impairment test. Determining the fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets entails significant estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, determining the timing and expected costs to complete development projects, estimating future cash flows from product revenue, developing appropriate discount rates, estimating probability rates for the successful completion of development projects, continuation of customer relationships and renewal of customer contracts, and approximating the useful lives of the intangible assets acquired.

If the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its carrying value, then the Company concludes that no impairment has occurred. If the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, the Company recognizes an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value. Once an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying value becomes the new accounting basis of the indefinite-lived intangible asset.

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

U.S. GAAP requires that intangible assets, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles, must be amortized over their useful lives. The Company is currently amortizing its acquired intangible assets with finite lives over periods ranging from one to 20 years.

Patent rights reflect costs incurred by the Company in applying for and maintaining patents owned by the Company and costs incurred in purchasing patents and related rights from third parties. Licensing rights reflect costs incurred by the Company in acquiring licenses under patents owned by others. The Company amortizes both on a straight-line basis over the expected useful life of the associated patent rights, which is generally the lesser of 20 years from the date of the patent application or the license period. Royalties payable under licenses for patents owned by others are generally expensed as incurred. The Company reviews its capitalized patent portfolio and recognizes impairment charges when circumstances warrant, such as when patents have been abandoned or are no longer being pursued.

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Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets such as property and equipment for impairment based on changes in circumstances that indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. In making these determinations, the Company uses certain assumptions, including but not limited to: (1) estimations of the fair market value of the assets and (2) estimations of future cash flows expected to be generated by these assets, which are based on additional assumptions such as asset utilization, length of service the asset will be used in the Company’s operations and estimated salvage values.

Contingent Liabilities

The Company recognizes contingent liabilities when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Disclosure in the notes to the financial statements is required for loss contingencies that do not meet both these conditions if there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may have been incurred. See Note 13, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for a discussion of loss contingencies in connection with pending and threatened litigation. The Company expenses as incurred the costs of defending legal claims against the Company.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes product revenue when the earnings process is complete, as evidenced by persuasive evidence of an arrangement (typically in the form of a purchase order), when the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of revenue is reasonably assured, and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer.

The Company provides its customers with limited rights of return for non-conforming shipments and product warranty claims. The Company estimates an allowance for anticipated sales returns based upon an analysis of historical sales returns and other relevant data. The Company recognizes an allowance for non-conforming returns at the time of sale as a reduction of product revenue and as a reduction to the related accounts receivable balance. The Company recognizes a liability for product warranty claims at the time of sale as an increase to cost of revenue.

A substantial portion of the Company’s products are sold through distributors. Distributors stock inventory and sell the Company’s products to their own customer base, which may include: value added resellers; manufacturers who incorporate the Company’s products into their own manufactured goods; or ultimate end users of the Company’s products. The Company recognizes revenue upon shipment of its products to its distributors. This arrangement is often referred to as a “sell-in” or “point-of-purchase” model as opposed to a “sell-through” or “point-of-sale” model, where revenue is deferred and not recognized until the distributor sells the product through to their customer.

Certain of the Company’s distributors are provided limited rights that allow them to return a portion of inventory (product exchange rights or stock rotation rights) and receive credits for changes in selling prices (price protection rights) or customer pricing arrangements under the Company’s “ship and debit” program or other targeted sales incentives. These estimates are calculated based upon historical experience, product shipment analysis, current economic conditions, on-hand inventory at the distributor, and customer contractual arrangements. The Company believes that it can reasonably and reliably estimate the allowance for distributor credits at the time of sale. Accordingly, estimates for these rights are recognized at the time of sale as a reduction of product revenue and as a reduction to the related accounts receivable balance.

From time to time, the Company will issue a new price book for its products, and provide a credit to certain distributors for inventory quantities on hand if required by the Company’s agreement with the distributor. This practice is known as price protection. These credits are applied against the reserve that the Company establishes upon initial shipment of product to the distributor.

Under the ship and debit program, products are sold to distributors at negotiated prices and the distributors are required to pay for the products purchased within the Company’s standard commercial terms. Subsequent to the initial product purchase, a distributor may request a price allowance for a particular part number(s) for certain target customers, prior to the distributor reselling the particular part to that customer. If the Company approves an allowance and the distributor resells the product to the target customer, the Company credits the distributor according to the allowance the Company approved. These credits are applied against the reserve that the Company establishes upon initial shipment of product to the distributor.

In addition, the Company runs sales incentive programs with certain distributors and retailers, such as product rebates and cooperative advertising campaigns. The Company recognizes these incentives at the time they are offered to customers and records a credit to their account with an offsetting expense as either a reduction to revenue, increase to cost of revenue, or marketing expense depending on the type of sales incentive.

From time to time, the Company may enter into licensing arrangements related to its intellectual property. Revenue from licensing arrangements is recognized when earned and estimable. The timing of revenue recognition is dependent on the terms of each

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license agreement. Generally, the Company will recognize non-refundable upfront licensing fees related to patent licenses immediately upon receipt of the funds if the Company has no significant future obligations to perform under the arrangement. However, the Company will defer recognition for licensing fees where the Company has significant future performance requirements, the fee is not fixed (such as royalties earned as a percentage of future revenue), or the fees are otherwise contingent.

Accounts Receivable

For product revenue, the Company typically invoices its customers at the time of shipment for the sales order value of products shipped. Accounts receivable are recognized at the invoiced amount and are not subject to any interest or finance charges. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to any of its customers.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In cases where the Company becomes aware of circumstances that may impair a specific customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations subsequent to the original sale, the Company will recognize an allowance against amounts due, and thereby reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due and consideration of other factors such as industry conditions, the current business environment and the Company’s historical experience.

Advertising

The Company expenses the costs of producing advertisements at the time production occurs and expenses the cost of communicating the advertising in the period in which the advertising is used. Advertising costs are included in Sales, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and amounted to approximately $12.6 million, $25.6 million, and $26.6 million for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development activities are expensed when incurred.

(Loss) Earnings Per Share

Basic (loss) earnings per share is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the applicable period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share is determined in the same manner as basic (loss) earnings per share except that the number of shares is increased to assume exercise of potentially dilutive stock options, nonvested restricted stock and contingently issuable shares using the treasury stock method, unless the effect of such increases would be anti-dilutive. Under the treasury stock method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of tax benefits that would be recognized in additional paid-in capital when the award becomes deductible are assumed to be used to repurchase shares.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payments granted based on the fair value of the shares on the date of grant. Compensation expense is then recognized over the award’s vesting period.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts and interest receivable, accounts payable and other liabilities approximate their fair values at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015 due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

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Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, along with net operating loss carryforwards and credit carryforwards, if it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will be realized. To the extent a deferred tax asset cannot be recognized under the preceding criteria, allowances are established. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Taxes payable which are not based on income are accrued ratably over the period to which they apply. For example, payroll taxes are accrued each period end based upon the amount of payroll taxes that are owed as of that date; whereas taxes such as property taxes and franchise taxes are accrued over the fiscal year to which they apply if paid at the end of a period, or they are amortized ratably over the fiscal year if they are paid in advance.

Sales Taxes

The Company presents sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis (i.e. excluded from revenue and expenses).

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign currency translation adjustments are recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for changes between the foreign subsidiaries’ functional currency and the United States (U.S.) dollar. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are included in the Company’s equity account balance of Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes in the Consolidated Balance Sheets until such time that the subsidiaries are either sold or substantially liquidated.

Because the Company and its subsidiaries transact business in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, the Company will continue to experience varying amounts of foreign currency exchange gains and losses for subsidiaries with U.S. dollar functional currency.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The FASB has subsequently issued multiple ASUs which amend and clarify the guidance in Topic 606. The ASU establishes a principles-based approach for accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes existing revenue recognition guidance. The ASU provides that an entity should apply a five-step approach for recognizing revenue, including (1) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. Also, the entity must provide various disclosures concerning the nature, amount and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The effective date will be the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is currently analyzing the impact of this new accounting guidance.

Income Taxes

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17: Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The ASU requires entities to present deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The ASU simplifies the current guidance, which requires entities to separately present deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as current or noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The ASU is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early application of the ASU is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company has adopted the provisions of this ASU prospectively for the interim period ended December 27, 2015 and therefore, prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The Company’s adoption of the new accounting guidance did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

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Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842). The ASU requires that a lessee recognize in its statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The asset will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. For income statement purposes, leases are still required to be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern. The effective date will be the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 28, 2020, using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently analyzing the impact of this new pronouncement.

Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09: Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The ASU simplifies the current stock compensation guidance for tax consequences. The ASU requires an entity to recognize all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in its income statement. The ASU also eliminates the requirement to defer recognition of an excess tax benefit until the benefit is realized through a reduction to taxes payable. For cash flows statement purposes, excess tax benefits should be classified as an operating activity and cash payments made to taxing authorities on the employee’s behalf for withheld shares should be classified as financing activity. The ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently analyzing the impact of this new pronouncement.

Note 3 – Acquisition

On July 8, 2015, the Company closed on the acquisition of Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc. (APEI), a global leader in power modules and power electronics applications, pursuant to a merger agreement with APEI and certain shareholders of APEI, whereby the Company acquired all of the outstanding share capital of APEI in exchange for a base purchase price of $13.8 million, subject to certain adjustments. In addition, if certain goals are achieved over the next two years, additional cash payments totaling up to $4.6 million may be made to the former APEI shareholders. Payments totaling $2.8 million were made to the former APEI shareholders in July 2016 based on achievement of the first year goals. The Company expects that the second year goals will also be achieved. In connection with this acquisition, APEI became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, renamed Cree Fayetteville, Inc. (Cree Fayetteville). Cree Fayetteville is not considered a significant subsidiary of the Company and its results from operations are reported as part of the Company's Power and RF Products segment.

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The total purchase price for this acquisition was as follows (in thousands):



Cash consideration paid to stockholders	$	13,797
Post closing adjustments	181
Contingent consideration	4,625
Total purchase price	$	18,603

The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as follows (in thousands):



Tangible assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,284
Accounts receivable	1,006
Inventories	143
Property and equipment	935
Other assets	270
Total tangible assets	3,638
Intangible assets:
Patents	40
Customer relationships	4,500
Developed technology	11,403
In-process research & development	7,565
Non-compete agreements	231
Goodwill	2,483
Total intangible assets	26,222
Liabilities assumed:
Accounts payable	55
Accrued expenses and liabilities	1,911
Other long-term liabilities	9,291
Total liabilities assumed	11,257
Net assets acquired	$	18,603

The identifiable intangible assets acquired as a result of the acquisition will be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives as follows (in thousands, except for years):



	Asset Amount		Estimated Life in Years
Patents		$40	20
Customer relationships	4,500		4
Developed technology	11,403		10
In-process research and development¹	7,565		7
Non-compete agreements	231		3
Total identifiable intangible assets		$23,739

⁽¹⁾In-process research and development (IPR&D) is initially classified as indefinite-lived assets and tested for impairment at least annually or when indications of potential impairment exist. The IPR&D was completed in January 2016 and is classified as Developed technology in Note 7, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets."

Goodwill largely consists of expansion of product offerings of power modules and power electronics applications, manufacturing and other synergies of the combined companies, and the value of the assembled workforce.

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The assets, liabilities and operating results of APEI have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition and are not significant to the Company as a whole.

Note 4 – Financial Statement Details

Accounts Receivable, net

The following table summarizes the components of accounts receivable, net (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015
Billed trade receivables		$217,691			$246,969
Unbilled contract receivables	2,135			2,223
	219,826			249,192
Allowance for sales returns, discounts and other incentives	(48,710		)	(58,094		)
Allowance for bad debts	(5,505		)	(4,941		)
Accounts receivable, net		$165,611			$186,157

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s allowance for sales returns, discounts and other incentives (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Balance at beginning of period		$58,094			$29,010			$26,500
Current period claims	(163,523		)	(148,715		)	(115,568		)
Provision for sales returns, discounts and other incentives	154,139			177,799			118,078
Balance at end of period		$48,710			$58,094			$29,010

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s allowance for bad debts (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Balance at beginning of period		$4,941		$2,761			$2,471
Current period provision	564		2,184			903
Write-offs, net of recoveries	—		(4		)	(613		)
Balance at end of period		$5,505		$4,941			$2,761

Inventories

The following table summarizes the components of inventories (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015
Raw material		$83,299		$86,331
Work-in-progress	96,779		93,424
Finished goods	123,464		100,821
Inventories		$303,542		$280,576

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Property and Equipment, net

The following table summarizes the components of property and equipment, net (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015
Furniture and fixtures		$14,280			$12,525
Land and buildings	386,573			367,519
Machinery and equipment	1,126,936			1,060,599
Aircraft and vehicles	10,455			10,489
Computer hardware/software	44,095			38,366
Leasehold improvements and other	6,497			6,698
Construction in progress	150,114			178,757
	1,738,950			1,674,953
Accumulated depreciation	(1,139,227		)	(1,039,881		)
Property and equipment, net		$599,723			$635,072

Depreciation of property and equipment totaled $118.8 million, $136.3 million and $125.3 million for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively.

During the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, the Company recognized approximately $10.3 million, $44.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively, as losses on disposals or impairments of property and equipment. These charges are reflected in Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income.

Other Current Liabilities

The following table summarizes the components of other current liabilities (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015
Accrued taxes		$12,720		$13,935
Accrued professional fees	7,980		10,180
Accrued warranty	20,207		13,006
Accrued other	5,164		7,087
Other current liabilities		$46,071		$44,208

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of taxes

The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015
Currency translation gain		$4,624		$4,986
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	4,104		812
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes		$8,728		$5,798

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Non-Operating (Expense) Income, net

The following table summarizes the components of non-operating (expense) income, net (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Gain on sale of investments, net		$238			$925			$68
Loss on equity method investment	(15,357		)	(22,624		)	—
Dividends from equity method investment	1,655			2,581			—
Interest income, net	4,472			9,086			11,932
Foreign currency (loss) gain, net	(4,500		)	(929		)	45
Other, net	457			572			1,250
Non-operating (expense) income, net		($13,035	)		($10,389	)		$13,295

Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of taxes

The following table summarizes the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes (in thousands):



Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Component	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income						Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss)Income
	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes		$238		$925		$68	Non-operating (expense) income, net
	238		925		68		(Loss) income before income taxes
	20		210		11		Income tax (benefit) expense
		$218		$715		$57	Net (loss) income

Note 5 – Investments

Investments consist of municipal bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper and certificates of deposit. All short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale. Other long-term investments consist of the Company's ownership interest in Lextar.

The following table summarizes short-term investments (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value
Municipal bonds		$186,893		$3,562		($15	)		$190,440
Corporate bonds	165,766		3,074		(73		)	168,767
Non-U.S. certificates of deposit	73,127		—		—			73,127
U.S. certificates of deposit	3,500		—		—			3,500
Commercial paper	3,317		—		—			3,317
Total short-term investments		$432,603		$6,636		($88	)		$439,151

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The following table presents the gross unrealized losses and estimated fair value of the Company’s short-term investments, aggregated by investment type and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position (in thousands, except numbers of securities):



	June 26, 2016
	Less than 12 Months					Greater than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Municipal bonds		$2,936		($9	)		$3,535		($6	)		$6,471		($15	)
Corporate bonds	27,578		(73		)	—		—			27,578		(73		)
Total		$30,514		($82	)		$3,535		($6	)		$34,049		($88	)
Number of securities with an unrealized loss			22					3					25

The following table summarizes short-term investments (in thousands):



	June 28, 2015
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value
Municipal bonds		$194,123		$988		($341	)		$194,770
Corporate bonds	152,831		832		(158		)	153,505
Non-U.S. certificates of deposit	225,206		—		—			225,206
Total short-term investments		$572,160		$1,820		($499	)		$573,481



	June 28, 2015
	Less than 12 Months					Greater than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Municipal bonds		$53,204		($341	)		$—		$—			$53,204		($341	)
Corporate bonds	46,636		(143		)	1,812		(15		)	48,448		(158		)
Total		$99,840		($484	)		$1,812		($15	)		$101,652		($499	)
Number of securities with an unrealized loss			54					1					55

The Company utilizes specific identification in computing realized gains and losses on the sale of investments. Realized gains on the sale of investments for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2016 of $238 thousand were included in Non-operating (expense) income, net in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and unrealized gains and losses are included as a separate component of equity, net of tax, unless the loss is determined to be other-than-temporary.

The Company evaluates its investments for possible impairment or a decline in fair value below cost basis that is deemed to be other-than-temporary on a periodic basis. It considers such factors as the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been below the cost basis, the financial condition of the investee, and its ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time that may be sufficient for an anticipated full recovery in market value. Accordingly, the Company considered declines in its investments to be temporary in nature, and did not consider its investments to be impaired as of June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015.

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The contractual maturities of short-term investments at June 26, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):



	Within One Year		After One, Within Five Years		After Five, Within Ten Years		After Ten Years		Total
Municipal bonds		$31,874		$124,745		$33,821		$—		$190,440
Corporate bonds	14,672		116,541		37,554		—		168,767
Non-U.S. certificates of deposit	73,127		—		—		—		73,127
U.S. certificates of deposit	500		3,000		—		—		3,500
Commercial paper	3,317		—		—		—		3,317
Total short-term investments		$123,490		$244,286		$71,375		$—		$439,151

Note 6 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Under U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including quoted market prices and discounted cash flows. U.S. GAAP also 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 most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are obtained from independent sources and can be validated by a third party, whereas unobservable inputs reflect assumptions regarding what a third party would use in pricing an asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:


•	Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments that the Company is able 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.


•	Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for instruments that are similar, or quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar instruments, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.


•	Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The financial assets for which the Company performs recurring fair value remeasurements are cash equivalents and short-term investments and long-term investments. As of June 26, 2016, financial assets utilizing Level 1 inputs included money market funds, and financial assets utilizing Level 2 inputs included municipal bonds, corporate bonds, U.S. agency securities, non-U.S. certificates of deposit, non-U.S. government securities and common stock of non-U.S. corporations. Level 2 assets are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for instruments that are similar or using a third-party pricing service’s consensus price, which is a weighted average price based on multiple sources. These sources determine prices utilizing market income models which factor in, where applicable, transactions of similar assets in active markets, transactions of identical assets in infrequent markets, interest rates, bond or credit default swap spreads and volatility. The Company did not have any financial assets requiring the use of Level 3 inputs as of June 26, 2016. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended June 26, 2016.

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The following table sets forth financial instruments carried at fair value within the U.S. GAAP hierarchy (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016								June 28, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents
Municipal bonds	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Non-U.S. certificates of deposit	—		137		—		137		—		157		—		157
Money market funds	576		—		—		576		16,457		—		—		16,457
Total cash equivalents	576		137		—		713		16,457		157		—		16,614
Short-term investments
Municipal bonds	—		190,440		—		190,440		—		194,770		—		194,770
Corporate bonds	—		168,767		—		168,767		—		153,505		—		153,505
U.S certificates of deposit	—		3,500		—		3,500		—		—		—		—
Commercial paper	—		3,317		—		3,317		—		—		—		—
Non-U.S. certificates of deposit	—		73,127		—		73,127		—		225,206		—		225,206
Total short-term investments	—		439,151		—		439,151		—		573,481		—		573,481
Other long-term investments
Common stock of non-U.S. corporations	—		40,179		—		40,179		—		57,595		—		57,595
Total other long-term investments	—		40,179		—		40,179		—		57,595		—		57,595
Total assets		$576		$479,467		$—		$480,043		$16,457		$631,233		$—		$647,690

Note 7 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The Company’s reporting units for goodwill impairment testing are:


•	Lighting Products


•	LED Products


•	Power and RF Products

As of the first day of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company performed a step one quantitative goodwill impairment assessment on each reporting unit. For the step one impairment test, the Company derived each reporting unit's fair value through a combination of the market approach (a guideline transaction method) and the income approach (a discounted cash flow analysis). The Company utilized a discount rate from the capital asset pricing model for the discounted cash flow analysis. Once the reporting unit fair values were calculated, the Company reconciled the reporting units' relative fair values to the Company's market capitalization as of the testing date.

The Company then compared the carrying value of each reporting unit, inclusive of its assigned goodwill, to its fair value. The Company determined that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, and as a result, step two of the goodwill impairment test was not necessary.

Goodwill assigned to the Power and RF Products reporting unit increased by $2.5 million during fiscal 2016 due to the acquisition of APEI, as discussed in Note 3, "Acquisition."

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Goodwill by reporting unit as of June 26, 2016 was as follows (in thousands):



LED Products		Lighting Products		Power and RF Products		Consolidated Total
	$245,857		$337,781		$35,190		$618,828

Goodwill by reporting unit as of June 28, 2015 was as follows (in thousands):



LED Products		Lighting Products		Power and RF Products		Consolidated Total
	$245,857		$337,781		$32,707		$616,345

Intangible Assets

The following table presents the components of intangible assets, net (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016							June 28, 2015
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Intangible assets with finite lives:
Customer relationships		$141,420		($78,438	)		$62,982		$136,920		($72,063	)		$64,857
Developed technology	181,728		(111,884		)	69,844		162,760		(91,562		)	71,198
Non-compete agreements	10,475		(9,994		)	481		10,244		(7,958		)	2,286
Trade names, finite-lived	520		(520		)	—		520		(520		)	—
Patent and licensing rights	145,780		(55,957		)	89,823		150,038		(57,330		)	92,708
Total intangible assets with finite lives	479,923		(256,793		)	223,130		460,482		(229,433		)	231,049
Trade names, indefinite-lived	79,680					79,680		79,680					79,680
Total intangible assets		$559,603		($256,793	)	$302,810			$540,162		($229,433	)		$310,729

Total amortization of finite-lived intangible assets was $40.4 million, $37.1 million and $38.7 million for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company started amortizing IPR&D assets acquired in the APEI acquisition that were completed during the respective period.

As of the first day of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company performed a step one quantitative impairment assessment on each of the Company’s indefinite-lived trade names. The Company determined that the fair value of each indefinite-lived trade name was greater than its carrying value and therefore a step two quantitative impairment assessment was not required.

The Company invested $14.4 million, $19.5 million and $20.2 million for the years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively, for patent and licensing rights. For the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, the Company recognized $6.7 million, $3.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in impairment charges related to its patent portfolio.

Total future amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets is estimated to be as follows (in thousands):



Fiscal Year Ending
June 25, 2017		$39,068
June 24, 2018	37,530
June 30, 2019	24,674
June 28, 2020	19,402
June 27, 2021	18,026
Thereafter	84,430
Total future amortization expense		$223,130

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Note 8 – Long-term Debt

On January 9, 2015, the Company entered into a new credit agreement (Credit Agreement) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (Wells Fargo Bank) and other lenders party thereto for a $500 million secured revolving line of credit under which the Company can borrow, repay and reborrow loans from time to time prior to its scheduled maturity date of January 9, 2020. Proceeds of the initial loans made under the Credit Agreement were used to repay amounts outstanding under the Company's previous $150 million unsecured credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, entered into on August 12, 2014.

The Company classifies balances outstanding under its line of credit as Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. At June 26, 2016, the Company had $160 million outstanding under the Credit Agreement and $340 million available for borrowing. For the year ended June 26, 2016, the average interest rate under the Credit Agreement was 1.14%. The average commitment fee percentage for the Credit Agreement was 0.09% for the year ended June 26, 2016. For the year ended June 28, 2015, the average interest rate under the Credit Agreement and the previous credit agreement was 0.95%. The average commitment fee percentage for these credit agreements was 0.09% for the year ended June 28, 2015. The Company was in compliance with all covenants in the Credit Agreement at June 26, 2016.

Note 9 – Shareholders’ Equity

On June 18, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the Company's fiscal 2016 stock repurchase program, authorizing the Company to repurchase shares of its common stock having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $500 million for all purchases from June 29, 2015 through the expiration of the program on June 26, 2016.

During fiscal 2016, the Company repurchased 5.8 million shares of its common stock under the program at an average price of $25.78 per share with an aggregate value of $149.6 million. The repurchase program could be implemented through open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of the Company’s management. From the inception of the predecessor stock repurchase program in January 2001 through June 26, 2016, the Company has repurchased 34.2 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $29.34 per share with an aggregate value of $1.0 billion. The Company will continue to determine the time and extent of any repurchases based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors.

On May 29, 2002, the Board adopted a shareholder rights plan, pursuant to which stock purchase rights were distributed to shareholders at a rate of one right with respect to each share of common stock held of record as of June 10, 2002. Subsequently issued shares of common stock also carry stock purchase rights under the plan. The rights plan is designed to enhance the Board’s ability to prevent an acquirer from depriving shareholders of the long-term value of their investment and to protect shareholders against attempts to acquire the Company by means of unfair or abusive takeover tactics. Unless terminated by the Board, the rights become exercisable based upon certain limited conditions related to acquisitions of stock, tender offers and certain business combinations involving the Company. The shareholder rights plan includes a review mechanism requiring the independent members of the Board to review and evaluate the plan at least every three years to consider whether the maintenance of the plan continues to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and to communicate their conclusion to the Board. The Board has delegated this responsibility to the Governance and Nominations Committee, which is composed of all independent directors of the Board. On April 24, 2012, the shareholder rights plan was amended and restated to, among other things, extend the expiration date from June 10, 2012 to September 30, 2018, and to remove provisions in the rights plan stipulating that certain actions can be taken only with the concurrence of a majority of the members of the Board who are not affiliated with an acquiring person (more specifically, those who are “Continuing Directors,” as defined in the original rights plan adopted in 2002). On January 29, 2013, the shareholder rights plan was amended solely to change the expiration date from September 30, 2018 to April 24, 2017. On February 11, 2015, the shareholder rights plan was further amended to revise the definition of “Acquiring Person” to provide that the level of beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock at which a person becomes an “Acquiring Person” and therefore triggers the consequences under the shareholder rights plan of becoming an Acquiring Person is increased for certain passive investors (defined therein as “13G Investors”) from 15% to 18% of the Company’s outstanding common stock (with no change to the triggering ownership threshold for other investors).

At June 26, 2016, the Company had reserved a total of approximately 17.9 million shares of its common stock and 0.2 million shares of its Series A preferred stock for future issuance as follows (in thousands):

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	Number of Shares
For exercise of outstanding common stock options	11,247
For vesting of outstanding stock units	1,589
For future equity awards under 2013 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan	4,141
For future issuance under the Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation and Deferral Program	76
For future issuance to employees under the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	885
Total common shares reserved	17,938
Series A preferred stock reserved for exercise of rights issued under shareholder rights plan	200

Note 10 – (Loss) Earnings Per Share

The following presents the computation of basic (loss) earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Basic:
Net (loss) income		($21,536	)		($64,692	)		$123,490
Weighted average common shares	101,783			113,022			120,623
Basic (loss) earnings per share		($0.21	)		($0.57	)		$1.02

The following computation reconciles the differences between the basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share presentations (in thousands, except per share amounts):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Diluted:
Net (loss) income		($21,536	)		($64,692	)		$123,490
Weighted average common shares - basic	101,783			113,022			120,623
Dilutive effect of stock options, nonvested shares and Employee Stock Purchase Plan purchase rights	—			—			2,291
Weighted average common shares - diluted	101,783			113,022			122,914
Diluted (loss) earnings per share		($0.21	)		($0.57	)		$1.00

Potential common shares that would have the effect of increasing diluted earnings per share or decreasing diluted loss per share are considered to be anti-dilutive and as such, these shares are not included in calculating diluted (loss) earnings per share. For the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, there were 11.4 million, 7.0 million and 2.6 million, respectively, of potential common shares not included in the calculation of diluted (loss) earnings per share because their effect was anti-dilutive.

Note 11 – Stock-Based Compensation

Overview of Employee Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The Company currently has one equity-based compensation plan, the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (2013 LTIP), from which stock-based compensation awards can be granted to employees and directors. At June 26, 2016, there were 10.6 million shares authorized for issuance under the plan and 4.1 million shares remaining for future grants. The 2013 LTIP provides for awards in the form of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and other awards. The Company has other equity-based compensation plans that have been terminated so that no future grants can be made under those plans, but under which stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units are currently outstanding.

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The Company’s stock-based awards can be either service-based or performance-based. Performance-based conditions are generally tied to future financial and/or operating performance of the Company. The compensation expense with respect to performance-based grants is recognized if the Company believes it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. The Company reassesses the probability of the achievement of the performance condition at each reporting period, and adjusts the compensation expense for subsequent changes in the estimate or actual outcome. As with non-performance based awards, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. The vesting period runs from the date of grant to the expected date that the performance objective is likely to be achieved.

The Company also has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) that provides employees with the opportunity to purchase common stock at a discount. At June 26, 2016, there were 4.5 million shares authorized for issuance under the ESPP, as amended, with 0.9 million shares remaining for future issuance. The ESPP limits employee contributions to 15% of each employee’s compensation (as defined in the plan) and allows employees to purchase shares at a 15% discount to the fair market value of common stock on the purchase date two times per year. The ESPP provides for a twelve-month participation period, divided into two equal six-month purchase periods, and also provides for a look-back feature. At the end of each six-month period in April and October, participants purchase the Company’s common stock through the ESPP at a 15% discount to the fair market value of the common stock on the first day of the twelve-month participation period or the purchase date, whichever is lower. The plan also provides for an automatic reset feature to start participants on a new twelve-month participation period if the fair market value of common stock declines during the first six-month purchase period.

Stock Option Awards

The following table summarizes option activity as of June 26, 2016 and changes during the fiscal year then ended (numbers of shares in thousands):



	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Exercise price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	Total Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at June 28, 2015	10,714			$43.10
Granted	2,020		26.16
Exercised	(253	)	25.24
Forfeited or expired	(1,234	)	43.48
Outstanding at June 26, 2016	11,247			$40.42	3.94		$198
Vested and expected to vest at June 26, 2016	11,048			$40.58	3.90		$198
Exercisable at June 26, 2016	6,841			$41.75	2.96		$198

The total intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value, which is the total difference between the closing price of the Company’s common stock on June 24, 2016 (the last trading day of fiscal 2016) of $23.90 and the exercise price for in-the-money options that would have been received by the holders if all instruments had been exercised on June 26, 2016. As of June 26, 2016, there was $30.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.47 years.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at June 26, 2016 (shares in thousands):



	Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Price	Number	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number	Weighted Average Exercise Price
$0.01 to $30.92	4,636	4.18		$27.71	2,747		$28.77
$30.93 to $43.94	748	1.93	35.83		617	35.89
$43.95 to $45.13	2,427	5.12	45.13		820	45.13
$45.14 to $54.26	241	3.79	48.65		168	48.66
$54.27 to $75.55	3,195	3.22	55.74		2,490	55.94
Total	11,247	3.94		$40.42	6,842		$41.75

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Other information pertaining to the Company’s stock option awards is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014
Weighted average grant date fair value per share of options		$8.79		$15.27		$19.31
Total intrinsic value of options exercised		$838		$9,418		$67,044

Restricted Stock Awards and Units

A summary of nonvested restricted stock awards (RSAs) and restricted stock unit awards (RSUs) outstanding as of June 26, 2016 and changes during the year then ended is as follows (in thousands, except number of shares and units):



	Number of RSAs/RSUs		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested at June 28, 2015	926			$45.47
Granted	1,214		26.08
Vested	(354	)	44.76
Forfeited	(155	)	40.55
Nonvested at June 26, 2016	1,631			$31.66

As of June 26, 2016, there was $30.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2 years.

Stock-Based Compensation Valuation and Expense

The Company accounts for its employee stock-based compensation plans using the fair value method. The fair value method requires the Company to estimate the grant-date fair value of its stock-based awards and amortize this fair value to compensation expense over the requisite service period or vesting term.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of the Company’s stock option and ESPP awards. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. Due to the inherent limitations of option-valuation models, future events that are unpredictable and the estimation process utilized in determining the valuation of the stock-based awards, the ultimate value realized by award holders may vary significantly from the amounts expensed in the Company’s financial statements.

For RSAs and RSUs, the grant-date fair value is based upon the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. This fair value is then amortized to compensation expense over the requisite service period or vesting term.

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized net of estimated forfeitures such that expense is recognized only for those stock-based awards that are expected to vest. A forfeiture rate is estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates.

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Total stock-based compensation expense was as follows (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
Income Statement Classification:	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014
Cost of revenue, net		$12,394		$12,836		$11,353
Research and development	13,842		16,524		15,392
Sales, general and administrative	32,491		34,941		34,941
Total stock-based compensation expense		$58,727		$64,301		$61,686

The weighted average assumptions used to value stock option grants were as follows:



	Fiscal Years Ended
Stock Option Grants:	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014
Risk-free interest rate	1.18	%	1.17	%	1.16	%
Expected life, in years	3.66		3.54		3.80
Expected volatility	43.3	%	45.2	%	44.5	%
Dividend yield	—		—		—

The following describes each of these assumptions and the Company’s methodology for determining each assumption:

Risk-Free Interest Rate

The Company estimates the risk-free interest rate using the U.S. Treasury bill rate with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the award.

Expected Life

The expected life represents the period that the stock option awards are expected to be outstanding. In determining the appropriate expected life of its stock options, the Company segregates its grantees into categories based upon employee levels that are expected to be indicative of similar option-related behavior. The expected useful lives for each of these categories are then estimated giving consideration to (1) the weighted average vesting periods, (2) the contractual lives of the stock options, (3) the relationship between the exercise price and the fair market value of the Company’s common stock, (4) expected employee turnover, (5) the expected future volatility of the Company’s common stock, and (6) past and expected exercise behavior, among other factors.

Expected Volatility

The Company estimates expected volatility giving consideration to the expected life of the respective award, the Company’s current expected growth rate, implied volatility in traded options for its common stock, and the historical volatility of its common stock.

Expected Dividend Yield

The Company estimates the expected dividend yield by giving consideration to its current dividend policies as well as those anticipated in the future considering the Company’s current plans and projections.

Note 12 – Income Taxes

The following were the components of (loss) income before income taxes (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Domestic		($45,278	)		($41,593	)		$57,867
Foreign	21,772			(42,346		)	88,664
Total (loss) income before income taxes		($23,506	)		($83,939	)		$146,531

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The following were the components of income tax (benefit) expense (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Current:
Federal		$5,347			($12,470	)		$3,423
Foreign	7,278			13,327			15,371
State	1,244			1,242			1,876
Total current	13,869			2,099			20,670
Deferred:
Federal	(26,086		)	(7,418		)	(88		)
Foreign	12,340			(12,754		)	3,003
State	(2,093		)	(1,174		)	(544		)
Total deferred	(15,839		)	(21,346		)	2,371
Income tax (benefit) expense		($1,970	)		($19,247	)		$23,041

Actual income tax (benefit) expense differed from the amount computed by applying the U.S. federal tax rate of 35% to pre-tax earnings as a result of the following (in thousands, except percentages):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			% of Loss	June 28, 2015			% of Loss	June 29, 2014			% of Income
Federal income tax provision at statutory rate		($8,227	)	35%		($29,379	)	35%		$51,286		35%
(Decrease) increase in income tax expense resulting from:
State tax provision, net of federal benefit	(748		)	3%	(817		)	1%	2,530			2%
State tax credits	(269		)	1%	(585		)	1%	(1,004		)	(1)%
Tax exempt interest	(2,019		)	9%	(2,413		)	3%	(815		)	(1)%
48C investment tax credit	(4,334		)	18%	(6,826		)	8%	(11,310		)	(8)%
(Decrease) increase in tax reserve	(80		)	—%	(225		)	—%	15,411			11%
Change in tax depreciation methodology	—			—%	—			—%	(18,475		)	(12)%
Research and development credits	(2,138		)	9%	(2,081		)	2%	(1,574		)	(1)%
Foreign tax credit	(954		)	4%	(389		)	—%	(490		)	—%
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	9,286			(39)%	—			—%	(20		)	—%
Qualified production activities deduction	—			—%	(520		)	1%	(2,362		)	(1)%
Stock-based compensation	1,346			(6)%	2,988			(4)%	2,024			1%
Statutory rate differences	2,748			(12)%	18,738			(22)%	(14,285		)	(10)%
Foreign earnings taxed in U.S.	1,165			(5)%	1,793			(2)%	—			—%
Foreign currency fluctuations	748			(3)%	(818		)	1%	(20		)	—%
Other	1,506			(6)%	1,287			(1)%	2,145			1%
Income tax (benefit) expense		($1,970	)	8%		($19,247	)	23%		$23,041		16%

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The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities were as follows (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation		$3,176			$1,864
Inventories	19,656			23,172
Sales return reserve and allowance for bad debts	6,615			8,266
Warranty reserve	8,013			5,042
Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards	11,443			7,237
Federal credits	8,802			3,688
State credits	3,286			2,573
48C investment tax credits	17,838			14,980
Investments	872			953
Stock-based compensation	48,191			40,291
Deferred revenue	4,159			4,850
Other	2,792			2,034
Total gross deferred assets	134,843			114,950
Less valuation allowance	(10,770		)	(1,485		)
Deferred tax assets, net	124,073			113,465
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	(9,549		)	(13,337		)
Intangible assets	(69,355		)	(57,819		)
Investments	(2,445		)	(505		)
Prepaid taxes and other	(1,527		)	(1,350		)
Foreign earnings recapture	(3,576		)	(2,524		)
Total gross deferred liability	(86,452		)	(75,535		)
Deferred tax asset, net		$37,621			$37,930

The components giving rise to the net deferred tax assets (liabilities) have been included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (in thousands):



	Balance at June 26, 2016
	Assets				Liabilities
	Current		Noncurrent		Current		Noncurrent
U.S. federal income taxes		$—		$26,411		$—		$—
Foreign income taxes	—		12,153		—		(943		)
Total net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)		$—		$38,564		$—		($943	)



	Balance at June 28, 2015
	Assets				Liabilities
	Current		Noncurrent		Current		Noncurrent
U.S. federal income taxes		$23,231		$52		$—		($8,915	)
Foreign income taxes	15,959		8,899		—		(1,296		)
Total net deferred tax assets/(liabilities)		$39,190		$8,951		$—		($10,211	)

The research and development credit, which had previously expired on December 31, 2014, was reinstated as part of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, enacted on December 18, 2015. This legislation retroactively reinstated and permanently extended the research and development credit. The benefit of this credit for fiscal 2016 as well as the period December 31, 2014

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through June 28, 2015 has been included in the fiscal year 2016 tax benefit representing a $1.3 million and $0.8 million benefit, respectively.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company was notified by the Internal Revenue Service that it had been allocated $30 million of federal tax credits as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Phase II (Internal Revenue Code Section 48C). This $30 million allocation is in addition to the $39 million previously allocated to the Company in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. The tax benefit (net of related basis adjustments) will be amortized into income over the useful life (5 years) of the underlying equipment that was placed into service to generate these credits. Since fiscal 2010, the Company has recognized an income tax benefit of $37.2 million related to the credits generated to date, with $4.3 million of this amount recognized as a tax benefit for the year ended June 26, 2016.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company concluded it is likely that sufficient future taxable income needed to fully utilize net operating loss carryovers in Luxembourg will not be generated due to additional losses on the Company’s equity method investment held there. The Company recorded a $9.5 million valuation allowance against the related deferred tax asset, representing the $32.4 million net operating loss carryover net of tax. This resulted in an additional $9.5 million of income tax expense during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company concluded it is likely that it will fully utilize all North Carolina income tax credits due to the expected taxable gain on the sale of the Wolfspeed Business. As a result, the Company released a $1.9 million valuation allowance against the related deferred tax asset. This resulted in an additional $1.9 million of income tax benefit during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

As of June 28, 2016, the Company had approximately $36.2 million of foreign net operating loss carryovers, of which $32.4 million are offset by a valuation allowance. The foreign net operating loss carryovers have no carry forward limitation. As of June 26, 2016, the Company had approximately $22.7 million of state net operating loss carryovers, of which approximately $15.1 million are offset by a valuation allowance. Additionally, the Company had $6.9 million of state income tax credit carryforwards. The state net operating loss carryovers and income tax credit carryforwards will begin to expire in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2017, respectively. Furthermore, the Company had approximately $0.8 million of alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards, $5.8 million of 48C credit carryforwards, $1.9 million of research and development credit carryforwards, and $1.6 million of state income tax credit carryforwards that relate to excess stock option benefits which, if and when realized, will be recognized in Additional paid-in-capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

U.S. GAAP requires a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is cumulatively more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement.

As of June 28, 2015 the Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $17.8 million. The Company recognized a $0.6 million increase to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits due to uncertainty regarding intercompany transactions recently challenged by the Italian tax authority, and a $0.5 million decrease to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits due to a decrease in the effective tax rate related to an uncertainty regarding a change in tax depreciation methodology adopted in fiscal 2014. In addition there was a $0.2 million decrease to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits following statute expiration. As a result, the total liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of June 26, 2016 was $17.7 million. If any portion of this $17.7 million is recognized, the Company will then include that portion in the computation of its effective tax rate. Although the ultimate timing of the resolution and/or closure of audits is highly uncertain, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that approximately $4.3 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next 12 months as a result of pending audit settlements or statute requirements.

The following is a tabular reconciliation of the Company’s change in uncertain tax positions (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Balance at beginning of period		$17,795			$18,389			$2,732
Increases related to prior year tax positions	617			—			18,040
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(530		)	(407		)	(741		)
Expiration of statute of limitations for assessment of taxes	(155		)	(187		)	(1,642		)
Balance at end of period		$17,727			$17,795			$18,389

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The Company’s policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the Income tax (benefit) expense line item in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income. Total interest and penalties accrued were as follows (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015
Accrued interest and penalties		($5	)		$10

Total interest and penalties recognized were as follows (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Recognized interest and penalties (benefit)		($15	)		($94	)		($51	)

The Company files U.S. federal, U.S. state and foreign tax returns. For U.S. federal purposes, the Company is generally no longer subject to tax examinations for fiscal years prior to 2013. For U.S. state tax returns, the Company is generally no longer subject to tax examinations for fiscal years prior to 2012. For foreign purposes, the Company is generally no longer subject to examination for tax periods 2005 and prior. Certain carryforward tax attributes generated in prior years remain subject to examination, adjustment and recapture. The Company is currently under audit by the Italian Revenue Agency for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

The Company provides for U.S. income taxes on the earnings of foreign subsidiaries unless the subsidiaries’ earnings are considered indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. As of June 26, 2016, U.S. income taxes were not provided for on a cumulative total of approximately $255.0 million of undistributed earnings for certain non-U.S. subsidiaries, as the Company currently intends to reinvest these earnings in these foreign operations indefinitely. If, at a later date, these earnings were repatriated to the U.S., the Company would be required to pay taxes on these amounts. Determination of the amount of any deferred tax liability on these undistributed earnings is not practicable.

During the fiscal year ended June 26, 2011, the Company was awarded a tax holiday in Malaysia with respect to its manufacturing and distribution operations. This arrangement allows for 0% tax for 10 years starting in the fiscal year ended June 26, 2011. For the fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016, the Company did not meet the requirements for the tax holiday, and as such, no benefit has been recognized.

Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies

Warranties

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s product warranty liabilities (in thousands):



	Fiscal Years Ended
	June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Balance at beginning of period		$13,968			$6,822			$6,171
Warranties accrued in current period	19,866			9,242			4,256
Recall costs accrued in current period	5,756			5,418			—
Changes in estimates for pre-existing warranties	—			—			907
Expenditures	(18,059		)	(7,514		)	(4,512		)
Balance at end of period		$21,531			$13,968			$6,822

Product warranties are estimated and recognized at the time the Company recognizes revenue. The warranty periods range from 90 days to 10 years. The Company accrues warranty liabilities at the time of sale, based on historical and projected incident rates and expected future warranty costs. The Company accrues estimated costs related to product recalls based on a formal campaign soliciting repair or return of that product when they are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. The warranty reserves, which are primarily related to Lighting Products, are evaluated quarterly based on various factors including historical warranty claims, assumptions about the frequency of warranty claims, and assumptions about the frequency of product failures derived from quality testing, field monitoring and the Company’s reliability estimates. As of June 26, 2016, $1.3 million of the Company’s product warranty liabilities were classified as long-term.

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In June 2015, the Company issued a voluntary recall of its linear LED T8 replacement lamps due to the hazard of overheating and melting. The Company expects the majority of the costs of the recall to be recoverable from insurance proceeds resulting in an immaterial impact to the Company's financial results.

Lease Commitments

The Company primarily leases manufacturing, office, housing and warehousing space under the terms of non-cancelable operating leases. These leases expire at various times through May 2022. The Company recognizes net rent expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. Rent expense associated with these operating leases totaled approximately $6.6 million, $8.2 million and $5.8 million for each of the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, respectively. Certain agreements require that the Company pay property taxes and general property maintenance in addition to the minimum rental payments.

Future minimum rental payments as of June 26, 2016 (under leases currently in effect) are as follows (in thousands):



Fiscal Years Ending	Minimum Rental Amount
June 25, 2017		$4,850
June 24, 2018	2,974
June 30, 2019	1,663
June 28, 2020	1,269
June 27, 2021	577
Thereafter	26
Total future minimum rental payments		$11,359

Litigation

The Company is currently a party to various legal proceedings. While management presently believes that the ultimate outcome of such proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially harm the Company’s financial position, cash flows, or overall trends in results of operations, legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include money damages or, in matters for which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies may be sought, an injunction prohibiting the Company from selling one or more products at all or in particular ways. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, results of operation, financial position and overall trends. The outcomes in these matters are not reasonably estimable.

Note 14 - Reportable Segments

The Company’s operating and reportable segments are:


•	Lighting Products


•	LED Products


•	Power and RF Products

The Company’s CODM reviews segment performance and allocates resources based upon segment revenue and segment gross profit.

Reportable Segments Description

Lighting Products Segment

The Company’s Lighting Products segment primarily consists of LED lighting systems and bulbs. The Company designs, manufactures and sells lighting systems for indoor and outdoor applications, with its primary focus on LED lighting systems for the commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Lighting products are sold to distributors, retailers and direct to customers. The Company's portfolio of lighting products is designed for use in settings such as office and retail space, restaurants and hospitality, schools and universities, manufacturing, healthcare, airports, municipal, residential, street lighting and parking structures, among other applications.

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LED Products Segment

The Company’s LED Products segment includes LED chips, LED components, and SiC materials.

LED Chips

LED chip products include blue and green LED chips based on GaN and related materials. LED chips or die are solid-state electronic components used in a number of applications and are currently available in a variety of brightness levels, wavelengths (color) and sizes. The Company uses LED chips internally in the manufacturing of its LED components. Customers use the blue and green LED chips in a variety of applications including video screens, gaming displays, function indicator lights, and automotive backlights, headlamps and directional indicators. Customers may also combine blue LED chips with phosphors to create white LEDs, which are used in various applications for indoor and outdoor illumination and backlighting, full-color display screens, liquid crystal displays (LCD) backlighting, white keypads and the camera flash function.

LED Components

LED component products include a range of packaged LED products from the Company’s XLamp^® LED components and LED modules for lighting applications to the Company’s high-brightness LED components.

The Company’s XLamp LED components and LED modules are lighting class packaged LED products designed to meet a broad range of market needs for lighting applications including general illumination (both indoor and outdoor applications), portable, architectural, signal and transportation lighting. The Company uses XLamp LED components in its own lighting products. The Company also sells XLamp LED components externally to customers and distributors for use in a variety of products, primarily for lighting applications.

The Company’s high-brightness LED components consist of surface mount (SMD) and through-hole packaged LED products. The SMD LED component products are available in a full range of colors designed to meet a broad range of market needs, including video, signage, general illumination, transportation, gaming and specialty lighting markets. The Company's through-hole packaged LED component products are available in a full range of colors, primarily designed for the signage market, and provide users with color and brightness consistency across a wide viewing area.

SiC Materials

The Company’s SiC materials are targeted for customers who use them to manufacture products for RF, power switching, gemstones and other applications. Corporate, government and university customers also buy SiC materials for research and development directed at RF and high power devices. The Company sells its SiC materials in bulk form, as a bare wafer or with SiC and GaN epitaxial films.

Power and RF Products Segment

The Company’s Power and RF Products segment includes power devices and RF devices.

Power Devices

The Company’s SiC-based power products include Schottky diodes, SiC metal semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), and SiC power modules at various voltages. The Company's power products provide increased efficiency, faster switching speeds and reduced system size and weight over comparable silicon-based power devices. Power products are sold primarily to customers and distributors for use in power supplies used in computer servers, solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies, industrial power supplies and other applications.

RF Devices

The Company’s RF devices include a variety of GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), which are optimized for military, telecom and other commercial applications. The Company's RF devices are made from SiC and GaN and provide improved efficiency, bandwidths and frequency of operation as compared to silicon or GaAs. The Company also provides custom die manufacturing for GaN HEMTs and MMICs that allow a customer to design its own custom RF circuits to be fabricated by the Company, or have the Company design and fabricate products that meet the customer's specific requirements.

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Financial Results by Reportable Segment

The table below reflects the results of the Company’s reportable segments as reviewed by the Company’s CODM for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014. The Company used the same accounting policies to derive the segment results reported below as those used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company’s CODM does not review inter-segment transactions when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources to each segment, and inter-segment transactions are not included in the segment revenue presented in the table below. As such, total segment revenue in the table below is equal to the Company’s consolidated revenue.

The Company’s CODM reviews gross profit as the lowest and only level of segment profit. As such, all items below gross profit in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income must be included to reconcile the consolidated gross profit presented in the table below to the Company’s consolidated income before income taxes.

In order to determine gross profit for each reportable segment, the Company allocates direct costs and indirect costs to each segment’s cost of revenue. The Company allocates indirect costs, such as employee benefits for manufacturing employees, shared facilities services, information technology, purchasing, and customer service, when the costs are identifiable and beneficial to the reportable segment. The Company allocates these indirect costs based on a reasonable measure of utilization that considers the specific facts and circumstances of the costs being allocated.

Unallocated costs in the table below consisted primarily of manufacturing employees’ stock-based compensation, expenses for profit sharing and quarterly or annual incentive plans and matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan. These costs were not allocated to the reportable segments' gross profit because the Company’s CODM does not review them regularly when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources.

Revenue, gross profit and gross margin for each of the Company's segments were as follows (in thousands, except percentages):



	Revenue						Gross Profit and Gross Margin
	Year Ended						Year Ended
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		June 29, 2014		June 26, 2016			June 28, 2015			June 29, 2014
Lighting Products	$	889,133	$	906,502	$	706,425	$	238,242		$	235,542		$	197,304
Lighting Products gross margin							27		%	26		%	28		%
LED Products	610,835		602,082		833,684		212,367			190,912			381,003
LED Products gross margin							35		%	32		%	46		%
Power and RF Products	116,659		123,921		107,532		56,069			67,764			60,723
Power and RF Products gross margin							48		%	55		%	56		%
Total segment reporting		$1,616,627		$1,632,505		$1,647,641	506,678			494,218			639,030
Unallocated costs							(19,604		)	(20,299		)	(21,274		)
Consolidated gross profit								$487,074			$473,919			$617,756
Consolidated gross margin							30		%	29		%	37		%

Assets by Reportable Segment

Inventories are the only assets reviewed by the Company’s CODM when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources to the segments. The CODM reviews all of the Company's assets other than inventories on a consolidated basis. The following table sets forth the Company’s inventories by reportable segment for the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015.

Unallocated inventories in the table below were not allocated to the reportable segments because the Company’s CODM does not review them when evaluating performance and allocating resources to each segment. Unallocated inventories consisted primarily of manufacturing employees’ stock-based compensation, profit sharing and quarterly or annual incentive compensation and matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

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Inventories for each of the Company's segments were as follows (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015
Lighting Products	$	172,261	$	150,755
LED Products	106,787		114,203
Power and RF Products	19,628		11,536
Total segment inventories	298,676		276,494
Unallocated inventories	4,866		4,082
Consolidated inventories		$303,542		$280,576

Geographic Information

The Company conducts business in several geographic areas. Revenue is attributed to a particular geographic region based on the shipping address for the products. The following table sets forth the percentage of revenue from external customers by geographic area:



	For the Years Ended
	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015		6/29/2014
United States	59	%	57	%	49	%
China	20	%	21	%	27	%
Europe	8	%	9	%	9	%
South Korea	1	%	1	%	2	%
Japan	4	%	4	%	6	%
Malaysia	1	%	1	%	1	%
Taiwan	1	%	1	%	1	%
Other	6	%	6	%	5	%
Total percentage of revenue	100	%	100	%	100	%

The following table sets forth the Company’s tangible long-lived assets by country (in thousands):



	June 26, 2016		June 28, 2015
United States		$488,342		$502,579
China	108,183		131,140
Other	3,198		1,353
Total tangible long-lived assets		$599,723		$635,072

Note 15 – Concentrations of Risk

Financial instruments, which may subject the Company to a concentration of risk, consist principally of short-term investments, cash equivalents, and accounts receivable. Short-term investments consist primarily of municipal bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper and certificates of deposit at interest rates that vary by security. The Company’s cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds. Certain bank deposits may at times be in excess of the FDIC insurance limits.

The Company sells its products on account to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others worldwide and generally requires no collateral.

Revenue from Arrow Electronics, Inc. represented 10%, 12% and 13% of revenue for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Revenue from The Home Depot, Inc. represented 8% of revenue in fiscal 2016 and 11% in both fiscal 2015 and 2014.

No customers individually accounted for more than 10% of the consolidated accounts receivable balance at June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015.

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Arrow Electronics, Inc. is a customer of the LED Products and Power and RF Products segments. The Home Depot, Inc. is a customer of the Lighting Products segment.

Note 16 – Retirement Savings Plan

The Company sponsors one employee benefit plan (the 401(k) Plan) pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All U.S. employees are eligible to participate under the 401(k) Plan on the first day of a new fiscal month after the date of hire. Under the 401(k) Plan, there is no fixed dollar amount of retirement benefits; rather, the Company matches a defined percentage of employee deferrals, and employees vest in these matching funds over time. Employees choose their investment elections from a list of available investment options. During the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016, June 28, 2015 and June 29, 2014, the Company contributed approximately $7.0 million, $6.9 million and $6.3 million to the 401(k) Plan, respectively. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation does not insure the 401(k) Plan.

Note 17 – Related Party Transactions

In July 2010, Mark Swoboda was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Intematix Corporation (Intematix). Mark Swoboda is the brother of the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Charles M. Swoboda. For a number of years the Company has purchased raw materials from Intematix pursuant to standard purchase orders in the ordinary course of business.

During fiscal 2016, the Company purchased $3.9 million of raw materials from Intematix, and the Company had $0.3 million outstanding payable to Intematix as of June 26, 2016. During fiscal 2015, the Company purchased $7.2 million of raw materials from Intematix, and the Company had $0.1 million outstanding payable to Intematix as of June 28, 2015.

The Company currently owns approximately 14% of the common stock of Lextar Electronics Corporation, an investment that was purchased in December 2014. During fiscal 2016, the Company purchased approximately $31.7 million of inventory from Lextar and the Company had $7.6 million outstanding payable to Lextar as of June 26, 2016.

Note 18 - Costs Associated with LED Business Restructuring

In June 2015, our Board of Directors approved a plan to restructure the LED Products business. The restructuring reduced excess capacity and overhead in order to improve the cost structure moving forward. The primary components of the restructuring include the planned sale or abandonment of certain manufacturing equipment, facility consolidation and the elimination of certain positions. The restructuring activity ended in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. During fiscal 2016, the company realized$18.8 million in LED restructuring charges which were partially offset by a $1.1 million gain on the sale of long-lived assets related to the restructuring which were sold for a value in excess of their estimated net realizable value during fiscal 2016.

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The following table summarizes the actual charges incurred (in thousands):



Capacity and overhead cost reductions	Amounts incurred through June 28, 2015		Amounts incurred during fiscal year 2016		Cumulative amounts incurred through June 26, 2016		Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of (Loss)Income
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets	$	42,716	$	15,506	$	58,222	Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets
Severance expense	2,019		264		2,283		Sales, general and administrative expenses
Lease termination and facility consolidation costs	1,246		3,079		4,325		Sales, general and administrative expenses
Increase in channel inventory reserves	26,479		—		26,479		Revenue, net
Increase in inventory reserves	11,091		—		11,091		Cost of revenue, net
Total restructuring charges	$	83,551	$	18,849	$	102,400

In the table above, the lease termination costs relate to the relocation of certain manufacturing operations from a leased facility in Huizhou, China to a company-owned facility which is also in Huizhou, China. In June 2015, the Company ceased using the leased facility and recognized a $0.5 million charge for the lease contract termination cost.

In the table above, the severance expense relates to a reduction in manufacturing and support positions. There is not a significant retention period for impacted employees.

The following table presents the changes in the severance liability under the LED Products restructuring plan (in thousands):



Severance liability at June 30, 2014	$	—
Severance expense	2,019
Severance payments	—
Severance liability at June 28, 2015	$	2,019
Severance charge	264
Severance payments	(2,283		)
Severance liability at June 26, 2016	$	—

Note 19 - Subsequent Event

On July 13, 2016, the Company executed an Asset Purchase Agreement (the APA) with Infineon. The transaction, which was approved by both the Company’s Board of Directors and Infineon’s Supervisory Board, is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2016, subject to customary closing conditions and governmental approvals.

Pursuant to the APA, the Company will sell to Infineon, and Infineon will (i) purchase from the Company (a) the assets comprising the Company’s Power and RF Products segment, including manufacturing facilities and equipment, inventory, intellectual property rights, contracts, real estate, and the outstanding equity interests of Cree Fayetteville, Inc, one of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, and (b) certain related portions of the Company’s SiC materials and gemstones business included within the LED Products segment (the Company refers to the business that it is selling, collectively, as the Wolfspeed business) and (ii) assume certain liabilities related to the Wolfspeed business. The Company will retain certain liabilities associated with the Wolfspeed business arising prior to the closing of the transaction. Infineon is expected to hire most of the Company’s approximately 545 Wolfspeed employees either at the closing of the transaction or following a transition period.

The purchase price for the Wolfspeed business will be $850 million in cash, which is subject to certain adjustments. In connection with the transaction, the Company and Infineon will also enter into certain ancillary and related agreements, including (i) an

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intellectual property assignment and license agreement, which will assign to Infineon certain intellectual property owned by the Company and license to Infineon certain additional intellectual property owned by the Company, (ii) a transition services agreement, which is designed to ensure a smooth transition of the Wolfspeed business to Infineon, and (iii) a wafer supply agreement, pursuant to which the Company will supply Infineon with silicon carbide wafers and silicon carbide boules for a transitional period of time.

The APA contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants to cooperate in seeking regulatory approvals, as well as the Company’s agreement to not compete with the Wolfspeed business for five years following the closing of the transaction and to indemnify Infineon for certain damages that Infineon may suffer following the closing of the transaction.

Infineon's obligation to purchase the Wolfspeed business is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions set forth in the APA, including regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and certain similar non-U.S. regulations, the approval of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and other customary closing conditions. The APA provides for customary termination rights of the parties and also provides that in the event the APA is terminated for certain specified regulatory-related circumstances, Infineon may be required to pay the Company a termination fee ranging from $12.5 million to $42.5 million.

The Company will report the Wolfspeed business as discontinued operations beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

Note 20 – Quarterly Results of Operations - Unaudited

The following is a summary of the Company’s consolidated quarterly results of operations for each of the fiscal years ended June 26, 2016 and June 28, 2015 (in thousands, except per share data):



	September 27, 2015*			December 27, 2015*		March 27, 2016		June 26, 2016			Fiscal Year 2016
Revenue, net		$425,489			$435,806		$366,919		$388,413			$1,616,627
Cost of revenue, net	294,916			301,361		257,886		275,390			1,129,553
Gross profit	130,573			134,445		109,033		113,023			487,074
Net (loss) income	(24,489		)	13,442		152		(10,641		)	(21,536		)
(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic		($0.24	)		$0.13		$—		($0.11	)		($0.21	)
Diluted		($0.24	)		$0.13		$—		($0.11	)		($0.21	)

	September 28, 2014*			December 28, 2014*		March 29, 2015*		June 28, 2015*			Fiscal Year 2015*
Revenue, net		$427,672			$413,157		$409,519		$382,157			$1,632,505
Cost of revenue, net	292,111			276,637		284,371		305,467			1,158,586
Gross profit	135,561			136,520		125,148		76,690			473,919
Net income (loss)	10,955			11,977		476		(88,100		)	(64,692		)
(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic		$0.09			$0.10		$—		($0.83	)		($0.57	)
Diluted		$0.09			$0.10		$—		($0.83	)		($0.57	)

*As revised to reflect the correction of an immaterial error. For additional information, see Note 2, "Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."

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

None.

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Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in that they provide reasonable assurances that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods required by the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

In the course of our ongoing preparations for making management’s report on internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, from time to time we have identified areas in need of improvement and have taken remedial actions to strengthen the affected controls as appropriate. We make these and other changes to enhance the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, which do not have a material effect on our overall internal control.

We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis and will take action as appropriate.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

Our 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 our assets;


(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 our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and


(iii)	provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

In making the assessment of internal control over financial reporting, our management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 framework). Based on that assessment and those criteria, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of June 26, 2016.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 26, 2016 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Item 9B. Other Information

Not applicable.

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PART III

Certain information called for in Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement relating to our annual meeting of shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of fiscal 2016.

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11. Executive Compensation

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

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

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)(1) and (2) The financial statements and reports of independent registered public accounting firm are filed as part of this Annual Report (see “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” at Item 8). The financial statement schedules are not included in this item as they are either not applicable or are included as part of the consolidated financial statements.

(a)(3) The following exhibits have been or are being filed herewith and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K:



EXHIBIT NO.		DESCRIPTION

3.1		Articles of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2002)

3.2		Bylaws, as amended and restated (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 27, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2015)

4.1		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2002)

4.2		Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated April 24, 2012, between Cree, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 24, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2012)

4.3		Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2013)

4.4		Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 11, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2015)

10.1*		2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 25, 2012)

10.2*		Addendum to Form of Master Stock Option Award Agreement Terms and Conditions for Grants of Nonqualified Stock Options to Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2009)

10.3*		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2012)

10.4*		Form of Master Stock Option Award Agreement for Grants of Nonqualified Stock Options (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 24, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2006)

10.5*		Form of Master Stock Option Award Agreement for Grants of Nonqualified Stock Options (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 26, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2011)

10.6*		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2012)

10.7*		Form of Master Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 24, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2006)

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10.8*		Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2012)

10.9*		Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation and Deferral Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2009)

10.10*		Amendment One to Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation and Deferral Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 26, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2011)

10.11*		Master Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated August 18, 2008, between Cree, Inc. and Charles M. Swoboda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 18, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2008)

10.12*		Cree, Inc. Severance Plan for Section 16 Officers, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 28, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2013)

10.13*		Change in Control Agreement for Chief Executive Officer, effective December 17, 2012, between Cree, Inc. and Charles M. Swoboda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 17, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2012)

10.14*		Form of Cree, Inc. Change in Control Agreement for Section 16 Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 17, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2012)

10.15*		Form of Cree, Inc. Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 25, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2010)

10.16*		Form of Master Performance Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 30, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2013)

10.17*		Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement (Time-Based) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 2013)

10.18*		Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement (Performance-Based) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 2013)

10.19*		2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2013)

10.20*		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2014)

10.21*		Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2014)

10.22*		Form of Master Performance Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 25, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2014)

10.23*		2013 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 28, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2014)

10.24		Credit Agreement, dated January 9, 2015, by and between Cree, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender, E-conolight LLC, a domestic subsidiary of the Company, as guarantor, and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 9, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2015)

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10.25*		Notice of Grant to Charles M. Swoboda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 24, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2015)

10.26*		Notice of Grant to Michael E. McDevitt (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 24, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2015)

10.27*		Management Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 24, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2015)

10.28*		Schedule of Compensation for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2015)

10.29*		Form of Performance Share Award Agreement - Section 16 Officer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2015)

21.1		Subsidiaries of the Company

23.1		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.2		Consent of KPMG

31.1		Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1		Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2		Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

99.1**		Audited financial statements of Lextar Electronics Corporation as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

101		The following materials from Cree, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2016 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (v) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements



*	Management contract or compensatory plan

**	The financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 of Lextar Electronics Corporation, prepared by Lextar and audited by its independent public accounting firm, are included in this Annual Report pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



CREE, INC.
Date:	August 25, 2016

By:	/s/ CHARLES M. SWOBODA
	Charles M. Swoboda
	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
	(Principal Executive Officer)

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




Signature	Title	Date

/s/ CHARLES M. SWOBODA	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President	August 25, 2016
Charles M. Swoboda

/s/ MICHAEL E. MCDEVITT	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	August 25, 2016
Michael E. McDevitt	(Principal Financial and Chief Accounting Officer)

/s/ CLYDE R. HOSEIN	Director	August 25, 2016
Clyde R. Hosein

/s/ ROBERT A. INGRAM	Director	August 25, 2016
Robert A. Ingram

/s/ DARREN R. JACKSON	Director	August 25, 2016
Darren R. Jackson

/s/ C. HOWARD NYE	Director	August 25, 2016
C. Howard Nye

/s/ JOHN B. REPLOGLE	Director	August 25, 2016
John B. Replogle

/s/ ROBERT L. TILLMAN	Director	August 25, 2016
Robert L. Tillman

/s/ THOMAS H. WERNER	Director	August 25, 2016
Thomas H. Werner

/s/ ANNE C. WHITAKER	Director	August 25, 2016
Anne C. Whitaker

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EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT NO.		DESCRIPTION

3.1		Articles of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2002)

3.2		Bylaws, as amended and restated (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 27, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2015)

4.1		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2002)

4.2		Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated April 24, 2012, between Cree, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 24, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2012)

4.3		Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2013)

4.4		Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 11, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2015)

10.1*		2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 25, 2012)

10.2*		Addendum to Form of Master Stock Option Award Agreement Terms and Conditions for Grants of Nonqualified Stock Options to Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2009)

10.3*		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2012)

10.4*		Form of Master Stock Option Award Agreement for Grants of Nonqualified Stock Options (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 24, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2006)

10.5*		Form of Master Stock Option Award Agreement for Grants of Nonqualified Stock Options (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 26, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2011)

10.6*		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2012)

10.7*		Form of Master Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 24, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2006)

10.8*		Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 23, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2012)

10.9*		Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation and Deferral Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2009)

10.10*		Amendment One to Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation and Deferral Program (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 26, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2011)

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10.11*		Master Performance Unit Award Agreement, dated August 18, 2008, between Cree, Inc. and Charles M. Swoboda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 18, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2008)

10.12*		Cree, Inc. Severance Plan for Section 16 Officers, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 28, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2013)

10.13*		Change in Control Agreement for Chief Executive Officer, effective December 17, 2012, between Cree, Inc. and Charles M. Swoboda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 17, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2012)

10.14*		Form of Cree, Inc. Change in Control Agreement for Section 16 Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 17, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2012)

10.15*		Form of Cree, Inc. Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 25, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2010)

10.16*		Form of Master Performance Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 30, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2013)

10.17*		Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement (Time-Based) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 2013)

10.18*		Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement (Performance-Based) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 2013)

10.19*		2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2013)

10.20*		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2014)

10.21*		Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 29, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2014)

10.22*		Form of Master Performance Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 25, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2014)

10.23*		2013 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 28, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2014)

10.24		Credit Agreement, dated January 9, 2015, by and between Cree, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender, E-conolight LLC, a domestic subsidiary of the Company, as guarantor, and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 9, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2015)

10.25*		Notice of Grant to Charles M. Swoboda (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 24, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2015)

10.26*		Notice of Grant to Michael E. McDevitt (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 24, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2015)

10.27*		Management Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 24, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2015)

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10.28*		Schedule of Compensation for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2015)

10.29*		Form of Performance Share Award Agreement - Section 16 Officer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2015)

21.1		Subsidiaries of the Company

23.1		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.2		Consent of KPMG

31.1		Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1		Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2		Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

99.1**		Audited financial statements of Lextar Electronics Corporation as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

101		The following materials from Cree, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2016 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (v) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements



*	Management contract or compensatory plan
**	The financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 of Lextar Electronics Corporation, prepared by Lextar and audited by its independent public accounting firm, are included in this Annual Report pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X.