Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007

OR

 

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

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission File Number 001-07882

 

 

ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   94-1692300
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One AMD Place, Sunnyvale, California   94088
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(408) 749-4000

(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 per share $0.01 par value   New York Stock Exchange

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  x  No  ¨

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

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x   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 by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  ¨  No  x

As of June 29, 2007, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $7.9 billion based on the reported closing sale price of $14.30 per share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 29, 2007, which was the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 605,554,534 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, as of February 11, 2008.

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2008 (2008 Proxy Statement) are incorporated into Part II and III hereof.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

FORM 10-K

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2007

INDEX

 

PART I    1
    ITEM 1.  

BUSINESS

   1
    ITEM 1A.  

RISK FACTORS

   19
    ITEM 1B.  

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

   39
    ITEM 2.  

PROPERTIES

   39
    ITEM 3.  

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   40
    ITEM 4.  

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

   43
PART II    44
    ITEM 5.  

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

   44
    ITEM 6.  

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

   46
    ITEM 7.  

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

   48
    ITEM 7A.  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

   85
    ITEM 8.  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

   88
    ITEM 9.  

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

   148
    ITEM 9A.  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   148
    ITEM 9B.  

OTHER INFORMATION

   148
PART III    150
    ITEM 10.  

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

   150
    ITEM 11.  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

   150
    ITEM 12.  

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

   150
    ITEM 13.  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

   150
    ITEM 14.  

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

   150
PART IV    151
    ITEM 15.  

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

   151
SIGNATURES    161

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this report include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events as we cannot assure you that the events or circumstances reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology including “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “intends,” “plans,” “pro forma,” “estimates,” or “anticipates” or the negative of these words and phrases or other variations of these words and phrases or comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the timing of new product releases; volume shipments of products; shipments of chipsets for Intel CPUs; the growth and competitive landscape of the markets in which we participate; our revenues; our capital expenditures; our operating expenses; our depreciation and amortization expense; our acquisition-related charges; our income tax expense; our aggregate contractual obligations; and availability of external financing. Material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the following: (1) the expected rate of market growth and demand for our products and technologies (and the mix thereof); (2) our expected market share; (3) our expected product and manufacturing costs and average selling prices; (4) our overall competitive position and the competitiveness of our current and future products; (5) our ability to introduce new products and effect transitions to more advanced manufacturing process technologies, consistent with our current plans in terms of timing and capital expenditures; (6) our ability to raise sufficient capital on favorable terms; (7) our ability to make additional investment in research and development and that such opportunities will be available; and (8) the expected demand for computers and consumer electronics products. Material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, without limitation, the following: (1) that Intel Corporation’s pricing, marketing and rebating programs, product bundling, standard setting, new product introductions or other activities may negatively impact sales; (2) that our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial position and prevent us from implementing our strategy or fulfilling our contractual obligations; (3) that we will require additional funding and may be unable to raise sufficient capital, on favorable terms, or at all; (4) that we may be unable to realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of ATI Technologies Inc. (ATI) because, among other things, the revenues, cost savings, growth prospects and any other synergies expected from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; (5) that we may be unable to maintain the level of investment in research and development and capacity that is required to remain competitive; (6) that we may be unable to develop, launch and ramp new products and technologies in the volumes that is required by the market at mature yields on a timely basis; (7) that we may be unable to transition to advanced manufacturing process technologies in a timely and effective way, consistent with planned capital expenditures; (8) that there may be unexpected variations in market growth and demand for our products and technologies in light of the product mix that we may have available at any particular time or a decline in demand; (9) that demand for computers and consumer electronics products will be lower than currently expected; (10) that we may be unable to obtain sufficient manufacturing capacity (either in our own facilities or at foundries) or components to meet demand for our products; (11) that we may under-utilize our microprocessor manufacturing facilities; and (12) the effect of political or economic instability, domestically or internationally, on our sales or production.

For a discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, see “Part I, Item 1A—Risk Factors” and the “Financial Condition” section set forth in “Part II, Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or MD&A, beginning on page 48 below and such other risks and uncertainties as set forth below in this report or detailed in our other Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports and filings. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

 

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General

We are a global semiconductor company with facilities around the world. Within the global semiconductor industry, we offer primarily:

 

   

x86 microprocessors, for the commercial and consumer markets, embedded microprocessors for commercial, commercial client and consumer markets and chipsets for desktop and notebook personal computers, or PCs, professional workstations and servers;

 

   

graphics, video and multimedia products for desktop and notebook computers, including home media PCs, professional workstations and servers; and

 

   

products for consumer electronic devices such as mobile phone and digital televisions and technology for game consoles.

For financial information about geographic areas and for segment information with respect to revenues and operating results, refer to the information set forth in Note 11 of our consolidated financial statements, beginning on page 128 below.

Additional Information

We were incorporated under the laws of Delaware on May 1, 1969 and became a publicly held company in 1972. Since 1979 our common stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AMD.” Our mailing address and executive offices are located at One AMD Place, Sunnyvale, California 94088, and our telephone number is (408) 749-4000. References in this report to “AMD,” “we,” “us,” “management,” “our,” or the “Company” means Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Athlon, Opteron, Sempron, Turion, LIVE!, Geode, PowerNow!, CoolCore, Virtualization and combinations thereof; ATI and the ATI logo and Avivo, TV Wonder, Fire, Mobility, Theater, Imageon, Radeon, Xilleon, Crossfire and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. HyperTransport is a licensed trademark of the HyperTransport Technology Consortium. NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. Other names are for informational purposes only and are used to identify companies and products and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Website Access to Company Reports and Corporate Governance Documents

We post on the Investor Relations pages of our Web site, www.amd.com, a link to our filings with the SEC, our Principles of Corporate Governance, our Code of Ethics for our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller and other senior finance executives, our “Worldwide Standards of Business Conduct,” which applies to our directors and all our employees, and the charters of our Audit, Compensation, Finance and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees of our Board of Directors. Our filings with the SEC are posted as soon as reasonably practical after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. You can also obtain copies of these documents by writing to us at: Corporate Secretary, AMD, 5204 E. Ben White Blvd., M/S 562, Austin, Texas 78741, or emailing us at: Corporate.Secretary@amd.com. All these documents and filings are available free of charge. Please note that information contained on our Web site is not incorporated by reference in, or considered to be a part of, this report.

Our Industry

Semiconductors are components used in a variety of electronic products and systems. An integrated circuit, or IC, is a semiconductor device that consists of many interconnected transistors on a single chip. Since the invention of the transistor in 1948, improvements in IC process and design technologies have led to the development of

 

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smaller, more complex and more reliable ICs at a lower cost per function. In order to satisfy the demand for faster, smaller and lower-cost ICs, semiconductor manufacturers have continually developed improvements in manufacturing and process technology. ICs are increasingly being manufactured using smaller geometries on larger silicon wafers. Use of smaller process geometries can result in products that are higher performing, use less power and cost less to manufacture on a per unit basis. Use of larger wafers can contribute further to a decrease in manufacturing costs per unit and to an increase in capacity by yielding more chips per wafer.

Computing Solutions

The x86 Microprocessor Market

A microprocessor is an IC that serves as the central processing unit, or CPU, of a computer. It generally consists of millions of transistors that process data and control other devices in the system, acting as the brain of the computer. The performance of a microprocessor is a critical factor impacting the performance of a computer and numerous other electronic systems. The principal indicators of CPU performance are work-per-cycle, or how many instructions are executed per cycle, clock speed, representing the rate at which a CPU’s internal logic operates, measured in units of hertz, or cycles per second, and power consumption. Other factors impacting microprocessor performance include the number of CPUs, or cores, on a microprocessor, the bit rating of the microprocessor, memory size and data access speed.

Developments in circuit design and manufacturing process technologies have resulted in significant advances in microprocessor performance. Currently, microprocessors are designed to process 32-bits or 64-bits of information at one time. The bit rating of a microprocessor generally denotes the largest size of numerical data that a microprocessor can handle. While 32-bit processors have historically been sufficient, they have faced increasing challenges as new data and memory-intensive consumer and enterprise software applications gain popularity. Microprocessors with 64-bit processing capabilities enable systems to have greater performance by allowing software applications and operating systems to access more memory.

Moreover, as businesses and consumers require greater performance from their computer systems due to the exponential growth of digital data and increasingly sophisticated software applications, semiconductor manufacturers have transitioned from manufacturing single-core microprocessors to also manufacturing multi-core microprocessors, where multiple processor cores are placed on a single die or in a single processor. Multi-core microprocessors offer enhanced overall system performance and efficiency because computing tasks can be spread across two or more processing cores each of which can execute a task at full speed. Moreover, two or more processor cores packaged together can increase performance of a computer system without greatly increasing the total amount of power consumed and the total amount of heat emitted. This type of “symmetrical multiprocessing” is effective in both multi-tasking environments where multiple cores can enable operating systems to prioritize and manage tasks from multiple software applications simultaneously and also for “multi threaded” software applications where multiple cores can process different parts of the software program, or “threads,” simultaneously thereby enhancing performance of the application. Businesses and consumers also require computer systems with improved power management technology, which allows them to reduce the power consumption of their computer systems thereby reducing the total cost of ownership. With the release of Microsoft® Windows Vista and with the proliferation of applications for multimedia and gaming, grid computing and extensive enterprise databases, the demand for 64-bit computing, multi-core technology and improved power management technology continues to increase.

We also believe that businesses and consumers want more integrated computing solutions or platform products. A platform is a collection of technologies that are designed to work together to provide a more complete computing solution. We believe that integrated platforms will bring end users improved system stability, better time-to-market and increased performance and energy efficiency.

 

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Microprocessor Products

We currently offer single-core and multi-core microprocessor products for servers, workstations, notebooks and desktop PCs. Our microprocessors currently are designed with both 32-bit and 64-bit processing capabilities. We based our microprocessors on the x86 instruction set architecture and most of these processors are also based on the AMD64 technology platform with Direct Connect Architecture. The AMD64 technology platform extends the industry-standard x86 instruction set architecture to 64-bit computing. Direct Connect Architecture connects an on-chip memory controller and input/output, or I/O, channels directly to one or more microprocessor cores. For multi-core microprocessors, we integrate two or more processor cores onto a single die and each core has its own dedicated cache, which is memory that is located on the semiconductor die, permitting quicker access to frequently used data and instructions. Some of our microprocessors have additional levels of cache such as L2, or second level cache, and L3, or third level cache, to enable faster data access and higher performance. We believe this architecture, and the integrated memory controller in particular, enables substantially higher performance than traditional front-side bus architectures because memory can be accessed more directly, resulting in increased bandwidth and reduced memory latencies.

Our processors support HyperTransport technology, which is a high-bandwidth communications interface that enables substantially higher multi-processor performance and scalability than competing x86 architectures. In designing our processors, we also focus on continuously improving power management technology, or “performance-per-watt.” To that end, we offer processors that feature AMD PowerNow! technology, which we designed to reduce system level energy consumption, with multiple levels of lower clock speed and voltage states that can significantly reduce processor power consumption during idle times. We design our microprocessors to be compatible with operating system software such as the Microsoft® Windows® family of operating systems, Linux®, NetWare®, Solaris and UNIX. We also designed the AMD64 architecture to enhance the security of a user’s computing environment by integrating security features that are designed to prevent the spread of certain viruses when enabled by the anti-virus features of current versions of certain operating systems, including Linux, the Microsoft® Windows® family of operating systems and Solaris operating systems.

Servers and Workstation Microprocessors.    Our microprocessors for servers and workstations consist primarily of our quad-core, dual-core and single-core AMD Opteron processors. A server is a device that performs services for connected clients as part of a client-server architecture. They are designed to run an application or applications, often for extended periods of time with minimal human direction. Examples of servers include web servers, e-mail servers, and file servers. A workstation is essentially a high-end desktop, designed for technical applications such as computer-aided design and digital content creation. Workstations usually offer higher performance than is normally seen on a personal computer, especially with respect to graphics, processing power, memory capacity and multitasking activity.

We based our AMD Opteron processors for servers and workstations on our Direct Connect Architecture and the AMD64 technology platform, and designed them to allow simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing. These processors can be used in a variety of server applications, including business processing (enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and supply chain management) and business intelligence. They can also be used in workstation applications such as engineering and digital content creation software and other information technology infrastructure applications such as intensive Web serving and messaging.

Our multi-core AMD Opteron processors offer improved overall performance on many applications compared to single-core AMD processors by executing more operations simultaneously during each clock cycle, and by improving performance-per-watt, which can reduce the operational costs related to power usage. At the same time, servers based on multi-core AMD Opteron processors are easier to manage because more processing capacity can be concentrated into fewer servers. For this reason, servers based on multi-core processors are less costly to operate.

Multi-core AMD Opteron processors also allow our enterprise customers to more easily implement virtualization across their businesses. Virtualization is the use of software to allow multiple discrete operating

 

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systems and application environments to share a single physical computer, by providing the illusion that each operating system has full control over the underlying hardware. By enabling different operating systems and applications to run on the same server, virtualization offers the benefit of consolidating workloads and reducing hardware requirements, which can also reduce power, cooling and system management costs.

In August 2007, we introduced our quad-core AMD Opteron processors. These processors incorporate four processor cores on a single die of silicon, add a 6MB shared L3 cache, and offer features designed to improve performance for virtualized application environments, as well as on floating-point applications (e.g. mathematic and scientific applications). Quad-core AMD Opteron processors also feature a variety of power-saving technologies, including AMD CoolCore technology, which reduces energy consumption by turning off unused parts of the processor and enhanced AMD Powernow! technology, which allows each core to vary its clock frequency depending on the performance requirements of the application being supported, and dual dynamic power management, which provides an independent power supply to the cores and the memory controller. We expect to ship quad-core AMD Opteron processors in more significant volumes in the first half of 2008.

Our dual-core AMD Opteron processors provide several new features including improved virtualization support through AMD Virtualization technology and the use of energy efficient DDR2 technology, which is memory technology used for high speed storage of working data. In addition, these processors are designed to be socket and thermally compatible with quad-core AMD processors.

Notebook Microprocessors.    Our microprocessors for notebook PCs consist primarily of AMD Turion 64 X2, AMD Athlon 64 and mobile AMD Sempron processors. We designed our mobile processor products for high-performance, longer battery life and wireless connectivity.

AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core mobile technology is our most advanced dual-core processor family for notebook PCs. We designed this technology to enable leading-edge graphics for the more visual experience provided by the Microsoft® Windows Vista operating system, longer battery life, enhanced security and compatibility with the latest wireless technologies and graphics solutions. In addition, we have designed the process used to manufacture AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology for more thermally efficient processor operation and reduced power consumption.

Desktop Microprocessors.    Our microprocessors for desktop PCs consist primarily of the following tiered product brands: AMD Phenom, AMD Athlon and AMD Sempron processors. All AMD desktop microprocessors are based on AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture.

In November 2007, we introduced the AMD Phenom 9000 series of microprocessors. The AMD Phenom 9000 processors are true quad-core processors designed for high performance desktop PCs. The true quad-core design enables cores to communicate on the die rather than through a front side bus external to the processor, thereby reducing a bottleneck inherent in other competing x86 architectures. Additionally, our Direct Connect Architecture allows all four cores to have optimum access to the integrated memory controller and integrated HyperTransport links, so that performance scales well with the number of cores. This design also incorporates a shared L3 cache for quicker data access and enables end users to seamlessly upgrade from dual-core systems.

At the same time, we also introduced a desktop platform product codenamed “Spider”. The Spider platform is a combination of the AMD Phenom 9000 microprocessor and advanced chipset and graphics technologies, and is designed for enthusiasts, digital content creators and mainstream users who are seeking more immersive, visual computing experiences and who require computer systems with superior performance. The AMD Spider platform provides a scalable high-definition (HD), multi-GPU experience for digital entertainment and advanced multimedia productivity. It incorporates ATI PowerPlay, our power management technology that reduces the power consumption of our graphics processors, Cool’n’Quiet 2.0 technology, which reduces power consumption by reducing the processor’s clock rate and voltage when idle, Microsoft DirectX 10.1 support, a collection of industry graphics technologies designed to deliver advanced graphics capabilities on Microsoft

 

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platforms, HyperTransport 3.0 technology, and PCI Express 2.0, a new interface that connects GPUs with the computer system and doubles the bandwidth.

AMD Athlon processors are designed for advanced multitasking on mainstream desktop PCs and are currently available with single or dual-core technology. AMD Athlon dual-core processors are designed for users who routinely run multiple processor-intensive software applications simultaneously. With AMD Athlon dual-core processors, computer users are able to perform multiple tasks with uninterrupted performance, and are designed to enable systems to have the ability to simultaneously download audio files such as MP3s, record to digital media devices, check and write email, edit a digital photo and run anti-virus scan software.

AMD Sempron processors are designed for everyday computing and provide performance for entry productivity and entertainment software for the mainstream segment.

Embedded Processor Products

Our products range from low-power x86 architecture-based embedded processors to high-performance, enterprise class, harsh environment-capable x86 architecture-based products. We design embedded connectivity devices to address customer needs in non-PC markets where low power, Internet connectivity and/or low power processing is a priority. Typically these embedded processors are used in products that require high to moderate levels of performance where key features include low cost, mobility, low power and small form factor.

Our embedded microprocessor products include the AMD Geode product family. AMD Geode microprocessors are 32-bit processors based on the x86 instruction set architecture. These processors integrate functionality such as processing, system logic, graphics, audio and video decompression onto one integrated device. We also offer embedded processors based on AMD64 technology, which consists of low-power versions of our AMD Athlon, AMD Turion, AMD Sempron and AMD Opteron families of products. These low power products deliver the same performance as their corresponding full power parts while offering the added benefit of reduced power consumption and thermal output. These processors are configured specifically for demanding embedded applications traditionally served by custom silicon designs. We believe these processors also offer our customers the ability to leverage the AMD64 infrastructure. In addition, a distinguishing characteristic of our AMD64-based embedded processors is our AMD64 Longevity Program. The AMD64 Longevity Program offers a select set of AMD64 processors with an extended standard availability period of five years. The extended availability period addresses the requirements of customers designing products for network, storage, blade and telecommunications servers; digital imaging; casino gaming and military and industrial controls systems. Such markets have lengthy design and qualification cycles and longer life spans in the marketplace than typical mainstream computing products.

In 2007, we also introduced an embedded integrated graphics chipset solution to be used in commercial client applications to address specialized needs within a variety of industries, including computer devices such as thin clients, single board computers, industrial controllers, digital signage, point of sale terminals, commercial value clients, and access devices such as gateways and access points.

Our embedded processor products, from AMD Opteron to AMD Geode, exemplify our “x86 Everywhere” microprocessor strategy, which is our goal for utilizing the x86 instruction set architecture to power a wide variety of devices in diverse places such as the home, office or car, in the supply chain, in storage networks, in the data center, and/or in global communications networks. We believe that when a greater number of devices are standardized with an x86-based platform, end-users can benefit from the ability to run their existing x86-based software on devices that interoperate with each other. This can accelerate and simplify the process of enabling faster, easier connectivity and data sharing between a wide range of products, from portable consumer electronics to PCs and servers. With our full range of embedded microprocessors, we are able to extend our x86-based product offerings to serve markets from embedded appliances to embedded server-class products.

 

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Chipset Market

The chipset sends data between the microprocessor and input, display and storage devices, such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor, hard drive and CD or DVD drive. Chipsets perform essential logic functions, such as balancing the performance of the system and removing bottlenecks. Chipsets also extend the graphics, audio, video and other capabilities of computer systems. Finally, chipsets control the access between the CPU and main memory. All desktop, notebook and server PCs incorporate a chipset. In many PCs, the chipset is integrated with additional functions such as a graphics processing unit, or GPU. A GPU is a semiconductor chip that increases the speed and complexity of image resolution and color definition that can be displayed on a graphical interface, thereby improving image resolution and color definition. An integrated chipset solution is commonly known as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) chipset. Chipsets which do not integrate a graphics core are referred to as discrete chipsets. By eliminating the need for a discrete GPU, IGP chipsets offer a lower cost solution and in some circumstances can offer reduced power consumption or smaller system form factors. A majority of desktop and notebook PCs make use of IGP chipsets, while discrete chipsets are used in higher performance PCs and servers.

Chipset Products

Our portfolio of chipset products includes IGP and discrete chipsets targeting both the desktop and notebook PC segments. The AMD 690 family of IGP chipsets was introduced for desktop PCs in February 2007 and for notebook PCs in March 2007. These products incorporate an ATI Radeon X1200 series graphics core and directly integrate support for the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and Digital Visual Interface (DVI) digital display standards used in many flat panel monitors and televisions. We also offer a line of IGP chipsets which support Intel processors. We expect to continue shipments of our existing chipsets for Intel CPUs throughout 2008 and beyond to the extent there is demand for these products. However, we expect that sales of these products will continue to decline and will eventually cease.

In November 2007, we introduced the AMD 790FX chipset and several other AMD 7 series discrete chipsets as part of the AMD “Spider” platform. The AMD 790FX chipset provides support for our CrossFireX multi-GPU technology, which allows several GPUs to work in unison to provide enhanced graphics performance, and is optimized for use with our new AMD Phenom quad-core processors.

Graphics Products

Graphics Market

The semiconductor graphics market addresses the need for visual processing in various computing and entertainment platforms such as desktop PCs, notebook PCs and workstations. Users of these products value a rich visual experience, particularly in the high-end enthusiast market where consumers seek out the fastest and highest performing visual processing products to deliver the most compelling and immersive gaming experiences. Moreover, for some consumers, the PC is evolving from a traditional data and communications processing machine to an entertainment platform. Visual realism and graphical display capabilities are key elements of product differentiation among various product platforms. This has led to the increasing creation and use of processing intensive multimedia content for PCs and to PC manufacturers creating more PCs designed for playing games, displaying photos and capturing TV and other multimedia content. In turn, the trend has contributed to the development of higher performance graphics solutions.

The primary product of a semiconductor graphics supplier is the GPU. The GPU off-loads the burden of graphics processing from the CPU. In this way, a dedicated graphics processor and CPU work in tandem to increase overall speed and performance of the system. A graphics solution can be in the form of either a stand-alone graphics chip or an integrated chipset solution. Recently, to further improve graphics processing performance, semiconductor graphics suppliers have introduced multi-GPU technologies which increase graphics processing speed by dividing graphics rendering and display capability among two or more graphics processors.

 

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Graphics Products

Our customers generally use our graphics to increase the speed of rendering images and to improve image resolution and color definition. Our products include 3D graphics and video and multimedia products developed for use in desktop and notebook PCs, including home media PCs, professional workstations and servers. With each of our graphics products, we provide drivers and supporting software packages that enable the effective use of these products under a variety of operating systems and applications. Our latest generation of graphics and related software offer full support for the Microsoft® Windows Vista® operating system. In addition to the Microsoft® Windows® family of operating systems, our graphics products support Apple’s Mac OS X as well as Linux®-based applications.

Discrete Desktop Products.    Our discrete GPUs for desktop PCs include the ATI Radeon HD 2000 series of products which we introduced in May 2007. This product family includes the ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT for the enthusiast segment of the desktop PC market, and the ATI Radeon HD 2600 series and the ATI Radeon HD 2400 series for the mainstream and value segments of the desktop PC market. The ATI Radeon 2000 series supports Microsoft DirectX 10, a new 3D application performance interface, or API. The ATI Radeon HD 2600 and ATI Radeon HD 2400 incorporate the ATI Unified Video Decoder (UVD) which enables HD-DVD and Blu-ray playback with low CPU and power utilization.

In November 2007, we launched the ATI Radeon HD 3870 and HD 3850, which introduced next generation features such as Microsoft DirectX10.1, PCI Express 2.0 and UVD in both models, to deliver enthusiast-level gaming performance at mainstream price-points. These products were also our first products to be manufactured using 55-nanometer process technology, allowing for smaller die size and lower power consumption. At this time, we also announced CrossFireX, our next-generation multi-GPU technology.

Although desktop PC manufacturers have tended to rely on IGP chipsets for graphics, we believe that discrete graphic solutions, which offer higher performance, will continue to be the preferred solution across desktop PC configurations and platforms designed for gaming enthusiasts, CAD professionals and animation as well as for application such as multimedia, photo and video editing and other graphic-intensive applications. In 2007, with the introduction of Microsoft® Windows Vista and Microsoft DirectX 10, the emergence of high definition (HD) video standards like HD-DVD and Blu-ray, and the introduction of PCI Express 2.0, end users across the spectrum are realizing the importance of graphics in a computer system. Accordingly, we believe that demand for discrete GPUs will continue to increase.

Discrete Notebook Products.    Our discrete GPUs for the notebook PC market include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2000 series of products which we introduced in May 2007. When selecting a graphics solution, key considerations for notebook PC manufacturers are visual performance, power consumption, form factor and cost.

This product line includes the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 Series for performance notebook PCs and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2300 for the value notebooks. These GPUs incorporate UVD to enable HD-DVD and Blu-ray playback with low CPU usage, and hence low system power. ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 both support Microsoft DirectX 10, while ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2300 supports Microsoft DirectX 9.

Home Media PC Products.    Our home media PC products incorporate a wide variety of features for consumers that intend to use their PCs for multimedia applications. Our TV Wonder products allow consumers to watch and record TV on their PC, listen to FM radio stations and watch DVD movies. Our latest generation of TV tuners incorporate ATI Theater 600 Pro and ATI Theater 650 Pro technology to support advances in analog TV and digital TV reception. Our premium TV tuners such as ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner supports CableCARD technology to receive and view premium digital cable shows on the PC.

 

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Workstation and Server Products.    Our products for the professional workstation market consist of our FireGL and FireMV product families. We designed our FireGL products for demanding 3D applications such as computer-aided design and digital content creation, while we designed our FireMV multi-view 2D workstation cards for financial and corporate environments. We also provide products for the server market, where we leverage our graphics expertise and align our offerings to provide stability, video quality and bus architectures that our server customers desire.

Consumer Electronics Products

Consumer Electronics Market

Video, graphics and media processors in consumer electronics products address the need for enhancing the visual experience provided by devices such as mobile phones, digital TVs and game consoles. Consumers value entertainment and communications products that can deliver an engaging multimedia experience. Accordingly, semiconductor suppliers of video, graphics and media processors strive to deliver products that improve visual realism and allow manufacturers of mobile phones, digital TVs, game consoles and other consumer electronics devices the opportunity to differentiate their products.

Handheld Market.    The latest generation of handheld devices, particularly mobile phones, are driving demand for more advanced media and application processors. In recent years, mobile phones have transitioned towards color displays with higher resolutions that deliver a variety of multimedia features. Manufacturers are offering functionality such as built-in digital cameras and camcorders, MP3 audio playback, video playback, mobile-TV reception, 3D gaming, Internet web browsing, personal navigation and advanced user interfaces in an increasing percentage of mobile phones. The availability of these multiple functions increases the opportunity to supply media processors to mobile phone manufacturers.

Digital TV Market.    The market for digital TVs is growing, driven in part by the transition of terrestrial broadcast television transmissions from analog to digital in many different regions throughout the world. For example, on February 18, 2009, full power television stations in the United States will stop analog broadcasting and transition to digital broadcasting. This conversion is supported by a U.S. Federal Communications Commission mandate that required electronics manufacturers to include digital tuners in all new television sets by March 2007.

There is also a worldwide shift in the television industry from analog cathode ray tube, or CRT, displays to digital flat panel displays such as LCD and plasma. These flat panel displays are able to support larger screen sizes and higher resolutions. Producing the highest quality images on these advanced televisions is a key goal for television manufacturers. Video processor semiconductor solutions play an integral role in improving video image quality to enhance the user viewing experience.

Game Consoles.    Semiconductor graphics suppliers have leveraged their core visual and graphics processing technologies developed for the PC market by providing graphic solutions to game console manufacturers. In this market, semiconductor graphics suppliers work alongside game console manufacturers to enhance the visual experience for users of sophisticated video games.

Consumer Electronics Products

We continue to leverage our core technology, visual processing expertise and power management know-how to meet the needs of certain consumer electronics markets. We target three categories of the consumer electronics market: (i) handheld devices, including mobile phones; (ii) digital TVs; and (iii) game consoles.

Our products for consumer electronics devices include media processors used in handheld devices such as mobile phones and video processors used in digital TVs. We also license graphics core technologies to other

 

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semiconductor manufacturers in the handheld industry. We receive royalties from game console manufacturers in connection with sales of systems that incorporate our graphics intellectual property and designs. With each of these products we provide drivers and supporting software that enable the effective use of these products by our customers.

Handheld Devices.    Our AMD Imageon product line provides visual processing, high quality audio and power saving technologies. We offer products for each category of the mobile phone media processor market: entry level, feature phones, performance phones and fully enhanced multimedia and gaming phones.

In February 2007, we announced the AMD Imageon 2298, 2294 and 2192 media processors, offering ultra-fast, high-resolution image processing, DVD-quality video and high-definition audio for compelling mobile multimedia experiences.

Also in February 2007, we announced a new business focused on developing and licensing leading-edge graphics core technologies to semiconductor manufacturers throughout the handheld industry. To that end, we entered into graphics licensing agreements with manufacturers of handset chipsets and handset devices. The integration of our graphic core technologies will enable these customers to provide multimedia functionality combined with HD video and audio playback capabilities.

Digital TVs.    As television broadcasters in North America and other parts of the world transition their analog television signals to digital transmissions, we believe increased consumer interest in digital TV will spur demand for more advanced systems. Digital transmission standards provide significant advantages compared to analog standards, including greater picture clarity and resolution as well as opportunities for more channels, e-commerce and enhanced TV viewing.

We offer two groups of products that target two major silicon blocks inside an integrated digital TV: the digital video receiver and the decoder. An integrated digital TV is one where a digital receiver and digital video decoder are integrated inside the TV rather than externally, such as via a set top box. Our AMD Xilleon and Theater product lines are used in integrated digital TVs to demodulate and decode digital broadcast signals. AMD Xilleon products also provide video, graphics and audio processing. The drivers and supporting software that we provide with our digital TV products allow deployment in multiple worldwide markets with either customer designed applications or AMD supplied Customer Application Ready Design (CARD) software applications.

Game Consoles.    We also leverage our core visual processing technology into the game console market. Our customized GPUs process the graphics in the Microsoft® Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo GameCube videogame consoles.

Marketing and Sales

We sell our products through our direct sales force and through independent sales representatives in both domestic and international markets pursuant to non-exclusive agreements. Our sales arrangements generally operate on the basis of product forecasts provided by the particular customer, but do not typically include any commitment or requirement for minimum product purchases. We primarily use binding purchase orders, sales order acknowledgments, and contractual agreements as evidence of our sales arrangements. Our agreements typically contain standard terms and conditions covering matters such as payment terms, warranties and indemnities for issues specific to our products.

We generally warrant that microprocessor products sold to our customers will, at the time of shipment, be free from defects in workmanship and materials and conform to our approved specifications. Subject to certain exceptions, we generally offer a three-year limited warranty to end users for microprocessor products that are commonly referred to as “processors in a box,” a one-year limited warranty to direct purchasers for all other

 

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microprocessor products that are commonly referred to as “tray” microprocessor products, and a one-year limited warranty to direct purchasers of embedded processor products. We have offered extended limited warranties to certain customers of “tray” microprocessor products who have written agreements with us and target their computer systems at the commercial and/or embedded markets.

We generally warrant that graphics, chipsets, and certain products for consumer electronics devices will conform to our approved specifications and be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one year, beginning on shipment of such products to our customers. We generally warrant that ATI-branded PC workstation products will conform to our approved specifications and be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of three years, beginning on shipment of such products to our customers. Generally, our microprocessor and embedded processor customers may cancel orders 30 days prior to shipment without incurring a penalty. Under our standard terms and conditions, graphics and chipset customers may cancel orders by providing 30 days prior written notice to us without incurring a penalty, while customers of products for consumer electronic devices may cancel orders by providing 90 days prior advance notice to us without incurring a penalty.

We market and sell our microprocessor and embedded processor products under the AMD trademark. Our product brands for microprocessors consist primarily of AMD Phenom, AMD Athlon, and AMD Sempron processor brands for desktop PCs, the AMD Opteron processor brand for servers and workstations, the AMD Turion mobile technology and AMD Sempron processor brands for notebook PCs. We also have the AMD LIVE!™ brand through which we promote our entertainment platform solutions for desktop and notebook PCs as well as film, broadcast and music professional artists that use AMD technology. Our product brands for our embedded processors consist of AMD Geode processors. We also sell low-power versions of our AMD Opteron, AMD Athlon, AMD Turion, and AMD Sempron processors as embedded processor solutions.

With respect to our graphics and chipset products, we intend to continue to market and sell GPUs and graphics chipsets for the Intel platform under the ATI trademark. We market and sell other GPUs, chipset products and our products for consumer electronics devices under the AMD trademark.

We market our products through our direct marketing and co-marketing programs. Our direct marketing activities include print and Web-based advertising as well as consumer and trade events and other industry and consumer communications. We also sponsor the Scuderia Ferrari formula one racing team and we work with them to determine their needs and how our AMD64 technology can help support those needs. The goal of our sponsorships is to increase awareness of our brand and AMD64 technology.

In addition, we have cooperative advertising and marketing programs with customers or third parties, including market development programs, pursuant to which we may provide product information, training, marketing materials and funds. Under our marketing development programs, eligible customers can use market development funds as partial reimbursement for advertisements and marketing programs related to our products, subject to meeting defined criteria. Customers may qualify for market development funds based on purchases of eligible products.

Customers

Our microprocessor customers consist primarily of OEMs, original design manufacturers, or ODMs, and third-party distributors in both domestic and international markets. ODMs provide design and/or manufacturing services to branded and unbranded private label resellers and OEMs.

Customers of our chipset products consist of PC OEMs, often through ODMs or other contract manufacturers who build the OEM motherboards, as well as desktop motherboard manufacturers who incorporate chipsets into their channel motherboards.

 

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Customers of our products for consumer electronic devices consist primarily of OEMs and ODMs.

Our sales and marketing teams work closely with our customers to define product features, performance and timing of new products so that the products we are developing meet the needs of our customers. We also employ application engineers to assist our customers in designing, testing and qualifying system designs that incorporate our products in order to assist in optimizing product compatibility. We believe that our commitment to customer service and design support improves our customers’ time-to-market and fosters relationships that encourage customers to use the next generation of our products.

Original Equipment Manufacturers

We focus on three types of OEMs: multi-nationals, selected regional accounts and target market customers. Large multi-nationals and regional accounts are our core OEM customers. Our OEM customers include numerous foreign and domestic manufacturers of servers and workstations, desktop and notebook PCs, PC motherboards and consumer electronics products such as mobile phones and digital TVs. Under our standard terms and conditions, OEMs do not have a right to return our products other than pursuant to the standard limited warranty.

In 2007, Hewlett-Packard Company accounted for more than 10 percent of our consolidated net revenues. Sales to Hewlett-Packard consisted primarily of products from our Computing Solutions segment. In addition, one handset manufacturer accounted for more than 30 percent of the revenue attributable to our Consumer Electronics segment and one game console provider accounted for a significant portion of revenue attributable to our Consumer Electronics segment. Moreover, three customers accounted for more than 35 percent of the revenue attributable to our Graphics segment. A loss of any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Third-Party Distributors

Our authorized distributors resell to sub-distributors and mid-sized and smaller OEMs and ODMs. Typically, distributors handle a wide variety of products, including those that compete with our products. Distributors typically maintain an inventory of our products. In most instances, our agreements with distributors protect their inventory of our products against price reductions and provide return rights with respect to any product that we have removed from our price book that is not more than twelve months older than the manufacturing code date. In addition, some agreements with our distributors may contain standard stock rotation provisions permitting limited levels of product returns.

AIB Manufacturers and System Integrators

We strive to establish and broaden our relationships with add-in-board manufacturers, or AIB manufacturers. We offer component-level graphics and chipset products to AIB manufacturers who in turn build and sell board-level products using our technology to SIs and at retail. We also work directly with our SI customers. SIs typically sell from positions of regional or product-based strength in the market. They usually operate on short design cycles and can respond quickly with new technologies. SIs often use discrete graphics solutions as a means to differentiate their products and add value to their customers.

Competition

Generally, the IC industry is intensely competitive. Products typically compete on product quality, power consumption, reliability, speed, size (or form factor), cost, selling price, adherence to industry standards, software and hardware compatibility and stability, brand recognition, timely product introductions and availability. Technological advances in the industry result in frequent product introductions, regular price reductions, short product life cycles and increased product capabilities that may result in significant performance

 

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improvements. Our ability to compete depends on our ability to develop, introduce and sell new products or enhanced versions of existing products on a timely basis and at competitive prices, while reducing our manufacturing costs.

Competition in the Microprocessor Market

Intel Corporation has dominated the market for microprocessors for many years. Intel’s market power and significant financial resources enable it to market its products aggressively, to target our customers and our channel partners with special incentives and to discipline customers who do business with us. These aggressive activities have in the past and are likely in the future to result in lower unit sales and average selling prices for our products, and adversely affect our margins and profitability. As long as Intel remains in this dominant position, we may be materially adversely affected by Intel’s:

 

   

business practices, including rebating, and allocation strategies and pricing actions, designed to limit our market share;

 

   

product mix and introduction schedules;

 

   

product bundling, marketing and merchandising strategies;

 

   

exclusivity payments to its current and potential customers;

 

   

control over industry standards, PC manufacturers and other PC industry participants, including motherboard, memory, chipset and basic input/output system, or BIOS, suppliers and software companies as well as the graphics interface for Intel platforms; and

 

   

marketing and advertising expenditures in support of positioning the Intel brand over the brand of its OEM customers.

Intel exerts substantial influence over computer manufacturers and their channels of distribution through various brand and marketing programs. Because of its dominant position in the microprocessor market, Intel has been able to control x86 microprocessor and computer system standards and to dictate the type of products the microprocessor market requires of Intel’s competitors. Intel also dominates the computer system platform, which includes core logic chipsets, graphics chips, motherboards and other components necessary to assemble a computer system. As a result, OEMs that purchase microprocessors for computer systems are highly dependent on Intel, less innovative on their own and, to a large extent, are distributors of Intel technology. Additionally, Intel is able to drive de facto standards for x86 microprocessors that could cause us and other companies to have delayed access to such standards.

We expect Intel to maintain its dominant position in the microprocessor market and to continue to invest heavily in marketing, research and development, new manufacturing facilities and other technology companies. Intel has substantially greater financial resources than we do and accordingly spends substantially greater amounts on research and development and production capacity than we do. We expect intense competition from Intel to continue.

Competition in the Embedded Processor Market

With respect to our embedded processors, our principal competitors are Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Intel Corporation, NEC Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Broadcom Corporation, Raza Microelectronics, Inc., Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and VIA Technologies, Inc. We expect competition in the market for these devices to increase as our principal competitors focus more resources on developing low-power embedded processor solutions.

 

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Competition in the Chipset Market

In the chipset market, our competitors include suppliers of integrated graphics chipsets. PC manufacturers are increasingly choosing to use integrated chipsets, particularly for notebook computers, over discrete GPUs because integrated chipsets can cost significantly less than discrete GPUs while offering acceptable graphics performance for most mainstream PC users. Intel Corporation manufactures and sells integrated graphics chipsets bundled with their microprocessors and is a dominant competitor in this market. Should Intel leverage its dominance in the microprocessor market and sell its integrated chipsets, it could place our integrated chipsets at a competitive disadvantage, such as giving one or more of our competitors in the graphics market, for example, Nvidia Corporation, preferential access to its proprietary graphics interface or other useful information.

Competition in the Graphics Market

In the graphics market, our competitors include discrete graphics suppliers. Intel has stated that it intends to re-enter the discrete GPU market. This could shrink the total available market for certain of our discrete GPUs.

Other than Intel, our principal competitor is Nvidia Corporation, and to a lesser extent, Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd., Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. and Via Technologies, Inc. Other competitors include a number of smaller companies, which may have greater flexibility to address specific market needs, but lesser financial resources to do so, especially as we believe that the growing complexity of visual processors and the associated research and development costs represent an increasingly high barrier to entry in this market.

Competition in the Consumer Electronics Market

In the semiconductor market for consumer electronics products we have different competitors in each of our product categories. With respect to our products for handheld devices, we have three primary categories of competitors: vendors of baseband processors, vendors of applications processors and vendors of media co-processors. The baseband processor provides the basic voice and communication processing functionality in mobile phones. For certain value categories of the market, baseband processor vendors are integrating the multimedia processing required for feature-rich mobile phones. Baseband processor vendors incorporating this basic level of graphics processing include MediaTek Inc., Agere Systems Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm Incorporated and Texas Instruments Incorporated. Another category of competitor, application processor vendors, target manufacturers of high-end feature and smart phones whose products require large amounts of general purpose processing capability as well as multimedia processing. These vendors include Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Marvell Technology Group Ltd., Nvidia Corporation, Qualcomm Incorporated, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., STMicroelectronics N.V. and Texas Instruments Incorporated. The third category of competitor provides dedicated processors to drive a high level of multimedia functionality. This approach is most comparable to our strategy, and our competitors in this category include Core Logic Incorporated, Telechips Inc., MTEK Vision Co. Ltd., Nvidia Corporation, Renesas Technology Corp and Imagination Technologies Ltd.

With respect to our products for digital TVs, our primary competitors include Broadcom Corporation, MediaTek Inc., Trident Microsystems, NEC Corporation, NXP Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics N.V., as well as in-house semiconductor development divisions at companies such as LG Electronics, Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Samsung and Toshiba Corporation. In the new panel processor market, we compete with Micronas USA, Inc., NXP Semiconductors, Toshiba Corporation, Trident Microsystems, MediaTek Inc., Pixelworks Inc. and in-house development divisions of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Sony.

In the game console category, we compete primarily against Nvidia Corporation. Other competitors include Intel Corporation and IBM.

We license graphics core technologies to other semiconductor manufacturers in the handheld industry. Our primary competitors in this area are Imagination Technologies Ltd. and ARM Inc.

 

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Research and Development

We focus our microprocessor research and development activities on product design and system and manufacturing process development. One main area of focus is on delivering the next generation of microprocessors with improved system performance and performance-per-watt characteristics. We have devoted significant resources to product design and to developing and improving manufacturing process technologies and plan to continue to do so in the future. We also work with other industry leaders, public foundations, universities and industry consortia to conduct early stage research and development.

With respect to graphics and chipsets and products for consumer electronics devices, our primary research and development objective is to develop products and technologies that meet the ever-changing demands of the PC and consumer electronics industries on a timely basis so as to meet market windows. We are also focusing on delivering a range of integrated platforms to serve key markets, including commercial clients, mobile computing, and gaming and media computing. We believe that these integrated platforms will bring customers improved system stability, better time-to-market and increased performance and energy efficiency. Longer-term, our research and development efforts are focused on developing monolithic silicon solutions for specialized uses that are comprised of microprocessors, graphics processors and video processors.

Our research and development expenses for 2007, 2006, and 2005 were approximately $1.8 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. Research and development expenses for 2006 and 2007 included ATI’s research and development expenses from October 25, 2006 through December 29, 2007. For more information, see Part II, Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” or MD&A.

We conduct product and system research and development activities for our microprocessor products in the United States with additional design and development engineering teams located in Germany, Singapore, China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and India.

We conduct our microprocessor manufacturing process development activities primarily through our joint development agreement with IBM. Under this agreement, we jointly develop new process technologies, including 45-nanometer, 32-nanometer, 22-nanometer and certain other advanced technologies, to be implemented on silicon wafers. Our relationship also includes laboratory-based research of emerging technologies such as new transistor, interconnect, lithography and die-to-package connection technologies. We pay fees to IBM for joint development projects. The actual amounts we pay to IBM are dependent upon the number of partners, including us and IBM, engaged in related development projects under the agreement. In addition, we agreed to pay IBM specified royalties upon the occurrence of specified events, including in the event that we sublicense the jointly developed process technologies to specified third parties or if we bump wafers for a third party. Bumping wafers is one of the final stages of the manufacturing process in which wafers are prepared for assembly and test. For more information on the fees paid or payable to IBM, see “Part II, Item 7, Contractual Cash Obligations and Guarantees—Unconditional Purchase Commitments,” and “Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors.” We cannot be certain that our substantial investments in research and development will lead to timely improvements in product designs or technology used to manufacture our products or that we will have sufficient resources to invest in the level of research and development that is required to remain competitive.

Under the agreement, our joint development relationship continues through December 31, 2011. Our agreement with IBM may be extended further by the mutual agreement of the parties and can also be terminated immediately by either party if the other party permanently ceases doing business, becomes bankrupt or insolvent, liquidates or undergoes a change of control or can be terminated by either party upon 30 days written notice upon a failure of the other party to perform a material obligation thereunder. Under our agreement, research and development takes place in IBM’s Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., the Center for Semiconductor Research at Albany NanoTech, and at IBM’s 300-millimeter manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.

 

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We conduct research and development activities for our graphics products, chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices at design centers located throughout the world, including in the United States, Canada, India, Finland and China. Due to the rapid pace of technological change in the graphics industry, our strategy is to focus on developing the newest generation of products that meet market and customer requirements on a timely basis so as to meet each market window.

Manufacturing, Assembly and Test Facilities

We own and operate five manufacturing facilities, of which two are microprocessor wafer fabrication facilities and three are microprocessor assembly and test facilities. We developed an approach to manufacturing called Automated Precision Manufacturing, or APM. APM comprises a suite of automation, optimization and real-time data analysis technologies which automate the way decisions are made within our fabrication facilities. We use APM during volume manufacturing and process technology transitions, and believe APM enables greater efficiency, higher baseline yields, better speed binning and faster yield learning. We have complemented APM with a program called ADVANCE, which is based on “Lean” manufacturing principles (originating principally from the automotive industry), and helps to identify and institutionalize efficiency and productivity gains.

During 2007, our microprocessor manufacturing was conducted at the facilities described in the chart below. These facilities are the cornerstone of our flexible capacity growth plan, which focuses on bringing the right amount of capacity online at the right time through ongoing, incremental increases in total output.

 

Facility Location    Wafer Size
(diameter in
millimeters)
   Principal
Production
Technology
(in nanometers)
   Approximate
Clean Room
Square
Footage

Dresden, Germany

        

Fab 30

   200    90    263,000

Fab 36

   300    65    150,000

During 2007, we manufactured our microprocessor products at Fab 30 primarily on 90-nanometer process technology. We fully converted to and ramped production on 65-nanometer process technology at Fab 36 by mid-2007, as planned. Our goal is to ramp manufacturing using 45-nanometer technology in the first half of 2008.

In 2007, we expanded capacity in Fab 36, and completed the addition of a new bump and test facility. Bump and test is the final stage of the wafer manufacturing process in which wafers are prepared for assembly and final test. We also began the process of converting Fab 30 from a 200-millimeter to a 300-millimeter manufacturing facility. The last 200-millimeter wafer in Fab 30 was completed in November 2007.

We anticipate that after being fully converted to a 300-millimeter facility, Fab 30 (which will be renamed Fab 38) will be able to handle a maximum of approximately 20,000 300-millimeter wafer starts per month.

Another facet of our flexible capacity growth strategy involves working with third-party foundries, and to this end, we have sourcing and manufacturing technology agreements with Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing pursuant to which Chartered is an additional manufacturing source for our AMD64-based microprocessors. We also have foundry arrangements with third parties for the production of our embedded processors, chipset products and graphics products and products for consumer electronics devices.

In connection with our potential new 300-millimeter wafer fabrication facility on the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, New York, we may give notice to the State of New York Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) to proceed with this project anytime between January 2008 and July 2009. However, we are not obligated to commence construction, and our decision regarding proceeding with the construction is dependent on business conditions and market demand.

 

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Should we choose to build the facility, the State of New York is required to issue bonds or otherwise fund the project and related research and development in the amount of $650 million. Actual disbursement of funds occurs as we submit appropriate documentation verifying that expenditures on the project have been incurred. If we move forward with the project, we must complete the construction of the facility in accordance with the final plans and specifications approved in writing by the ESDC and must maintain business operations on the Luther Forest Technology Campus for a minimum of seven years after the date full employment at the facility is first achieved. Funds disbursed to us may be subject to repayment, in whole or part, if we do not attain and or maintain certain levels of employment for specified periods of time.

Our current microprocessor assembly and test facilities are described in the chart set forth below:

 

Facility Location    Approximate
Manufacturing
Area Square
Footage
   Activity

Penang, Malaysia

   206,000    Assembly

Singapore

   380,000    Test, Mark & Packaging

Suzhou, China

   44,000    Test, Mark & Packaging

Some assembly and final testing of our microprocessor and embedded processor products is performed by subcontractors in the United States and Asia.

With respect to our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices, we have strategic relationships with three semiconductor foundries, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) and Chartered. Currently, we are in volume production in TSMC’s and UMC’s 300-millimeter fabrication facilities. As of December 29, 2007, our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices were manufactured on 55-, 65-, 80-, 90-, 110-, 130-, 150- or 180- nanometer process technologies at third party foundries. Smaller process geometries can lead to gains in graphics processing performance, lower power consumption and lower per unit manufacturing costs.

From the foundry, wafers for our graphics products are delivered to our test, assembly and packaging partners including Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Group, Amkor, King Yuan Electronics, Siliconware Precision Industries and STATS-Chippac, who package and test the final application-specific integrated circuit.

We outsource board-level graphics product manufacturing to third-party manufacturers. These include Celestica, Foxconn and PC Partner with locations in China. Our facility in Markham, Ontario, Canada is primarily devoted to prototyping for new graphics product introductions.

Raw Materials

Our manufacturing processes require many raw materials, such as silicon wafers, IC packages, mold compound, substrates and various chemicals and gases, and the necessary equipment for manufacturing. We obtain these materials and equipment from a large number of suppliers located throughout the world. Certain raw materials we use in manufacturing our microprocessor products or that are used in the manufacture of our graphics products are available only from a limited number of suppliers. Interruption of supply or increased demand in the industry could cause shortages and price increases in various essential materials.

Intellectual Property and Licensing

We rely on contracts and intellectual property rights to protect our products and technologies from unauthorized third-party copying and use. Intellectual property rights include copyrights, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade secrets and maskwork rights. As of December 29, 2007, we had more than 7,000 patents in the United States and over 1,700 patent applications pending in the United States, including more than 600 patents in the United States and 400 patent applications in the United States that we acquired from ATI. In

 

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certain cases, we have filed corresponding applications in foreign jurisdictions. We expect to file future patent applications in both the United States and abroad on significant inventions, as we deem appropriate. We do not believe that any individual patent, or the expiration thereof, is or would be material to our business.

In connection with the formation of Spansion LLC as of June 2003 and the closing of Spansion Inc.’s initial public offering, or IPO, in December 2005, we and Fujitsu Limited transferred to Spansion various intellectual property rights pursuant to an Intellectual Property Contribution and Ancillary Matters Agreement, or IPCAAMA. Under the IPCAAMA, Spansion became the owner or joint owner with each of us and Fujitsu, of specified patents, patent applications, trademarks and other intellectual property rights and technology. The patents that we transferred included patents and patent applications covering Flash memory products and technology, the processes necessary to manufacture Flash memory products, and the operation and control of Flash memory products. We reserved rights, on a royalty free basis, to practice the contributed patents and to license these patents to our affiliates and successors-in-interest. We also have the right to use the jointly-owned intellectual property for our internal purposes and to license such intellectual property to others to the extent consistent with our non-competition obligations to Spansion.

We also have a patent cross-license agreement with Fujitsu whereby each party was granted a non-exclusive license under certain of the other party’s respective semiconductor-related patents. This patent cross-license agreement terminates on June 30, 2013, unless earlier terminated upon 30 days notice following a change of control of the other party. We also have a patent cross-license agreement with Spansion. The patents and patent applications that are licensed are those with an effective filing date prior to the termination of the patent cross-license agreement. The agreement will automatically terminate on the later of June 30, 2013 or the date we sell our entire equity interest in Spansion. The agreements may be terminated by a party on a change in control of the other party or its semiconductor group.

In addition, as is typical in the semiconductor industry, we have numerous cross-licensing and technology exchange agreements with other companies under which we both transfer and receive technology and intellectual property rights. One such agreement is the patent cross-license agreement with Intel which was effective as of January 1, 2001. Under this agreement we granted each other a non-exclusive license under each party’s patents for the manufacture and sale of semiconductor products worldwide. We pay Intel Corporation a royalty for certain licensed microprocessor products sold by us or any AMD affiliate anywhere in the world. The license applies to each party’s patents that have a first effective filing date during the capture period, which is the period from January 1, 2001 through January 1, 2010. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party commits a material breach of the agreement and does not correct the breach within 60 days after receiving written notice thereof. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement upon 60 days written notice in the event of a filing by the other party of a petition in bankruptcy or insolvency, or any adjudication thereof, the filing of any petition seeking reorganization under any law relating to bankruptcy, the appointment of a receiver, the making of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, the institution of any proceedings for the liquidation or winding up of the other party’s business, or in the event of a change of control. For purposes of our agreement with Intel, change of control means a transaction or a series of related transactions in which (i) one or more related parties who did not previously own at least a 50 percent interest in a party obtain at least a 50 percent interest in such party, and, in the reasonable business judgment of the other party, such change in ownership will have a material effect on the other party’s business, or (ii) a party acquires, by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise, all or any portion of another legal entity such that either the assets or market value of such party after the close of such transaction are greater than one and one third of the assets or market value of such party prior to such transaction.

Backlog

We manufacture and sell standard lines of products. Consequently, a significant portion of our sales are made from inventory on a current basis. Sales are made primarily pursuant to purchase orders for current delivery or agreements covering purchases over a period of time. These orders or agreements may be revised or canceled

 

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without penalty. Generally, in light of current industry practice and experience and the fact that substantially our entire order backlog is cancelable, we do not believe that such agreements provide meaningful backlog figures or are necessarily indicative of actual sales for any succeeding period.

Employees

As of December 29, 2007, we had approximately 16,420 employees.

Environmental Regulations

Many aspects of our business operations and products are regulated by domestic and international environmental laws and regulations. These regulations include limitations on discharge of pollutants to air, water, and soil; remediation requirements; product chemical content limitations; manufacturing chemical use and handling restrictions; pollution control requirements; waste minimization considerations; and requirements with respect to treatment, transport, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. If we fail to comply with any of the applicable environmental regulations we may be subject to fines, suspension of production, alteration of our manufacturing processes, import/export restrictions, sales limitations, and/or criminal and civil liabilities. Existing or future regulations could require us to procure expensive pollution abatement or remediation equipment; to modify product designs; or to incur other expenses to comply with environmental regulations. Any failure to adequately control the use, disposal or storage, or discharge of hazardous substances could expose us to future liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business. We believe we are in material compliance with applicable environmental requirements and do not expect those requirements to result in material expenditures in the foreseeable future.

Environmental laws are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. For example, the European Union and China are two among a growing number of jurisdictions that have enacted in recent years restrictions on the use of lead, among other chemicals, in electronic products. These regulations affect semiconductor packaging. Other regulatory requirements potentially affecting our manufacturing processes and the design and marketing of our products are in development throughout the world. We have management systems in place to identify and ensure compliance with such requirements and have budgeted for foreseeable associated expenditures. However, we cannot assure you that future environmental legal requirements will not become more stringent or costly in the future. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our costs of complying with current and future environmental and health and safety laws, and our liabilities arising from past and future releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances will not have a material adverse effect on us.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to Our Business

Intel Corporation’s dominance of the microprocessor market and its aggressive business practices may limit our ability to compete effectively.

Intel Corporation has dominated the market for microprocessors for many years. Intel’s significant financial resources enable it to market its products aggressively, to target our customers and our channel partners with special incentives, and to discipline customers who do business with us. These aggressive activities have in the past and are likely in the future to result in lower unit sales and average selling prices for our products and adversely affect our margins and profitability.

Intel also manufactures and sells integrated graphics chipsets bundled with their microprocessors and is a dominant competitor with respect to this portion of the business. Intel could leverage its dominance in the microprocessor market to sell its integrated chipsets. Moreover, computer manufacturers are increasingly using integrated graphics chipsets, particularly for notebooks, because they cost significantly less than traditional discrete graphics components while offering reasonably good graphics performance for most mainstream PCs.

 

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Also, Intel has stated that it intends to reenter the discrete GPU market. Intel’s actions could shrink the total available market for certain of our graphics products. Intel could also take other actions that place our discrete GPUs and integrated chipsets at a competitive disadvantage such as giving one or more of our competitors in the graphics market, such as Nvidia Corporation, preferential access to its proprietary graphics interface or other useful information. If our graphics products do not successfully address the discrete GPU and integrated chipset markets, our business could be materially adversely affected.

As long as Intel remains in this dominant position, we may be materially adversely affected by Intel’s:

 

   

business practices, including rebating and allocation strategies and pricing actions, designed to limit our market share;

 

   

product mix and introduction schedules;

 

   

product bundling, marketing and merchandising strategies;

 

   

exclusivity payments to its current and potential customers;

 

   

control over industry standards, PC manufacturers and other PC industry participants, including motherboard, memory, chipset and basic input/output system, or BIOS, suppliers and software companies as well as the graphics interface for Intel platforms; and

 

   

marketing and advertising expenditures in support of positioning the Intel brand over the brand of its OEM customers.

Intel exerts substantial influence over computer manufacturers and their channels of distribution through various brand and other marketing programs. Because of its dominant position in the microprocessor market, Intel has been able to control x86 microprocessor and computer system standards and to dictate the type of products the microprocessor market requires of Intel’s competitors. Intel also dominates the computer system platform, which includes core logic chipsets, graphics chips, motherboards and other components necessary to assemble a computer system. As a result, OEMs that purchase microprocessors for computer systems are highly dependent on Intel, less innovative on their own and, to a large extent, are distributors of Intel technology. Additionally, Intel is able to drive de facto standards for x86 microprocessors that could cause us and other companies to have delayed access to such standards.

We expect Intel to maintain its dominant position and to continue to invest heavily in marketing, research and development, new manufacturing facilities and other technology companies. Intel has substantially greater financial resources than we do and accordingly spends substantially greater amounts on research and development and production capacity than we do. Moreover, Intel launched its quad-core multi-chip module processors during the fourth quarter of 2006. We commenced initial shipments of our first quad-core products for servers in August 2007 and for desktop PCs in November 2007. However, we did not ship significant volumes of these products in 2007, but we expect to ship in more significant volumes in the first half of 2008. To the extent Intel manufactures a significantly larger portion of its microprocessor products using more advanced process technologies, or introduces competitive new products into the market before we do, we may be more vulnerable to Intel’s aggressive marketing and pricing strategies for microprocessor products.

Intel’s dominant position in the microprocessor market and integrated graphics chipset market, its existing relationships with top-tier OEMs and its aggressive marketing and pricing strategies could result in lower unit sales and average selling prices for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

If we cannot generate sufficient revenues and operating cash flow or obtain external financing, we may face a cash shortfall and be unable to make all of our planned capital expenditures.

In 2008, we plan to make approximately $1.1 billion of capital expenditures. Our ability to fund capital expenditures in accordance with our business plan depends on generating sufficient cash flow from operations and the availability of external financing, if necessary.

 

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Our capital expenditures, together with ongoing operating expenses, will be a substantial drain on our cash flow and may decrease our cash balances. As of December 29, 2007, we had $1.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. During 2007, we incurred substantial losses that have had a negative impact on cash balances. During 2007, net cash used in operating activities was $310 million and net cash used in investing activities was $1.7 billion.

The timing and amount of our capital requirements cannot be precisely determined at this time and will depend on a number of factors including future demand for products, product mix, changes in semiconductor industry conditions and market competition. We regularly assess markets for external financing opportunities, including debt and equity financing. Additional debt or equity financing may not be available when needed or, if available, may not be available on satisfactory terms. Our inability to obtain needed financing or to generate sufficient cash from operations may require us to abandon projects or curtail capital expenditures. If we curtail capital expenditures or abandon projects, we could be materially adversely affected.

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness that could adversely affect our financial position and prevent us from implementing our strategy or fulfilling our contractual obligations.

As of December 29, 2007, we had consolidated debt of $5.3 billion. Our substantial indebtedness may:

 

   

make it difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations, including making scheduled principal and interest payments;

 

   

limit our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate and other purposes;

 

   

limit our ability to use our cash flow or obtain additional financing for future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate purposes;

 

   

require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make debt service payments;

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our less leveraged competitors; and

 

   

increase our vulnerability to the impact of adverse economic and industry conditions.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our debt obligations.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our debt, or our guarantees of other parties’ debts, will depend on our financial and operating performance, which may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter, and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flow or that we will be able to borrow funds in amounts sufficient to enable us to service our debt or to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to borrow sufficient funds to service our debt, we may be required to sell assets or equity, reduce capital expenditures, refinance all or a portion of our existing debt or obtain additional financing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance our debt, sell assets or equity or borrow more funds on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

Our debt instruments impose restrictions on us that may adversely affect our ability to operate our business.

The indenture governing our 7.75% Senior Notes due 2012 (7.75% Notes) contains various covenants that limit our ability to:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness, except specified permitted debt;

 

   

pay dividends and make other restricted payments;

 

   

make certain investments if a default or an event of default exists, or if specified financial conditions are not satisfied;

 

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create or permit certain liens;

 

   

create or permit restrictions on the ability of certain restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us;

 

   

use the proceeds from the sale of assets;

 

   

enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

consolidate, merge or sell assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety unless specified conditions are met.

In addition, our Fab 36 term loan facility agreement among our German subsidiary, AMD Fab 36 Limited Liability Company & Co. KG, as borrower, and a consortium of banks lead by Dresdner Bank AG, as lenders, dated April 21, 2004 (Fab 36 Term Loan), contains restrictive covenants, including a prohibition on the ability of AMD Fab 36 KG and its affiliated limited partners to pay us dividends and other payments and also require us to maintain specified financial ratios when group consolidated cash is below specified amounts. Our ability to satisfy these covenants, financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control. We cannot assure you that we will meet those requirements. A breach of any of these covenants, financial ratios or tests could result in a default under the applicable agreement.

Our loan agreements contain cross-default provisions whereby a default under one agreement would likely result in cross defaults under agreements covering other borrowings. For example, the occurrence of a default with respect to any indebtedness or any failure to repay debt when due in an amount in excess of $50 million would cause a cross default under the indentures governing our 5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2012 (5.75% Notes), 6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (6.00% Notes) and 7.75% Notes. The occurrence of a default under any of these borrowing arrangements would permit the applicable lenders or note holders to declare all amounts outstanding under those borrowing arrangements to be immediately due and payable. If the note holders or the trustees under the indentures governing our 5.75% Notes, 6.00% Notes or 7.75% Notes accelerates the repayment of borrowings, we cannot assure you that we will have sufficient assets to repay those borrowings and our other indebtedness.

If we are unable to maintain our cost management efforts, our business could be materially adversely affected.

During 2007, we took a number of actions to manage our expenses and realign our cost structure. We anticipate that during the first quarter of 2008, our operating expenses will increase by approximately five percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our expenses at appropriately reduced levels, and if we are unable to do so, our goal of achieving profitability could fail to materialize in accordance with our expectations. In addition, if these reductions are not effectively managed, we may experience unanticipated effects from these reductions causing harm to our business and customer relationships.

We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of ATI Technologies Inc.

The success of our acquisition of ATI depends, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated synergies, cost savings and growth opportunities from integrating the businesses of ATI with the businesses of AMD, and failure to realize these anticipated benefits could cause our business to be materially adversely affected. Our success in realizing these benefits and the timing of this realization depends upon our successful integration of ATI’s operations. The integration of two independent companies is a complex, costly, and time-consuming process. The difficulties of combining the operations of the companies include, among others:

 

   

retaining key employees;

 

   

bridging possible differences in cultures and management philosophies;

 

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consolidating corporate and administrative infrastructures and information technology systems;

 

   

coordinating sales and marketing functions;

 

   

preserving our customer, supplier, ecosystem partner and other important relationships;

 

   

aligning and executing on new product roadmaps;

 

   

minimizing the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns; and

 

   

coordinating geographically separate organizations.

We cannot assure you that our integration of ATI will result in the realization of the full benefits that we anticipated. For example, it is possible that as a result of the acquisition, previous ATI customers of discrete GPUs may decide to purchase our competitors’ graphics products for use with their computer systems that incorporate Intel platforms, or that ecosystem partners will cease doing business with us because they view the former ATI operations as competitive with portions of their business. Any inability to integrate successfully could have a material adverse effect on us.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, we performed our annual impairment analysis with respect to the goodwill and, based on the outcome of that analysis, we also evaluated our acquisition-related intangible assets for impairment. We determined that goodwill recorded as a result of the acquisition of ATI was impaired, and incurred a goodwill impairment charge of $1.3 billion, as well as an impairment charge of $349 million related to acquisition-related identifiable intangible assets acquired from ATI. These charges resulted in a reduction of the carrying values of goodwill and acquisition related intangible assets as recorded on our balance sheet. They are based on an updated long-term financial outlook for the former ATI operations that is lower than previously calculated. However, actual performance in the near-term and longer-term could be materially different from these forecasts, which could impact future estimates of fair value of our reporting units and may result in further impairment of goodwill.

We cannot be certain that our substantial investments in research and development will lead to timely improvements in product designs or technology used to manufacture our products or that we will have sufficient resources to invest in the level of research and development that is required to remain competitive.

We make substantial investments in research and development for process technologies in an effort to design and manufacture leading-edge microprocessors. We also make substantial investments in research and development related to product designs, including new integrated platforms and our design initiative called “Fusion,” and we anticipate that we will continue to invest in research and development in the future. We cannot be certain that we will be able to develop, obtain or successfully implement leading-edge process technologies needed to manufacture future generations of our products profitably or on a timely basis or that our competitors will not develop new technologies, products or processes that render our products uncompetitive or obsolete. If new competitors, technological advances by existing competitors or other competitive factors require us to invest significantly greater resources than anticipated in our research and development efforts, our operating expenses would increase. If we are required to invest significantly greater resources than anticipated in research and development efforts without an increase in revenue, our operating results could decline. Moreover, in connection with the ATI acquisition, we committed to the Minister of Industry of Canada to increase total expenditures on research and development in Canada when compared to ATI’s expenditures in this area in prior years. However, we cannot assure you that we will have sufficient resources to achieve planned investments in research and development or to otherwise maintain the level of investment in research and development that is required for us to remain competitive.

We have a joint development agreement with IBM, pursuant to which we have agreed to work together to develop new process technologies through December 31, 2011. We anticipate that under this agreement, we will pay fees to IBM of approximately $400 million in connection with joint development projects between 2008 and 2011.

 

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If this agreement were to be terminated, we would have to substantially increase our research and development activities internally, which could significantly increase our research and development costs, and we could experience delays or other setbacks in the development of new process technologies, any of which would materially adversely affect us. Moreover, the timely achievement of the milestones set forth in the joint development agreement is critical to our ability to continue to manufacture microprocessors using advanced process technologies.

The success of our business is dependent upon our ability to introduce products on a timely basis with required features and performance levels that provide value to our customers and support and coincide with significant industry transitions.

Our success depends to a significant extent on the development, qualification, implementation and acceptance of new product designs and improvements that provide value to our customers. Our ability to develop and qualify new products and related technologies to meet evolving industry requirements, at prices acceptable to our customers and on a timely basis are significant factors in determining our competitiveness in our target markets. If we are delayed in developing or qualifying new products or technologies, we may lose competitive positioning, which could cause us to lose market share and require us to discount the selling prices of our products. For example, in the third quarter of 2007, we commenced initial shipments of our quad core AMD Opteron processors, but our initial production ramp of these processors was slower than we anticipated because we had to undertake design and process tuning. We expect to ship in more significant volumes during the first half of 2008.

Delays in developing or qualifying new products can also cause us to miss our customers’ product design windows. If our customers do not include our products in the initial design of their computer systems, they will typically not use our products in their systems until at least the next design configuration. The process of being qualified for inclusion in a customer’s system can be lengthy and could cause us to further miss a cycle in the demand of end-users, which also could result in a loss of market share and harm our business.

Moreover, market demand requires that products incorporate new features and performance standards on an industry-wide basis. Over the life of a specific product, the average selling price undergoes regular price reductions. The introduction of new products and enhancements to existing products is necessary to maintain overall corporate average selling prices. If we are unable to introduce new products or launch new products with sufficient increases in average selling price or increased unit sales volumes capable of offsetting these reductions in average selling prices of existing products, our revenues, inventories, gross margins and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

Our ability to design and introduce new graphics products in a timely manner is dependent upon third party intellectual property.

In the design and development of new products and graphics product enhancements, we rely on third-party intellectual property such as software development tools. Historically, ATI has experienced delays in the introduction of products as a result of the inability of then available software development tools to fully simulate the complex features and functionalities of its products. The design requirements necessary to meet consumer demands for more features and greater functionality from graphics products in the future may exceed the capabilities of the software development tools available to us. If the third-party intellectual property that we use becomes unavailable or fails to produce designs that meet consumer demands, our business could be materially adversely affected.

The loss of a significant customer may have a material adverse effect on us.

Collectively, our top five customers accounted for over 40 percent of our total revenue in 2007. Moreover, historically a significant portion of ATI’s revenues were derived from sales to a small number of customers, and we expect that a small number of customers will continue to account for a substantial part of revenues from our

 

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graphics and consumer electronics businesses in the future. For example, during 2007, one handset manufacturer accounted for over 30 percent of the revenue of our Consumer Electronics segment. During this same period, three customers accounted for over 35 percent of the revenue of our Graphics segment. If one of our top microprocessor, graphics or consumer electronics customers decided to stop buying our products, or if one of these customers were to materially reduce its operations or its demand for our products, we would be materially adversely affected. For example, during 2007, the handset manufacturer referenced above purchased significantly less of our products than in the previous year. This decline contributed to lower unit shipments of our products for consumer electronics devices and negatively impacted net revenue for our Consumer Electronics segment in 2007. Moreover, this handset manufacturer is considering divesting its handset business.

The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and has experienced severe downturns that materially adversely affected, and may in the future materially adversely affect, our business.

The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and has experienced significant downturns, often in conjunction with constant and rapid technological change, wide fluctuations in supply and demand, continuous new product introductions, price erosion and declines in general economic conditions. Our historical financial results have also been subject to substantial fluctuations. Our financial performance has been, and may in the future be, negatively affected by these downturns. We incurred substantial losses in recent downturns, due to:

 

   

substantial declines in average selling prices;

 

   

the cyclical nature of supply/demand imbalances in the semiconductor industry;

 

   

a decline in demand for end-user products (such as PCs) that incorporate our products;

 

   

excess inventory levels in the channels of distribution, including those of our customers; and

 

   

excess production capacity.

For example, in 2001 and 2002 we implemented restructuring plans due to weak customer demand associated with the downturn in the semiconductor industry. If the semiconductor industry were to experience a downturn in the future, we would be materially adversely affected.

The demand for our products depends in part on continued growth in the industries and geographies into which they are sold. Fluctuations in demand for our products or a market decline in any of these industries or geographies would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our microprocessor business is dependent upon the market for mobile and desktop PCs and servers. Industry-wide fluctuations in the computer marketplace have materially adversely affected us in the past and may materially adversely affect us in the future. Depending on the growth rate of computers sold, sales of our products may not grow and may even decrease. If demand for computers is below our expectations, we could be materially adversely affected.

The business we acquired from ATI is also dependent upon the market for mobile, desktop and workstation PCs, the consumer electronics market for digital TVs, handheld devices, such as multimedia-enabled mobile phones, and game consoles. A market decline in any of these industries could cause the demand for our products to decrease and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

The growth of our business is also dependent on continued demand for our products from high-growth global markets. If demand from these markets is below our expectations, sales of our products may not grow, and may even decrease, which would have a material adverse effect on us.

 

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The markets in which our products are sold are highly competitive.

The markets in which our products are sold are very competitive, and delivering the latest and best products to market on a timely basis is critical to achieving revenue growth. We expect competition to intensify due to rapid technological changes, frequent product introductions and aggressive pricing by competitors. We believe that the main factors that determine our competitiveness are product quality, power consumption, reliability, speed, size (or form factor), cost, selling price, adherence to industry standards, software and hardware compatibility and stability, brand recognition, timely product introductions and availability. After a product is introduced, costs and average selling prices normally decrease over time as production efficiency improves, and successive generations of products are developed and introduced for sale. We expect that competition will intensify in these markets and our competitors’ products may be less costly, provide better performance or include additional features that render our products uncompetitive. With respect to our graphics products, Intel and Nvidia are our principal competitors. Some competitors may have greater access or rights to companion technologies, including interface, processor and memory technical information. Competitive pressures could adversely impact the demand for our products, which could harm our revenue and gross margin.

If we fail to continue to improve the efficiency of our supply chain in order to respond to increases or changes in customer demand for our products, our business could be materially adversely affected.

Our ability to meet customer demand for our products depends, in part, on our ability to deliver the products our customers want on a timely basis. Accordingly, we must continually improve the management of our supply chain by synchronizing the entire supply chain, from sourcing through manufacturing, distribution and fulfillment. As we continue to grow our business, acquire new OEM customers and strengthen relationships with existing OEM customers, the efficiency of our supply chain will become increasingly important because OEMs tend to have specific requirements for particular products, and specific time-frames in which they require delivery of these products. We have recently experienced challenges related to the logistics of selling our products across a diverse set of customers and geographies and delivering these products on a timely basis. If we fail to continue to improve the efficiency of our supply chain and adjust our operations in response to future increases or changes in OEM demand for our products, our business could be materially adversely affected.

We depend on third-party companies for the design, manufacture and supply of motherboards, BIOS software and other components.

We depend on third-party companies for the design, manufacture and supply of motherboards, BIOS software and other components that support our microprocessor offerings. In addition, we continue to work with other third parties to obtain graphics chips in order to provide our customers with a greater choice of technologies to best meet their needs.

Our microprocessors are not designed to function with motherboards and chipsets designed to work with Intel microprocessors because our patent cross-license agreement with Intel does not extend to Intel’s proprietary bus interface protocol. If we are unable to secure sufficient support for our microprocessor products from designers and manufacturers of motherboards and chipsets, our business would be materially adversely affected. Our acquisition of ATI could exacerbate this problem because we design and supply a significantly greater amount of graphics products ourselves. Doing so could cause third-party designers, manufacturers and suppliers to be less willing to do business with us or to support our products out of a perceived risk that we will be less willing to support their products or because we may compete with them. As a result, these third-party designers, manufacturers and suppliers could forge relationships, or strengthen their existing relationships, with our competitors. If the designers, manufacturers and suppliers of graphics chips, motherboards, and other components decrease their support for our product offerings and increase their support for the product offerings of our competitors, our business could be materially adversely affected.

 

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If we are ultimately unsuccessful in any of our antitrust lawsuits against Intel, our business may be materially adversely affected.

On June 27, 2005, we filed an antitrust complaint against Intel Corporation and Intel’s Japanese subsidiary, Intel Kabushiki Kaisha, which we refer to collectively as Intel, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware under Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, Sections 4 and 16 of the Clayton Act, and the California Business and Professions Code. Our complaint alleges that Intel has unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the x86 microprocessor market by engaging in anti-competitive financial and exclusionary business practices that limit the ability and/or incentive of Intel’s customers in dealing with AMD. Also, on June 30, 2005, our subsidiary in Japan, AMD Japan K.K., filed an action in Japan against Intel K.K. in the Tokyo High Court and the Tokyo District Court for damages arising from violations of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act. On September 26, 2006, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware granted Intel’s motion to dismiss foreign conduct claims. The effect of that decision was clarified by the Court’s January 12, 2007 adoption of the Special Master’s decision on our motion to compel foreign conduct discovery. As a result of these two decisions, we will be permitted to develop evidence of Intel’s exclusionary practices wherever they occur, including practices foreclosing AMD from foreign customers or in foreign market segments. However, the court’s ruling limits our damages to lost sales in the United States and lost sales abroad that would have originated from the United States. The Court also set a trial date of April 27, 2009.

If our antitrust lawsuits against Intel are ultimately unsuccessful, our business, including our ability to increase market share in the microprocessor market, could be materially adversely affected.

Our operating results are subject to quarterly and seasonal sales patterns.

A substantial portion of our quarterly sales have historically been made in the last month of the quarter. This uneven sales pattern makes prediction of revenues for each financial period difficult and increases the risk of unanticipated variations in quarterly results and financial condition. In addition, our operating results tend to vary seasonally. For example, demand in the retail sector of the PC market is often stronger during the fourth quarter as a result of the winter holiday season. European sales are often weaker during the summer months. Many of the factors that create and affect seasonal trends are beyond our control.

Manufacturing capacity constraints and manufacturing capacity utilization rates may have a material adverse effect on us.

There may be situations in which our microprocessor manufacturing facilities are inadequate to meet the demand for certain of our microprocessor products. Our inability to provide sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet demand, either in our own facilities or through foundry or similar arrangements with third parties, could result in an adverse effect on our relationships with customers, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

In November 2004, we entered into sourcing and manufacturing technology agreements with Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing whereby Chartered agreed to become a contract manufacturer for our AMD64-based microprocessors. Although Chartered has begun production, the ability of Chartered to continue to ramp production on a timely basis depends on several factors beyond our control, including Chartered’s ability to continue to implement our technology at their facilities on a timely basis. In addition, we have slowed the conversion of Fab 30 into a 300 millimeter wafer manufacturing facility.

If we cannot obtain sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet demand for our microprocessor products, either in our own facilities or through foundry or similar arrangements, we could be materially adversely affected.

 

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We rely on third party foundries and other contractors to manufacture certain products.

We rely on independent foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and United Microelectronics Corp. to manufacture our graphics and chipset products. Chartered Semiconductor manufactures some of our microprocessor products and products for consumer electronics devices. We also rely on third party manufacturers to manufacture our high end graphics boards. Independent contractors also perform the assembly, testing and packaging of these products. We obtain these manufacturing services for our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices on a purchase order basis and these manufacturers are not required to provide us with any specified minimum quantity of product. Accordingly, our graphics and consumer electronics businesses depend on these suppliers to allocate to us a portion of their manufacturing capacity sufficient to meet our needs, to produce products of acceptable quality and at acceptable manufacturing yields and to deliver those products to us on a timely basis at acceptable prices. We cannot assure you that these manufacturers will be able to meet our near-term or long-term manufacturing requirements. The manufacturers we use also fabricate wafers and assemble, test and package products for other companies, including certain of our competitors. They could choose to prioritize capacity for other users, reduce or eliminate deliveries to us, or increase the prices that they charge us on short notice.

We must have reliable relationships with our wafer manufacturers and subcontractors to ensure adequate product supply to respond to customer demand. If we move production of our products to new manufacturers or if current manufacturers implement new process technology or design rules, any transition difficulties may result in lower yields or poorer performance of our products. Because it could take several quarters to establish a strategic relationship with a new manufacturing partner, we may be unable to secure an alternative supply for any specific product in a short time frame. We could experience significant delays in the shipment of our products if we are required to find alternative foundries or contractors. Other risks associated with our dependence on third-party manufacturers include reduced control over delivery schedules, quality assurance, manufacturing yields and cost, lack of capacity in periods of excess demand, misappropriation of our intellectual property, dependence on several small undercapitalized subcontractors, reduced ability to manage inventory and parts, and exposure to foreign countries and operations. With respect to Chartered, we rely on their ability to implement our technology for manufacturing our AMD64-based processors at their facilities on a timely basis. If we are unable to secure sufficient or reliable supplies of wafers, our ability to meet customer demand for our graphics and consumer electronics businesses may be adversely affected and this could have a material adverse effect on us.

If essential equipment or materials are not available to manufacture our products, we could be materially adversely affected.

Our microprocessor manufacturing operations depend upon obtaining deliveries of equipment and adequate supplies of materials on a timely basis. We purchase equipment and materials from a number of suppliers. From time to time, suppliers may extend lead times, limit supply to us or increase prices due to capacity constraints or other factors. Because the equipment that we purchase is complex, it is difficult for us to substitute one supplier for another or one piece of equipment for another. Certain raw materials we use in manufacturing our microprocessor products or that are used in the manufacture of our graphics products are available only from a limited number of suppliers.

For example, we are largely dependent on one supplier for our silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers that we use to manufacture our microprocessor products. We are also dependent on key chemicals from a limited number of suppliers and rely on a limited number of foreign companies to supply the majority of certain types of integrated circuit packages for our microprocessor products. Similarly, certain non-proprietary materials or components such as memory, PCBs, substrates and capacitors used in the manufacture of our graphics products are currently available from only a limited number of sources and are often subject to rapid changes in price and availability. Interruption of supply or increased demand in the industry could cause shortages and price increases in various essential materials. If we are unable to procure certain of these materials, we may have to reduce our manufacturing operations. Such a reduction has in the past and could in the future have a material adverse effect on us.

 

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Industry overcapacity could cause us to under-utilize our microprocessor manufacturing facilities and have a material adverse effect on us.

Both we and our competitor, Intel, have added significant capacity in recent years, both by expanding capacity at wafer fabrication facilities and by transitioning to more advanced manufacturing technologies. In the past, capacity additions sometimes exceeded demand requirements leading to oversupply situations and downturns in the industry. Fluctuations in the growth rate of industry capacity relative to the growth rate in demand for our products contribute to cyclicality in the semiconductor market, which may in the future put pressure on our average selling prices and materially adversely affect us.

It is difficult to predict future growth or decline in the markets we serve, making it very difficult to estimate requirements for production capacity. If our target markets do not grow as we anticipate, we may under-utilize our manufacturing facilities, which may result in write-downs or write-offs of inventories and losses on products for which demand is lower than we anticipate.

In addition, during periods of industry overcapacity, customers do not generally order products as far in advance of the scheduled shipment date as they do during periods when our industry is operating closer to capacity, which can exacerbate the difficulty in forecasting capacity requirements. Many of our costs are fixed. Accordingly, during periods in which we under-utilize our manufacturing facilities as a result of reduced demand for certain of our products, our costs cannot be reduced in proportion to the reduced revenues for such a period. When this occurs, our operating results are materially adversely affected. If the demand for our microprocessor products is not consistent with our increased expectations, we may under-utilize our manufacturing facilities or we may not fully utilize the reserved capacity at Chartered’s foundry. This may have a material adverse effect on us.

Unless we maintain manufacturing efficiency, our future profitability could be materially adversely affected.

Manufacturing our microprocessor products involves highly complex processes that require advanced equipment. Our manufacturing efficiency is an important factor in our profitability, and we cannot be sure that we will be able to maintain or increase our manufacturing efficiency to the same extent as our competitors. We continually modify manufacturing processes and transition to more advanced manufacturing process technologies in an effort to improve yields and product performance and decrease costs. We may fail to achieve acceptable yields or experience product delivery delays as a result of, among other things, capacity constraints, delays in the development or implementation of new process technologies, changes in our process technologies, upgrades or expansion of existing facilities, or impurities or other difficulties in the manufacturing process. Any decrease in manufacturing yields could result in an increase in our per unit costs or force us to allocate our reduced product supply among our customers, which could potentially harm our customer relationships, reputation, revenue and gross profit.

Improving our microprocessor manufacturing efficiency in future periods is dependent on our ability to:

 

   

develop advanced product and process technologies;

 

   

successfully transition to advanced process technologies;

 

   

ramp product and process technology improvements rapidly and effectively to commercial volumes across our facilities; and

 

   

achieve acceptable levels of manufacturing wafer output and yields, which may decrease as we implement more advanced technologies.

During periods when we are implementing new process technologies, manufacturing facilities may not be fully productive. A substantial delay in the technology transitions to smaller process technologies could have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if our competitors transition to more cost effective technologies earlier

 

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than we do. Our results of operations would also be adversely affected by the increase in fixed costs and operating expenses if revenues do not increase proportionately.

Similarly, the operating results of our graphics and consumer electronics businesses are dependent upon achieving planned semiconductor manufacturing yields. Our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices are manufactured at independent foundries, but we have the responsibility for product design and the design and performance of the tooling required for manufacturing. Semiconductor manufacturing yields are a function of both product design and process technology, which is typically proprietary to the manufacturer, and low yields can result from either design or process technology failures. In addition, yield problems require cooperation by and communication between us and the manufacturer and sometimes the customer as well. The offshore location of our principal manufacturers compounds these risks, due to the increased effort and time required to identify, communicate and resolve manufacturing yield problems. We cannot assure you that we or our foundries will identify and fix problems in a timely manner, and achieve acceptable manufacturing yields in the future. Our inability, in cooperation with our independent foundries, to achieve planned production yields for these products could have a material adverse effect on us. In particular, failure to reach planned production yields over time could result in us not having sufficient product supply to meet demand and/or higher production costs and lower gross margins. This could materially adversely affect us.

The accounting method for convertible debt securities with net share settlement, like the 6.00% Notes, will be subject to change.

In September 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, exposed for comment a proposed FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. APB 14-a, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (including partial cash settlement). This proposed FSP would change the accounting for certain convertible debt instruments, including our 6.00% Notes. Under the proposed new rules, for convertible debt instruments that may be settled entirely or partially in cash upon conversion, an entity should separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. The effect of the proposed new rules for our 6.00% Notes is that the equity component would be included in the paid-in-capital portion of stockholders’ equity on our balance sheet and the value of the equity component would be treated as an original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component of the 6.00% Notes. Higher interest expense would result by recognizing accretion of the discounted carrying value of the 6.00% Notes to their face amount as interest expense over the term of the 6.00% Notes. If issued as proposed, the final FSP would provide final guidance effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, would not permit early application, and would be applied retrospectively to all periods presented.

In November 2007, the FASB announced it expects to begin its redeliberations of the proposed FSP in January 2008. Therefore, it is unlikely that the proposed effective date for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007 will be retained.

We cannot predict the exact accounting treatment that will be imposed (which may differ from the foregoing description) or when any change will be finally implemented. However, if the final FSP is issued as exposed, we expect to have higher interest expense starting in the period of adoption due to the interest expense accretion and, if the retrospective application provisions of the proposed FSP are retained in the final FSP, our prior period interest expense associated with the 6.00% Notes would be higher than previously reported interest expense due to retrospective application.

Conversion of the 5.75% Notes and 6.00% Notes may dilute the ownership interest of our existing stockholders.

The conversion of some or all of the 5.75% Notes and the 6.00% Notes may dilute the ownership interests of our existing stockholders. Although the capped call transaction that we entered into in connection with the issuance of the 6.00% Notes is expected to reduce potential dilution upon conversion of the 6.00% Notes, the

 

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conversion of the 6.00% Notes could still have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent that the price of our common stock exceeds $42.12, which is the cap price of the capped call. Similarly, the conversion of the 5.75% Notes could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent that the price of our common stock exceeds $20.13, the conversion price of the 5.75% Notes. Any sales in the public market of our common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the anticipated conversion of the 5.75% Notes or 6.00% Notes into cash and shares of our common stock could depress the price of our common stock.

The capped call transaction may affect the value of our common stock.

We entered into a capped call transaction in connection with the issuance of the 6.00% Notes. The capped call transaction is expected to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the 6.00% Notes in the event that the market value per share of our common stock at the time of exercise, as measured under the terms of the capped call transaction, is greater than the strike price of the capped call transaction, which corresponds to the initial conversion price of the 6.00% Notes and is subject to certain adjustments similar to those contained in the 6.00% Notes. If, however, the market value per share of our common stock exceeds the cap price of the capped call transaction, as measured under the terms of the capped call transaction, the dilution mitigation under the capped call transaction will be limited, which means that there would be dilution to the extent that the then market value per share of our common stock exceeds the cap price of the capped call transaction. In connection with hedging the capped call transaction, the counterparty or its affiliates: may enter into or unwind various derivatives and/or purchase or sell our common stock in secondary market transactions (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to the conversion of the 6.00% Notes). These activities could have the effect of decreasing the price of our common stock during any observation period related to a conversion of the 6.00% Notes. The counterparty or its affiliates are likely to modify their hedge positions in relation to the capped call transaction from time to time prior to conversion or maturity of the 6.00% Notes by purchasing and selling our common stock, other of our securities, or other instruments they may wish to use in connection with such hedging. In particular, such hedging modifications are likely to occur during any observation period related to a conversion of the 6.00% Notes, which may have a negative effect on the value of the consideration received upon conversion of the 6.00% Notes. In addition, we intend to exercise options we hold under the capped call transaction whenever the 6.00% Notes are converted. In order to unwind its hedge positions with respect to those exercised options, the counterparty or affiliates thereof expect to sell our common stock in secondary market transactions or unwind various derivative transactions with respect to our common stock during the observation period, if any, for the converted 6.00% Notes. If we elect to cash-settle the capped call transaction, which we are permitted to do subject to certain conditions, it is likely the counterparty or its affiliates will sell an even greater number of shares. The effect, if any, of these transactions and activities on the market price of our common stock or the 6.00% Notes will depend in part on market conditions and cannot be ascertained at this time, but any of these activities could adversely affect the value of our common stock and the value of the 6.00% Notes.

If we lose Microsoft Corporation’s support for our products, our ability to sell our products could be materially adversely affected.

Our ability to innovate beyond the x86 instruction set controlled by Intel depends partially on Microsoft designing and developing its operating systems to run on or support our microprocessor products. If Microsoft does not continue to design and develop its operating systems so that they work with our x86 instruction sets, independent software providers may forego designing their software applications to take advantage of our innovations and customers may not purchase PCs with our microprocessors. In addition, software drivers sold with our products are certified by Microsoft. If Microsoft did not certify a driver, or if we otherwise fail to retain the support of Microsoft, our ability to market our products would be materially adversely affected.

 

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If we are unable to comply with the covenants in the subsidy grant documents that we receive from the State of Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany and/or the European Union for Fab 30, Fab 36 or other research and development projects we may undertake in Germany, we may forfeit or have to repay our subsidies, which could materially adversely affect us.

We receive capital investment grants and allowances from the State of Saxony and the Federal Republic of Germany for Fab 36. We have also received capital investment grants and allowances as well as interest subsidies from these governmental entities for Fab 30. From time to time, we also apply for and obtain subsidies from the State of Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union for certain research and development projects. The subsidy grant documents typically contain covenants that must be complied with, and noncompliance with the conditions of the grants, allowances and subsidies could result in the forfeiture of all or a portion of any future amounts to be received, as well as the repayment of all or a portion of amounts received to date. If we are unable to comply with any of the covenants in the grant documents, we could be materially adversely affected.

If our products are not compatible with some or all industry-standard software and hardware, we could be materially adversely affected.

Our products may not be fully compatible with some or all industry-standard software and hardware. Further, we may be unsuccessful in correcting any such compatibility problems in a timely manner. If our customers are unable to achieve compatibility with software or hardware after our products are shipped in volume, we could be materially adversely affected. In addition, the mere announcement of an incompatibility problem relating to our products could have a material adverse effect on us.

Costs related to defective products could have a material adverse effect on us.

Products as complex as those we offer may contain defects or failures when first introduced or when new versions or enhancements to existing products are released. We cannot assure you that, despite our testing procedures, errors will not be found in new products or releases after commencement of commercial shipments in the future, which could result in loss of or delay in market acceptance of our products, material recall and replacement costs, delay in recognition or loss of revenues, writing down the inventory of defective products, the diversion of the attention of our engineering personnel from product development efforts, defending against litigation related to defective products or related property damage or personal injury, and damage to our reputation in the industry and could adversely affect our relationships with our customers. In addition, we may have difficulty identifying the end customers of the defective products in the field. As a result, we could incur substantial costs to implement modifications to correct defects. Any of these problems could materially adversely affect us.

In addition, because we sell directly to consumers, we could be subject to potential product liability claims if one of our products causes, or merely appears to have caused, an injury. Claims may be made by consumers or others selling our products, and we may be subject to claims against us even if an alleged injury is due to the actions of others. A product liability claim, recall or other claim with respect to uninsured liabilities or for amounts in excess of insured liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our receipt of royalty revenues is dependent upon the success of third-party products.

Our graphics technology for the game console market is being used in the Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft® Xbox 360™ game consoles. The only revenues that we receive from these technology platforms are in the form of non-recurring engineering revenues, as well as royalties paid to us by Nintendo and Microsoft based upon the market success of their products. Accordingly, our royalty revenues will be directly related to the sales of these products. We anticipate royalties in future years resulting from our agreements with Nintendo and Microsoft. However, we have no control over the marketing efforts of Nintendo and Microsoft and

 

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we cannot assure you that sales of those products will achieve expected levels in the current or future fiscal years. Consequently, the revenues from royalties expected by us from these technology platforms may not be fully realized, and our operating results may be adversely affected.

Our entry into consumer markets is subject to a number of uncertainties.

We sell products for the consumer electronics market, including for digital TVs and color mobile phones. There are a significant number of competitors targeting this market. In addition, as the telecommunications, cable and consumer electronics industries and their suppliers undergo a period of convergence, we expect that competition will increase in these markets. Our ability to succeed in these consumer markets is subject to a number of uncertainties, including acceptance of our graphics and multimedia processors, the development of new technologies sufficient to meet market demand, the need to develop customer relationships, different sales strategies and channels, new and different industry standards from those in the PC market and changing strategic alliances. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully compete in this market. If we are unable to successfully introduce products and compete in this market, we could be materially adversely affected.

Our inability to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel may hinder our product development programs.

Our future success depends upon the continued service of numerous qualified engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales and executive personnel. If we are not able to continue to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel necessary for our business, the progress of our product development programs could be hindered, and we could be materially adversely affected.

We outsource to third parties certain supply-chain logistics functions, including physical distribution of our products, and co-source some information technology services.

We rely on a third-party provider to deliver our products to our customers and to distribute materials for some of our manufacturing facilities. In addition, we rely on a third party in India to provide certain information technology services to us, including helpdesk support, desktop application services, business and software support applications, server and storage administration, data center operations, database administration, and voice, video and remote access. Our relationships with these providers are governed by fixed term contracts. We cannot guarantee that these providers will fulfill their respective responsibilities in a timely manner in accordance with the contract terms, in which case our internal operations, the distribution of our products to our customers and the distribution of materials for some facilities could be materially adversely affected. Also, we cannot guarantee that our contracts with these third-party providers will be renewed, in which case we would have to transition these functions in-house or secure new providers, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, we decided to outsource or co-source these functions to third parties primarily to lower our operating expenses and to create a more variable cost structure. However, if the costs related to administration, communication and coordination of these third-party providers are greater than we expect, then we will not realize our anticipated cost savings.

Uncertainties involving the ordering and shipment of, and payment for, our products could materially adversely affect us.

We typically sell our products pursuant to individual purchase orders. We generally do not have long-term supply arrangements with our customers or minimum purchase requirements. Generally, our customers may cancel orders more than 30 days prior to shipment without incurring a significant penalty, while customers of products for consumer electronics devices may cancel orders by providing 90 days prior advance notice. We base our inventory levels on customers’ estimates of demand for their products, which may not accurately predict the quantity or type of our products that our customers will want in the future or ultimately end up purchasing. For example, customers who are concerned about potential supply shortages may “double order” products by ordering more product from us

 

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than they ultimately need. Subsequently, these customers could cancel all or a portion of these orders when they realize they have sufficient supply. This behavior would increase our uncertainty regarding demand for our products and could materially adversely affect us. With respect to our graphics products, we do not have any commitment or requirements for minimum product purchases in our sales agreement with AIB customers, upon whom we rely to manufacture, market and sell our desktop GPUs. These sales are subject to uncertainty because demand by our AIBs can be unpredictable and susceptible to price competition. Our ability to forecast demand is even further complicated when we sell to OEMs indirectly through distributors, as our forecasts for demand are then based on estimates provided by multiple parties. Moreover, PC and consumer markets are characterized by short product lifecycles, which can lead to rapid obsolescence and price erosion. In addition, our customers may change their inventory practices on short notice for any reason. We may build inventories during periods of anticipated growth, and the cancellation or deferral of product orders, the return of previously sold products or overproduction due to failure of anticipated orders to materialize, could result in excess or obsolete inventory, which could result in write-downs of inventory and an adverse effect on profit margins. Factors that may result in excess or obsolete inventory, which could result in write-downs of the value of our inventory, a reduction in average selling prices, and/or a reduction in our gross margin include:

 

   

a sudden and significant decrease in demand for our products;

 

   

a higher incidence of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements;

 

   

a failure to estimate customer demand for our older products as our new products are introduced; or

 

   

our competitors taking aggressive pricing actions.

Because market conditions are uncertain, these and other factors could materially adversely affect us.

Our reliance on third-party distributors subjects us to certain risks.

We market and sell our products directly and through third-party distributors pursuant to agreements that can generally be terminated for convenience by either party upon prior notice to the other party. These agreements are non-exclusive and permit our distributors to offer our competitors’ products. Our third party distributors have been a significant factor in our ability to increase sales of our products in certain high growth international markets. Accordingly, we are dependent on our distributors to supplement our direct marketing and sales efforts. If any significant distributor or a substantial number of our distributors terminated their relationship with us or decided to market our competitors’ products over our products, our ability to bring our products to market would be impacted and we would be materially adversely affected.

Additionally, distributors typically maintain an inventory of our products. In most instances, our agreements with distributors protect their inventory of our products against price reductions, as well as provide return rights for any product that we have removed from our price book and that is not more than twelve months older than the manufacturing code date. Some agreements with our distributors also contain standard stock rotation provisions permitting limited levels of product returns. We defer the gross margins on our sales to distributors, resulting from both our deferral of revenue and related product costs, until the applicable products are re-sold by the distributors. However, in the event of an unexpected significant decline in the price of our products, the price protection rights we offer to our distributors would materially adversely affect us because our revenue would decline.

Our operations in foreign countries are subject to political and economic risks, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

We maintain operations around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. For example, all of our wafer fabrication capacity for microprocessors is located in Germany. Nearly all product assembly and final testing of our microprocessor products is performed at manufacturing facilities in China,

 

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Malaysia and Singapore. In addition, our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices are manufactured, assembled and tested by independent third parties in the Asia-Pacific region and inventory related to those products is stored there, particularly in Taiwan. We also have international sales operations and as part of our business strategy, we are continuing to seek expansion of product sales in high growth markets. Our international sales as a percentage of our total consolidated revenue was 87 percent in 2007, and China was one of our largest and fastest growing markets.

The political and economic risks associated with our operations in foreign countries include, without limitation:

 

   

expropriation;

 

   

changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions;

 

   

changes in tax laws, trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements;

 

   

difficulties in protecting our intellectual property;

 

   

difficulties in achieving headcount reductions;

 

   

changes in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

   

restrictions on transfers of funds and other assets of our subsidiaries between jurisdictions;

 

   

changes in freight and interest rates;

 

   

disruption in air transportation between the United States and our overseas facilities; and

 

   

loss or modification of exemptions for taxes and tariffs.

Any conflict or uncertainty in the countries in which we operate, including public health or safety, natural disasters or general economic factors, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any of the above risks, should they occur, could result in an increase in the cost of components, production delays, general business interruptions, delays from difficulties in obtaining export licenses for certain technology, tariffs and other barriers and restrictions, potentially longer payment cycles, potentially increased taxes, restrictions on the repatriation of funds and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws, any of which could ultimately have a material adverse effect on us.

Worldwide economic and political conditions may adversely affect demand for our products.

Worldwide economic conditions may adversely affect demand for our products. For example, China’s economy has been growing at a fast pace over the past several years, and China was one of our largest and fastest growing markets. A decline in economic conditions in China could lead to declining worldwide economic conditions. If economic conditions decline, whether in China or worldwide, we could be materially adversely affected.

The occurrence and threat of terrorist attacks and the consequences of sustained military action in the Middle East have in the past, and may in the future, adversely affect demand for our products. Terrorist attacks may negatively affect our operations, directly or indirectly, and such attacks or related armed conflicts may directly impact our physical facilities or those of our suppliers or customers. Furthermore, these attacks may make travel and the transportation of our products more difficult and more expensive, which could materially adversely affect us.

The United States has been and may continue to be involved in armed conflicts that could have a further impact on our sales and our supply chain. Political and economic instability in some regions of the world may also result and could negatively impact our business. The consequences of armed conflicts are unpredictable and we may not be able to foresee events that could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

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Recently, there has been widespread concern over the instability of the credit markets and the current credit market conditions on the economy. If the economy weakens or slips into recession, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

More generally, any of these events could cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States economy and worldwide financial markets. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on us and also may result in volatility of the market price for our securities.

Unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect us.

We have costs, assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the euro and the Canadian dollar. For example, some fixed asset purchases and certain expenses of our German subsidiaries, AMD Saxony and AMD Fab 36 KG, are denominated in euros while sales of products are denominated in U.S. dollars. Additionally, as a result of our acquisition of ATI in October 2006, some of our expenses and debt are denominated in Canadian dollars. As a consequence, movements in exchange rates could cause our foreign currency denominated expenses to increase as a percentage of revenue, affecting our profitability and cash flows. The value of the U.S. dollar has fallen significantly, leading to increasingly unfavorable currency exchange rates on foreign denominated expenses. Whenever we believe appropriate, we hedge a portion of our short-term foreign currency exposure to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange rates. We determine our total foreign currency exposure using projections of long-term expenditures for items such as payroll and equipment and materials used in manufacturing. We cannot assure you that these activities will be effective in reducing foreign exchange rate exposure. Failure to do so could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

In addition, the majority of our product sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the local currency can cause increases or decreases in the cost of our products in the local currency of such customers. An appreciation of the U.S. dollar relative to the local currency could reduce sales of our products.

Our inability to effectively control the sales of our products on the gray market could have a material adverse effect on us.

We market and sell our products directly to OEMs and through authorized third-party distributors. From time to time, our products are diverted from our authorized distribution channels and are sold on the “gray market.” Gray market products entering the market result in shadow inventory that is not visible to us, thus making it difficult to forecast demand accurately. Also, when gray market products enter the market, we and our distribution channel compete with heavily discounted gray market products, which adversely affect demand for our products. In addition, our inability to control gray market activities could result in customer satisfaction issues, because any time products are purchased outside our authorized distribution channel, there is a risk that our customers are buying counterfeit or substandard products, including products that may have been altered, mishandled or damaged, or used products represented as new. Our inability to control sales of our products on the gray market could have a material adverse effect on us.

If we cannot adequately protect our technology or other intellectual property in the United States and abroad, through patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks and other measures, we may lose a competitive advantage and incur significant expenses.

We rely on a combination of protections provided by contracts, including confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, copyrights, patents, trademarks and common law rights, such as trade secrets, to protect our intellectual property. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately protect our technology or other intellectual property from third party infringement or from misappropriation in the United States and abroad. Any patent licensed by us or issued to us could be challenged, invalidated or circumvented or rights

 

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granted thereunder may not provide a competitive advantage to us. Furthermore, patent applications that we file may not result in issuance of a patent or, if a patent is issued, the patent may not be issued in a form that is advantageous to us. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, others may independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or design around our patents and other rights. In addition, it is difficult to monitor compliance with, and enforce, our intellectual property on a worldwide basis in a cost-effective manner. In jurisdictions where foreign laws provide less intellectual property protection than afforded in the United States and abroad, our technology or other intellectual property may be compromised, and we would be materially adversely affected.

We are party to litigation, including intellectual property litigation, and may become a party to other claims or litigation that could cause us to incur substantial costs or pay substantial damages or prohibit us from selling our products.

From time to time we are a defendant or plaintiff in various legal actions. For example, our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, ATI, is party to a consumer class action, among other litigation matters. Additionally, in November 2006 we received a subpoena for documents and information in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into potential antitrust violations related to graphics processing units and cards. In addition, AMD and our subsidiaries, ATI, AMD US Finance, Inc. and 1252986 Alberta ULC are defendants in a consolidated action in which the plaintiffs are seeking to certify a class action to obtain injunctive relief and damages for alleged violations of federal antitrust law, and for alleged violations of certain state antitrust and consumer protection statutes, related to graphics processing units and cards. We also sell products to consumers, which could increase our exposure to consumer actions such as product liability claims. Litigation can involve complex factual and legal questions and its outcome is uncertain. Any claim that is successfully asserted against us may cause us to pay substantial damages.

With respect to intellectual property litigation, from time to time, we have been notified, or third parties may bring actions against us, based on allegations that we are infringing the intellectual property rights of others. If any such claims are asserted against us, we may seek to obtain a license under the third party’s intellectual property rights. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain all of the necessary licenses on satisfactory terms, if at all. In the event that we cannot obtain a license, these parties may file lawsuits against us seeking damages (potentially up to and including treble damages) or an injunction against the sale of our products that incorporate allegedly infringed intellectual property or against the operation of our business as presently conducted, which could result in our having to stop the sale of some of our products or to increase the costs of selling some of our products or could damage our reputation. The award of damages, including material royalty payments, or the entry of an injunction against the manufacture and sale of some or all of our products, would have a material adverse effect on us. We could decide, in the alternative, to redesign our products or to resort to litigation to challenge such claims. Such challenges could be extremely expensive and time-consuming and could have a material adverse effect on us. We cannot assure you that litigation related to our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of others can always be avoided or successfully concluded.

Even if we were to prevail, any litigation could be costly and time-consuming and would divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

We are subject to a variety of environmental laws that could result in liabilities.

Our operations and properties are subject to various United States and foreign environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to materials used in our products and manufacturing processes, discharge of pollutants into the environment, the treatment, transport, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and remediation of contamination. These laws and regulations require us to obtain permits for our operations, including the discharge of air pollutants and wastewater. Although our management systems are designed to maintain compliance, we cannot assure you that we have been or will be at all times in complete compliance with

 

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such laws, regulations and permits. If we violate or fail to comply with any of them, a range of consequences could result, including fines, suspension of production, alteration of manufacturing processes, import/export restrictions, sales limitations, criminal and civil liabilities or other sanctions. We could also be held liable for any and all consequences arising out of exposure to hazardous materials used, stored, released, disposed of by us or located at or under our facilities or other environmental or natural resource damage.

Certain environmental laws, including the U.S. Comprehensive, Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or the Superfund Act, impose strict, joint and several liability on current and previous owners or operators of real property for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous substances and impose liability for damages to natural resources. These laws often impose liability even if the owner or operator did not know of, or was not responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances. These environmental laws also assess liability on persons who arrange for hazardous substances to be sent to disposal or treatment facilities when such facilities are found to be contaminated. Such persons can be responsible for cleanup costs even if they never owned or operated the contaminated facility. We have been named as a responsible party on Superfund clean-up orders for three sites in Sunnyvale, California. Although we have not yet been, we could be named a potentially responsible party at other Superfund or contaminated sites in the future. In addition, contamination that has not yet been identified could exist at our other facilities.

Environmental laws are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent over time. For example, the European Union and China are two among a growing number of jurisdictions that have enacted in recent years restrictions on the use of lead, among other chemicals, in electronic products. These regulations affect semiconductor packaging. There is a risk that the cost, quality and manufacturing yields of lead-free products may be less favorable compared to lead-based products or that the transition to lead-free products may produce sudden changes in demand, which may result in excess inventory. Other regulatory requirements potentially affecting our manufacturing processes and the design and marketing of our products are in development throughout the world. While we have budgeted for foreseeable associated expenditures, we cannot assure you that future environmental legal requirements will not become more stringent or costly in the future. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our costs of complying with current and future environmental and health and safety laws, and our liabilities arising from past and future releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances will not have a material adverse effect on us.

Our worldwide operations could be subject to natural disasters and other business disruptions, which could harm our future revenue and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.

All of our wafer fabrication capacity for microprocessors is located in Germany. Nearly all product assembly and final testing of our microprocessor products is performed at manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia and Singapore. The independent foundries we use to manufacture our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices are located in the Asia-Pacific region and inventory is stored there, particularly in Taiwan. Many of our assembly, testing and packaging suppliers for our graphics products are also located in southern Taiwan. On September 22, 1999, Taiwan suffered a major earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and disrupted the operations of these manufacturing suppliers and contributed to a temporary shortage of graphics processors. Additional earthquakes, fires or other occurrences that disrupt our manufacturing suppliers may occur in the future. To the extent that the supply from our independent foundries or suppliers is interrupted for a prolonged period of time or terminated for any reason, we may not have sufficient time to replace our supply of products manufactured by those foundries.

Moreover, our corporate headquarters are located near major earthquake fault lines in California. In the event of a major earthquake, or other natural or manmade disaster, we could experience loss of life of our employees, destruction of facilities or business interruptions, any of which could materially adversely affect us.

 

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Our business is subject to potential tax liabilities.

We are subject to income taxes in the United States, Canada and other foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the final determination of any tax audits and litigation will not be materially different from that which is reflected in historical income tax provisions and accruals. Should additional taxes be assessed as a result of an audit or litigation, there could be a material effect on our cash, goodwill recorded as a result of our acquisition of ATI, income tax provision and net income in the period or periods for which that determination is made.

For example, the Canadian Revenue Agency, or CRA, is auditing ATI for the years 2000—2004 with respect to transactions between ATI and its subsidiaries. The audit has been completed and is currently in the review process. We could be subject to significant tax liability as well as a loss of certain tax credits and other tax attributes as a result of the CRA audit.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

We have not received any written comments that were issued more than 180 days before December 29, 2007, the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, from the Securities and Exchange Commission staff regarding our periodic or current reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that remain unresolved.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

At December 29, 2007, we owned principal engineering, manufacturing, warehouse and administrative facilities located in the United States, Canada, China, Germany, Singapore and Malaysia. These facilities totaled approximately 3.6 million square feet. Of this amount, 2.2 million square feet were located in Dresden, Germany and were used primarily for wafer fabrication, research and development, and administrative offices.

Our main facility with respect to our graphics and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices is located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. This facility consists of approximately 240,000 square feet of office and research and development space. We have a 50 percent interest in the joint venture company that owns this facility. We occupy five other facilities in Markham, Ontario that comprise over 265,000 square feet, including approximately 65,000 square-feet of manufacturing and warehouse space.

In some cases, we lease all or a portion of the land on which our facilities are located. We lease approximately 218,000 square feet of land in Singapore and 270,000 square feet of land in Suzhou, China for our microprocessor and test facilities. In addition, Fab 30 and Fab 36 are located on approximately 9.7 million square feet of land. Of this amount, Fab 36 owns approximately 5.4 million square feet, and both the facility and the land are encumbered by a lien securing the obligations of AMD Fab 36 KG, the entity that owns the Fab 36 assets, under its EUR 700 Million Term Loan Facility Agreement with a consortium of banks in connection with the Fab 36 project (Fab 36 Loan Agreements). See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Fab 36 Term Loan and Guarantee and Fab 36 Partnership Agreements.”

As of December 29, 2007, we also leased approximately 3.1 million square feet of space for engineering, manufacturing, warehouse and administrative use, including a number of smaller regional sales offices located in commercial centers near customers, principally in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. These leases expire at varying dates through 2018.

We also have approximately 185,000 square feet of building space that is currently vacant. We continue to have lease obligations with respect to this space that expire at various dates through 2011. We are actively marketing this space for sublease. Spansion Inc. leases approximately 71,000 square feet from us.

 

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We are also in the process of building a new campus for design and administrative functions on approximately 58 acres in Austin, Texas. The campus will consist of approximately 825,000 square feet and is concentrated to approximately 33 of the available 58 acres. We expect that the new Austin campus will be fully occupied by mid-2008.

We currently do not anticipate difficulty in either retaining occupancy of any of our facilities through lease renewals prior to expiration or through month-to-month occupancy, or replacing them with equivalent facilities. We believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate for our present purposes, and that, except as discussed above, the productive capacity of such facilities is substantially being utilized or we have plans to utilize it.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In addition to ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, AMD or its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, ATI, were party to the following material legal proceedings. The outcome of any litigation is uncertain and should any of these actions or proceedings against us be successful, we may be subject to significant damages awards which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

AMD and AMDISS v. Intel Corporation and Intel Kabushiki Kaisha, Civil Action No. 05-441, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

On June 27, 2005, AMD filed an antitrust complaint against Intel Corporation and Intel Kabushiki Kaisha, collectively “Intel,” in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware under Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, Sections 4 and 16 of the Clayton Act, and the California Business and Professions Code. The complaint alleges that Intel has unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the x86 microprocessor market by engaging in anti-competitive financial and exclusionary business practices that in effect limit Intel’s customers’ ability and/or incentive to deal with AMD. The complaint alleges anti-competitive business practices, including:

 

   

Forcing major customers into Intel-exclusive deals in return for outright cash payments, discriminatory pricing or marketing subsidies conditioned on the exclusion of AMD;

 

   

Forcing other major customers into partial exclusivity agreements by conditioning rebates, allowances and market development funds on customers’ agreement to severely limit or forego entirely purchases from AMD;

 

   

Establishing a system of discriminatory and retroactive incentives triggered by purchases at such high levels as to have the intended effect of denying customers the freedom to purchase any significant volume of processors from AMD;

 

   

Establishing and enforcing quotas among key retailers, effectively requiring them to stock overwhelmingly or exclusively computers with Intel microprocessors, and thereby artificially limiting consumer choice; and

 

   

Forcing PC makers and technology partners to boycott AMD product launches or promotions.

AMD has requested the following findings and remedies:

 

   

A finding that Intel is abusing its market power by forcing on the industry technical standards and products that have as their main purpose the handicapping of AMD in the marketplace;

 

   

A finding that Intel is wrongfully maintaining its monopoly in the x86 microprocessor market in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act and treble damages to AMD in an amount to be proven at trial, pursuant to Section 4 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 15(a);

 

   

A finding that Intel has made secret payments and allowance of rebates and discounts, and that Intel secretly and discriminatorily extended to certain purchasers special services or privileges, all in

 

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violation of California Business & Professions Code § 17045, and treble damages for AMD’s resulting lost profits in an amount to be proven at trial;

 

   

A finding that Intel has intentionally interfered with valuable business relationships of AMD to AMD’s economic detriment and damages to AMD in an amount to be proven at trial for its resulting losses, as well as punitive damages, as permitted by law;

 

   

Injunctive relief prohibiting Intel from engaging in any further conduct unlawful under Section 2 of the Sherman Act or Section 17045 of the California Business and Professions Code;

 

   

An award to AMD of such other, further and different relief as may be necessary or appropriate to restore and maintain competitive conditions in the x86 microprocessor market; and

 

   

An award of attorneys’ fees and costs.

Intel filed its answer on September 1, 2005. On September 26, 2006, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware granted the motion of Intel Corporation to dismiss foreign conduct claims. The effect of that decision was clarified by the Court’s January 12, 2007 adoption of the Special Master’s decision on our motion to compel foreign conduct discovery. As a result of these two decisions, we will be permitted to introduce evidence of Intel’s exclusionary practices wherever they occur, including practices foreclosing AMD from foreign customers or in foreign market segments. However, the court’s ruling limits our damages to lost sales in the United States and lost sales abroad that would have originated from the United States. The Court also set an immovable trial date of April 27, 2009. The discovery process is ongoing.

Other Related Proceedings

On June 30, 2005, our Japanese subsidiary, AMD Japan K.K., or AMD Japan, filed an action in Japan against Intel Corporation’s Japanese subsidiary, Intel Kabushiki Kaisha, or Intel K.K., in the Tokyo High Court and the Tokyo District Court for damages arising from violations of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act.

Through its suit in the Tokyo High Court, AMD Japan seeks $50 million in damages, following on the Japan Fair Trade Commission’s (JFTC) findings in its March 8, 2005 Recommendation, or the JFTC Recommendation, that Intel K.K. committed violations of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act. The JFTC Recommendation concluded that Intel K.K. interfered with AMD Japan’s business activities by providing large amounts of funds to five Japanese PC manufacturers (NEC, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Sony, and Hitachi) on the condition that they refuse to purchase AMD’s microprocessors. The suit alleges that as a result of these illegal acts, AMD Japan suffered serious damages, losing all of its sales of microprocessors to Toshiba, Sony, and Hitachi, while sales of microprocessors to NEC and Fujitsu also fell precipitously.

Through its suit in the Tokyo District Court, AMD Japan seeks $55 million in damages for various anticompetitive acts in addition to those covered in the scope of the JFTC Recommendation. The suit alleges that these anticompetitive acts also had the effect of interfering with AMD Japan’s right to engage in normal business and marketing activities.

U.S. Consumer Class Action Lawsuits

In February and March 2006, two consumer class actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against ATI and three of its subsidiaries. The complaints allege that ATI had misrepresented its graphics cards as being “HDCP ready” when they were not, and on that basis alleged violations of state consumer protection statutes, breach of express and implied warranty, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment. On April 18, 2006, the Court entered an order consolidating the two actions. On June 19, 2006, plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint, alleging violations of California’s consumer protection laws, breach of express warranty, and unjust enrichment. On June 21, 2006, a third consumer class action that was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in May 2006

 

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alleging claims that are substantially the same was transferred to the Northern District of California, and on July 31, 2006, that case was also consolidated into the consolidated action pending in the Northern District of California. ATI filed an answer to the consolidated complaint on August 7, 2006. On September 28, 2007, the Court entered an order denying Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification without prejudice, granting plaintiffs additional time to conduct class discovery and granting plaintiffs certain fees and costs. The discovery process is ongoing.

Department of Justice Subpoena

On November 29, 2006, AMD received a subpoena for documents and information in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, criminal investigation into potential antitrust violations related to graphics processing units and cards, with a focus on the business that AMD acquired from ATI on October 26, 2006. AMD entered the graphics processor business following our acquisition of ATI on October 25, 2006. The DOJ has not made any specific allegations against AMD or ATI. AMD is cooperating with the investigation.

GPU Class Actions

Currently over fifty related antitrust actions have been filed against AMD, ATI and Nvidia Corporation, all of which were consolidated and transferred to the Northern District of California in the action In re Graphics Processing Units Antitrust Litigation including twenty-eight actions in the Northern District of California, eleven in the Central District of California, two in Massachusetts, one in the Western District of Wisconsin, three in South Carolina, one in Vermont, one in Kansas, two in the District of Columbia, one in the Eastern District of New York, one in the Eastern District of Arkansas, one in South Dakota, one in the Middle District of Tennessee and one in the Eastern District of Tennessee. According to the complaints, plaintiffs filed each of the actions after reading press reports that AMD and Nvidia had received subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division in connection with the DOJ’s investigation into potential antitrust violations related to graphics processing units and cards. All of the actions appear to allege that the defendants conspired to fix, raise, maintain, or stabilize the prices of graphics processing units and cards in violation of federal antitrust law and/or state antitrust law. Further, each of the complaints is styled as a putative class action and alleges a class of plaintiffs (either indirect or direct purchasers) who purportedly suffered injury as a result of the defendants’ alleged conduct. Class plaintiffs (direct and indirect) filed amended consolidated complaints in June 2007. The amended consolidated complaints proposed a class period from December 2002 to the present. On September 27, 2007, the court issued an order granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion to dismiss. Pursuant to the court’s order, plaintiffs filed motions to amend their complaints on October 11, 2007, and defendants filed oppositions to plaintiffs’ motions on October 18, 2007. On November 7, 2007, the court granted plaintiffs’ motion in part and denied it in part and ordered plaintiffs immediately to file their amended complaints in conformity with the court's order. On November 7 and November 8, 2007, plaintiffs (indirect and direct purchasers) filed their amended complaints. In addition to AMD and ATI, the amended complaints named AMD US Finance, Inc. and 1252986 Alberta ULC as defendants. On November 27 and 28, 2007, the defendants filed their answers to the indirect and direct purchasers’ amended complaints. The discovery process in ongoing. The court has scheduled a jury trial to begin on January 12, 2009.

Environmental Matters

We are named as a responsible party on Superfund clean-up orders for three sites in Sunnyvale, California that are on the National Priorities List. Since 1981, we have discovered hazardous material releases to the groundwater from former underground tanks and proceeded to investigate and conduct remediation at these three sites. The chemicals released into the groundwater were commonly used in the semiconductor industry in the United States in the wafer fabrication process prior to 1979.

In 1991, we received Final Site Clean-up Requirements Orders from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board relating to the three sites. We have entered into settlement agreements with other responsible

 

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parties on two of the orders. During the term of such agreements other parties have agreed to assume most of the foreseeable costs as well as the primary role in conducting remediation activities under the orders. We remain responsible for additional costs beyond the scope of the agreements as well as all remaining costs in the event that the other parties do not fulfill their obligations under the settlement agreements.

To address anticipated future remediation costs under the orders, we have computed and recorded an estimated environmental liability of approximately $3.5 million in accordance with applicable accounting rules and have not recorded any potential insurance recoveries in determining the estimated costs of the cleanup. The progress of future remediation efforts cannot be predicted with certainty, and these costs may change. We believe that the potential liability, if any, in excess of amounts already accrued, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Other Matters

We are a defendant or plaintiff in various other actions that arose in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock (symbol “AMD”) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. On February 11, 2008, there were 7,873 registered holders of our common stock. The following table sets forth on a per share basis the high and low intra-day sales prices on the New York Stock Exchange for our common stock for the periods indicated:

 

     High    Low

Fiscal year ended December 29, 2007

     

First quarter

   $     20.63    $     12.96

Second quarter

     15.95      12.60

Third quarter

     16.19      11.27

Fourth quarter

     14.73      7.30
     High    Low

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

     

First quarter

   $     42.70    $     30.16

Second quarter

     36.08      23.46

Third quarter

     27.90      16.90

Fourth quarter

     25.69      19.90

We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock and have no present plans to do so. Under the terms of our Indenture for the 7.75% Notes dated October 29, 2004 with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee, we are limited in our ability to pay cash dividends unless we obtain the written consent of the bondholders. Specifically, we are prohibited from paying cash dividends if the aggregate amount of dividends and other restricted payments made by us since entering into the indenture would exceed the sum of specified financial measures including fifty percent of consolidated net income as that term is defined in the indenture. In addition, our German subsidiaries, AMD Fab 36 LLC & Co. KG, AMD Fab 36 Holding GmbH and AMD Fab 36 Admin GmbH, are restricted by the terms of the Fab 36 Loan Agreement from paying cash dividends to us or providing loans or advances to us in certain circumstances without the prior written consent of the lenders.

The information under the caption, “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” in our 2008 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

We have an ongoing authorization from the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $300 million worth of our common stock over a period of time to be determined by management. These repurchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. We are not required to repurchase any particular amount of our common stock and the program may be suspended at any time at our discretion. During 2007, we did not repurchase any of our equity securities pursuant to this Board authorized program.

 

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Performance Graph

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Returns

Advanced Micro Devices, S&P 500 Index and S&P 500 Semiconductor Index

The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total return on our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Semiconductor Index from December 27, 2002 through December 29, 2007. The past performance of our common stock is no indication of future performance.

Comparison of Five Year Total Return

LOGO

This graph was plotted using the following data:

 

    

Base

Period

12/27/02

   Years Ending
Company / Index       12/28/03    12/26/04    12/25/05    12/31/06    12/29/07

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

   100    231.50    348.35    480.31    320.47    115.28

S&P 500 Index

   100    127.47    143.19    152.90    174.21    185.05

S&P 500 Semiconductors Index

   100    185.75    148.91    174.18    153.37    172.40

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Five Years Ended December 29, 2007

(In millions except per share amounts)

 

      2007(1)(3)     2006(2)(3)     2005(3)     2004(4)     2003(5)  

Net revenue

   $ 6,013     $ 5,649     $ 5,848     $ 5,001     $ 3,519  

Cost of sales

     3,751       2,856       3,456       3,033       2,327  

Gross margin

     2,262       2,793       2,392       1,968       1,192  

Research and development

     1,847       1,205       1,144       934       852  

Marketing, general and administrative

     1,373       1,140       1,016       812       573  

In-process research and development

     —         416 (6)     —         —         —    

Amortization of acquired intangible assets and other integration charges(7)

     299       79       —         —         —    

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets

     1,608 (8)     —         —         —         —    

Operating income (loss)

     (2,865 )     (47 )     232       222       (233 )

Interest income

     73       116       37       18       20  

Interest expense

     (367 )(9)     (126 )     (105 )     (112 )     (110 )

Other income (expense), net

     (7 )     (13 )     (24 )     (49 )(10)     1  

Income (loss) before minority interest, equity in net income (loss) of Spansion Inc. and other and income taxes

     (3,166 )     (70 )     140       79       (322 )

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries(11)

     (35 )     (28 )     125       18       45  

Equity in net income (loss) of Spansion Inc. and other(12)

     (155 )     (45 )     (107 )     —         6  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     23 (13)     23 (14)     (7 )     6       3  

Net income (loss)

   $ (3,379 )   $ (166 )   $ 165     $ 91     $ (274 )

Net income (loss) per common share

          

Basic—income (loss)

   $ (6.06 )   $ (0.34 )   $ 0.41     $ 0.25     $ (0.79 )

Diluted—income (loss)

   $ (6.06 )   $ (0.34 )   $ 0.40     $ 0.25     $ (0.79 )

Shares used in per share calculation

          

Basic

     558       492       400       359       347  

Diluted

     558       492       441       371       347  

Long-term debt, capital lease obligations and other,
less current portion and other long term liabilities

   $ 5,664     $ 4,189     $ 1,786     $ 2,043     $ 2,328  

Total assets(15)

   $ 11,550     $ 13,147     $ 7,288     $ 7,844     $ 7,050  

 

(1)

Consolidated statement of operations data for 2007 includes the operations of ATI for the entire fiscal year. As a result, 2007 is not fully comparable to prior periods.

(2)

Consolidated statement of operations data for 2006 includes the operations of ATI for the period from October 25, 2006 through December 31, 2006. As a result, 2006 is not fully comparable to 2007 or to prior periods.

(3)

Consolidated statement of operations data for 2005 includes the results of operations for our former Memory Products segment through December 20, 2005. From December 21, 2005, the date that Spansion Inc., our former majority-owned subsidiary, closed its IPO through December 25, 2005 and all of 2006, we used the equity method of accounting to reflect our share of Spansion’s net income (loss). We include this information under the caption, “Equity in net income (loss) of Spansion Inc. and other,” on our consolidated statements of operations. In September 2007, as a result of our reduced ownership interest in, and the loss of our ability to exercise significant influence over, Spansion, we ceased applying the equity method of accounting and began accounting for this investment as “available-for-sale” marketable securities under FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. Therefore, 2005, 2006 and 2007 are not fully comparable to each other or to prior periods.

 

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(4)

Consolidated statement of operations data for 2004 includes the results of operations for our former Memory Products segment for the entire year. Therefore, 2004 is not fully comparable to 2005, during which Spansion’s results of operations were not consolidated with our results of operations for the last five days of the fiscal year, or to 2006 and 2007.

(5)

Consolidated statement of operations data for 2003 includes the results of operations of Spansion LLC from June 30, 2003, the date of its formation. Prior to this, Spansion LLC’s results of operations were reported as part of our former Memory Products segment. We formed Spansion LLC with Fujitsu Limited on June 30, 2003 by expanding an existing manufacturing joint venture that was formed in 1993 and in which we had an ownership interest of slightly less than 50 percent. Upon the formation of Spansion LLC, our ownership interest increased to 60 percent. From June 30, 2003 through December 20, 2005 we maintained our 60 percent ownership interest. Prior to June 30, 2003, we accounted for our interest in the manufacturing joint venture under the equity method. Therefore, consolidated statement of operations data for 2003 is not comparable to 2004.

(6)

Represents a write off of in-process research and development in connection with the ATI acquisition.

(7)

Represents amortization of acquisition related intangible assets acquired in connection with the ATI acquisition and charges incurred to integrate the operations of ATI with our operations.

(8)

Represents impairment charges recorded to write down the carrying value of ATI-related goodwill and acquired intangible assets. See Part II, Item 7 “MD&A—ATI Acquisition.”

(9)

The increase in interest expense from $126 million in 2006 to $367 million in 2007 consisted of interest on new outstanding debt, including our 6.00% Notes, 5.75% Notes, Fab 36 Term Loan and October 2006 Term Loan.

(10)

Other income (expense), net, includes a charge of approximately $32 million associated with our exchange of $201 million of our 4.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2007 for common stock and a charge of approximately $14 million in connection with our prepayment of amounts outstanding under a term loan agreement among our German subsidiary, AMD Fab 30 Limited Liability Company & Co. KG, and the lenders party thereto.

(11)

The 2006 and 2007 minority interest amounts represent the guaranteed rate of return of between 11 and 13 percent related to the limited partnership contributions that AMD Fab 36 KG received from the unaffiliated partners (Fab 36 Minority Interest); the 2005 and 2004 minority interest amount includes the Fab 36 Minority Interest and Spansion related minority interest; the 2003 minority interest amount represents the Spansion related minority interest. Minority interest consists primarily of the elimination of Fujitsu Limited’s share of the income (loss) of Spansion LLC. Fujitsu Limited held a 40 percent minority ownership interest in Spansion LLC, prior to the IPO of Spansion Inc.

(12)

In 2005 we recorded a loss of $110 million due to the dilution in our ownership interest in Spansion from 60 percent to approximately 38 percent in connection with Spansion’s IPO. This represents the difference between Spansion’s book value per share before and after the IPO multiplied by the number of shares owned by us. In September 2007, as a result of our reduced ownership interest in, and loss of our ability to exercise significant influence over, Spansion, we ceased applying the equity method of accounting and began accounting for this investment as “available-for-sale” marketable securities under FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. Following our quarterly impairment review, we recorded impairment charges of approximately $111 million in 2007. See Note 4, Spansion Inc., in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(13)

The 2007 income tax provision primarily results from current foreign taxes reduced by the reversal of deferred U.S. taxes related to indefinite-lived goodwill, resulting from the goodwill impairment charge we recorded during the year, and recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits for tax holidays.

(14)

The 2006 income tax provision primarily results from current foreign taxes, plus deferred U.S. tax related to indefinite-lived goodwill, and reduced by deferred foreign benefits from removing part of the valuation allowance on German net operating loss carryovers of Fab 36.

(15)

Total assets decreased by $1.6 billion from 2006 to 2007 primarily due to the impairment charge for ATI acquisition-related goodwill and intangible assets. Total assets increased by $5.9 billion from 2005 to 2006 primarily as the result of the acquisition of ATI.

 

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements as of December 29, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 29, 2007 and related notes thereto, which are included in this Form 10-K.

Introduction

We are a global semiconductor company with facilities around the world. Within the global semiconductor industry, we offer primarily:

 

   

x86 microprocessors, for the commercial and consumer markets, embedded microprocessors for commercial, commercial client and consumer markets and chipsets for desktop and notebook personal computers, or PCs, professional workstations and servers;

 

   

graphics, video and multimedia products for desktop and notebook computers, including home media PCs, professional workstations and servers; and

 

   

products for consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones and digital televisions and technology for game consoles.

Prior to the closing of the IPO of Spansion Inc. on December 21, 2005, which is described in more detail below, we also manufactured and sold Flash memory devices through Spansion LLC, our former majority-owned subsidiary.

In this section, we will describe the general financial condition and the results of operations for AMD and its consolidated subsidiaries, including a discussion of our results of operations for 2007 compared to 2006 and 2006 compared to 2005, an analysis of changes in our financial condition and a discussion of our contractual obligations and off-balance sheet arrangements. Our results of operations include sales of graphics, video, multimedia and chipset products and products for consumer electronics devices from the effective date of the ATI acquisition on October 25, 2006 through December 29, 2007 in the following reportable segments: (i) Computing Solutions (including Chipsets), (ii) Graphics and (iii) Consumer Electronics. We are not able to provide any comparative information for the latter two segments prior to the ATI acquisition, since we did not participate in these markets. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Form 10-K, including “Part I, Item 1: Business,” “Part II, Item 6: Selected Financial Data,” and “Part II, Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

Overview

Fiscal 2007 was a challenging year for AMD. Our net revenue in 2007 of $6.0 billion increased six percent from net revenue of $5.6 billion in 2006. However, revenue increased because we included the operations of our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments for the entire fiscal year rather than just nine weeks in 2006. Net revenue for our Computing Solutions segment decreased 12 percent due to lower average selling prices for our microprocessor products, which resulted from delays in the introduction and broad availability of our quad-core processors, aggressive pricing by our principal competitor and a higher concentration of sales of processors for desktop and notebook PCs in 2007. Correspondingly, gross margins in 2007 decreased compared to gross margins in 2006 as a result of lower average selling prices for our microprocessor products and increased manufacturing costs during the first half of 2007. Furthermore, gross margins were adversely impacted due to the consolidation of ATI’s operations into ours for the full fiscal year in 2007 compared to nine weeks in 2006. Historically, the ATI business had lower gross margins compared to AMD.

Despite the challenges that we encountered during 2007, we made positive strides towards improving our performance. Although average selling prices for our microprocessor products declined in 2007 compared to 2006, they improved in the second half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2007 as our product mix improved

 

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with the introduction of our AMD Opteron quad-core processors for servers and AMD Phenom 9000 series of quad-core processors for desktop PCs. We also secured a new OEM customer, Toshiba Corporation. In the Graphics segment, we introduced the ATI Radeon HD 2000 and 3800 series of products. We also introduced the ATI Mobility Radeon HD series of products for notebook PCs during the second half of 2007 and were able to secure a number of OEM design wins. These new product introductions favorably impacted average selling prices. In the second half of 2007, we also improved gross margins compared to the first half of 2007 due to improved inventory management, manufacturing efficiencies and a richer product mix driven by the launch of new products. We also focused on improving the delivery of products across a diverse set of customers and geographies on a timely basis and, as a result, we witnessed recovery of sales to the distribution channel.

In 2007, we also undertook measures to improve our financial position. During the second quarter of 2007, we issued $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Notes and in the third quarter of 2007, we issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Notes. We used a portion of the proceeds from the 6.00% Notes and all of the proceeds from the 5.75% Notes to repay in full the amount outstanding under the October 2006 term loan agreement with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. In the fourth quarter of 2007, we sold and issued 49 million shares of our common stock to a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company in exchange for net proceeds of $608 million. Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at December 29, 2007 totaled $1.9 billion and our debt and capital lease obligations totaled $5.3 billion.

We also made significant strides to implement our manufacturing capacity strategy. We converted Fab 36 to 65-nanometer process technology by mid-2007, as planned. We also expanded manufacturing capacity in Fab 36 and completed the addition of a new bump and test facility. We initiated the conversion of Fab 30 from a 200-millimeter to a 300-millimeter manufacturing facility. Fab 30 produced its final 200-millimeter wafer during the fourth quarter of 2007. During 2007, Chartered Semiconductor continued to manufacture AMD64-based processors for us to support incremental demand.

We intend the discussion of our financial condition and results of operations that follows to provide information that will assist you in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, the primary factors that resulted in those changes, and how certain accounting principles, policies and estimates affect our financial statements.

ATI Acquisition

On October 25, 2006, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of ATI, a publicly held company headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Canada for a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. ATI was engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of innovative 3D graphics and digital media silicon solutions. We believe that the acquisition of ATI will allow us to deliver products that better fulfill the increasing demand for more integrated computing solutions. We included the operations of ATI in our consolidated financial statements beginning on October 25, 2006.

 

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The aggregate consideration that we paid for all outstanding ATI common shares consisted of approximately $4.3 billion of cash and 58 million shares of our common stock. In addition, we also issued options to purchase approximately 17.1 million shares of our common stock and approximately 2.2 million comparable AMD restricted stock units in exchange for outstanding ATI stock options and restricted stock units. The vested portion of these options and restricted stock units was valued at approximately $144 million. The unvested portion, valued at approximately $69 million, is being amortized to compensation expense over the options’ remaining vesting periods. To finance a portion of the cash consideration paid, we borrowed $2.5 billion under the October 2006 Term Loan. This term loan was fully repaid in 2007 (See “Contractual Obligations”). The total purchase price for ATI was $5.6 billion, including acquisition-related costs of $25 million, and consisted of:

 

      (In millions
except per
share
amounts)

Acquisition of all of the outstanding shares, stock options, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards of ATI in exchange for:

  

Cash

   $ 4,263

58 million shares of AMD common stock

     1,172

Fair value of vested options and restricted stock units issued

     144

Acquisition related transaction costs

 

     25

Total purchase price

 

   $ 5,604

Purchase Price Allocation

The total purchase price was allocated to ATI’s tangible and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values as of October 24, 2006 as set forth below:

 

      (In millions)  

Cash and marketable securities

   $ 500  

Accounts receivable

     290  

Inventories

     431  

Goodwill

     3,217  

Developed product technology

     752  

Game console royalty agreement

     147  

Customer relationships

     257  

Trademarks and trade names

     62  

Customer backlog

     36  

In-process research and development

     416  

Property, plant and equipment

     143  

Other assets

     25  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     (631 )

Reserves for exit costs

     (8 )

Debt and capital lease obligations

     (31 )

Deferred revenues

     (2 )

Total purchase price

 

   $ 5,604  

The only item that may significantly impact goodwill is the resolution of certain ATI tax-related contingencies. To the extent that the actual amounts are different than the estimated amounts initially recorded, the difference will result in an adjustment to goodwill. Any other adjustments to amounts recorded from and after the completion of the acquisition will be recorded in post-acquisition operating results.

Management performed an analysis to determine the fair value of each tangible and identifiable intangible asset, including the portion of the purchase price attributable to acquired in-process research and development projects.

 

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In-Process Research and Development

Of the total purchase price, approximately $416 million was allocated to in-process research and development (IPR&D) and was expensed in the fourth quarter of 2006. Projects that qualify as IPR&D represent those that have not reached technological feasibility and had no alternative future use at the time of the acquisition. These projects include development of next generation GPU, chipset, handheld and digital TV products. As of the date of acquisition, the estimated fair value of the projects for the Graphics and Chipsets segment was approximately $193 million ($122 million for graphics products and $71 million for chipset products) and we expect to incur an aggregate of approximately $113 million ($86 million for graphics products and $27 million for chipset products) to complete these projects over the two-year period that commenced October 25, 2006. As of the date of the acquisition, the estimated fair value of the projects for the Consumer Electronics segment was approximately $223 million, and we expect to incur aggregate costs of approximately $102 million to complete these projects over the two-year period that commenced October 25, 2006. Starting in the first quarter of 2007, in conjunction with the integration of ATI’s operations, we reported operations related to our chipset products in our Computing Solutions segment.

The value assigned to IPR&D was determined using a discounted cash flow methodology, specifically an excess earnings approach, which estimates value based upon the discounted value of future cash flows expected to be generated by the in-process projects, net of all contributory asset returns. The approach includes consideration of the importance of each project to the overall development plan and estimating costs to develop the purchased IPR&D into commercially viable products. The revenue estimates used to value the purchased IPR&D were based on estimates of the relevant market sizes and growth factors, expected trends in technology and the nature and expected timing of new product introductions by ATI and its competitors.

The discount rates applied to individual projects were selected after consideration of the overall estimated weighted average cost of capital and the discount rates applied to the valuation of the other assets acquired. Such weighted average cost of capital was adjusted to reflect the difficulties and uncertainties in completing each project and thereby achieving technological feasibility, the percentage of completion of each project, anticipated market acceptance and penetration, market growth rates and risks related to the impact of potential changes in future target markets. In developing the estimated fair values, we used discount rates ranging from 14 percent to 15 percent.

The development of these technologies remains a risk due to the remaining efforts to achieve technical viability, rapidly changing customer markets, uncertain standards for new products, and significant competitive threats from our competitors. Failure to develop these technologies into commercially viable products and/or failure to bring them to market in a timely manner could result in a loss of market share, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results, could negatively impact the return on investment that we expected at the time that the ATI acquisition was completed and may result in impairment charges.

The estimates used in valuing IPR&D were based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable but which are inherently uncertain, and as a result, actual results may differ from estimates.

The development efforts on these acquired projects have been ongoing and there have not been any significant changes in the original development plans as of December 29, 2007.

Other Acquisition Related Intangible Assets

Developed product technology consists of products that have reached technological feasibility and includes technology in ATI’s discrete GPU products, integrated chipset products, handheld products, and digital TV product divisions. We initially expected the developed technology to have an average useful life of five years. However, as discussed below, we have revised the estimate of the average useful life of the developed technology to be 50 months from the acquisition date.

 

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Game console royalty agreements represent agreements existing as of October 24, 2006 with video game console manufacturers for the payment of royalties to ATI for intellectual property design work performed and were estimated to have an average useful life of five years.

Customer relationship intangibles represent ATI’s customer relationships existing as of October 24, 2006, and were estimated to have an average useful life of four years.

Trademarks and trade names have an estimated useful life of seven years.

Customer backlog represents customer orders existing as of October 24, 2006 that had not been delivered and were estimated to have a useful life of 14 months.

We determined the fair value of other acquisition-related intangible assets using income approaches based on the most current financial forecast available as of October 24, 2006. The discount rates we used to discount net cash flows to their present values ranged from 12 percent to 15 percent. We determined these discount rates after consideration of our estimated weighted average cost of capital and the estimated internal rate of return specific to the acquisition.

We based estimated useful lives for the other acquisition-related intangible assets on historical experience with technology life cycles, product roadmaps and our intended future use of the intangible assets.

Integration

Concurrent with the acquisition, we implemented an integration plan which included the termination of some ATI employees, the relocation or transfer to other sites of other ATI employees and the closure of duplicate facilities. The costs associated with employee severance and relocation totaled approximately seven million. The costs associated with the closure of duplicate facilities totaled approximately one million. These costs were included as a component of net assets acquired. Additionally, the integration plan also included termination of some AMD employees, cancellation of some existing contractual obligations, and other costs to integrate the operations of the two companies. We incurred costs of approximately $28 million and $32 million for the years ended December 29, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, and they are included in the caption, “Amortization of acquired intangible assets and integration charges,” on our consolidated statements of operations.

2007 Impairment Analysis

In the fourth quarter of 2007, pursuant to our accounting policy, we performed the annual goodwill impairment analysis. As a result of this analysis, we concluded that the carrying amounts of goodwill assigned to our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments exceeded their implied fair values and recorded an impairment loss of approximately $1.3 billion, which is included in the caption “Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets” in our 2007 consolidated statement of operations. The impairment charge was determined by comparing the carrying value of goodwill assigned to specific reporting units within these segments as of October 1, 2007, with the implied fair value of the goodwill. We considered both the income and market approaches in determining the implied fair value of the goodwill, which requires estimates of future operating results and cash flows of each of the reporting units discounted using estimated discount rates ranging from 13.1 percent to 15.3 percent. The estimates of future operating results and cash flows were principally derived from our updated long-term financial forecast, which is developed as part of our strategic planning cycle conducted annually during the latter part of the third quarter. The decline in the implied fair value of the goodwill and resulting impairment charge was primarily driven by our updated long-term financial forecasts, which showed lower estimated near-term and longer-term profitability compared to estimates we developed at the time of the completion of the acquisition. This updated long-term financial forecast represents the best estimate that we have at this time and we believe that its underlying assumptions are reasonable. However, actual performance in the

 

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near-term and longer-term could be materially different from these forecasts, which could impact future estimates of fair value of our reporting units and may result in further impairment of goodwill.

The outcome of our goodwill impairment analysis also indicated that the carrying amount of certain acquisition-related intangible assets or asset groups may not be recoverable. Accordingly, we assessed the recoverability of the acquisition-related intangible assets or asset groups, as appropriate, by determining whether the unamortized balances could be recovered through their respective estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. We determined that certain of the acquisition-related developed product technology associated with our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments was impaired primarily due to the revised lower revenue forecasts associated with products incorporating such developed product technology. We measured the amount of impairment by calculating the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeded their estimated fair values, which were based on projected discounted future net cash flows. As a result of this impairment analysis, we recorded an impairment charge of $349 million, which is included in the caption “Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets” in our 2007 consolidated statements of operations. We also revised our estimate of the weighted average useful life of the developed product technology from 60 months to 50 months based on the revised cash flow forecasts.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts in our consolidated financial statements. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis, including those related to our revenues, inventories, asset impairments, goodwill, business combination, and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Although actual results have historically been reasonably consistent with management’s expectations, actual results may differ from these estimates or our estimates may be affected by different assumptions or conditions.

We believe the following critical accounting estimates are the most significant to the presentation of our financial statements and require the most difficult, subjective and complex judgments.

Revenue Reserves.    We record a provision for estimated sales returns and allowances on product sales for estimated future price reductions and other customer incentives in the same period that the related revenues are recorded. We base these estimates on actual historical sales returns, allowances, historical price reductions, market activity, and other known or anticipated trends and factors. These estimates are subject to management’s judgment, and actual provisions could be different from our estimates and current provisions, resulting in future adjustments to our revenues and operating results.

Inventory Valuation.    At each balance sheet date, we evaluate our ending inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence. This evaluation includes analysis of sales levels by product and projections of future demand. These projections assist us in determining the carrying value of our inventory and are also used for near-term factory production planning. Generally, inventories on hand in excess of forecasted demand for the next six months are not valued. In addition, we write off inventories that are considered obsolete. We adjust the remaining specific inventory balances to approximate the lower of our standard manufacturing cost or market value. Among other factors, management considers forecasted demand in relation to the inventory on hand, competitiveness of product offerings, market conditions and product life cycles when determining obsolescence and net realizable value. If, in any period, we anticipate future demand or market conditions to be less favorable than our previous estimates, additional inventory write-downs may be required and would be reflected in cost of sales in the period the revision is made. This would have a negative impact on our gross margin in that period. If in any period we are able to sell inventories that were not valued or that had been written off in a previous period, related revenues

 

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would be recorded without any offsetting charge to cost of sales, resulting in a net benefit to our gross margin in that period.

Business Combinations.    In accordance with business combination accounting, we have allocated the purchase price of ATI to tangible and acquisition related intangible assets acquired, including in-process research and development, and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. These valuations require us to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to acquisition related intangible assets.

We review the acquisition related intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recovered.

We made estimates of fair value of the ATI assets acquired and liabilities assumed using reasonable assumptions based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired company. Critical estimates in valuing certain of the acquisition related intangible assets included but were not limited to: future expected cash flows from the sale of products, expected costs to develop in-process research and development projects into commercially viable products and estimated cash flows from the projects when completed; the market’s awareness of the acquired company’s brand and the acquired company’s market position, as well as assumptions about the period of time the acquired brand will continue to be used in the combined company’s product portfolio and discount rates. Unanticipated events may occur which may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results as evidenced by the impairment charges we recorded with respect to goodwill and intangible assets resulting from the ATI acquisition.

Goodwill.    As a result of the ATI acquisition, we recorded goodwill on our books. In accordance with FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142), we are required to review goodwill for impairment at least annually or more often if there are indicators of impairment present. We perform our annual impairment analysis during the fourth quarter of each year. The provisions of SFAS 142 require that a two-step impairment test be performed on goodwill. In the first step, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit to which goodwill has been allocated to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is considered not impaired and we are not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then we must perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference.

Determining the number of reporting units and the fair value of a reporting unit requires us to make judgments and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, future economic and market conditions and determination of appropriate market comparables. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from those estimates. In addition, we make judgments and assumptions in allocating assets and liabilities to each of our reporting units.

As a result of the annual goodwill impairment analysis, we were required to recognize a $1.3 billion goodwill impairment charge in our 2007 statement of operations related to three of our reporting units in the Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments. The key assumptions used to determine the fair value of our reporting units included: (a) cash flow periods of 10 years; (b) terminal values based upon terminal growth rates ranging from 3.0 percent to 7.0 percent; and (c) discount rates ranging from 13.1 percent to 15.3 percent which were based on our weighted average cost of capital, adjusted for the risks associated with the operations. A variance in the discount rate could have had a significant impact on the amount of the goodwill impairment charge recorded. We cannot predict the occurrence of certain future events that might adversely affect the reported value of goodwill, which totaled $1.9 billion at December 29, 2007. Such events include, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the

 

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economic environment on our customer base, or a material negative change in our relationships with significant customers.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.    We consider quarterly whether indicators of impairment of long-lived assets are present. These indicators may include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of an asset and significant changes in the extent or manner in which an asset is used. If these or other indicators are present, we test for recoverability of the asset by determining whether the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets in question are less than their carrying value. If less, we recognize an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their respective fair values. Fair value is determined by discounted future cash flows, appraisals or other methods. Significant judgment is involved in estimating future cash flows and deriving the discount rate to apply to the estimated future cash flows and in evaluating the results of appraisals or other valuation methods. If the asset determined to be impaired is to be held and used, we recognize an impairment loss through a charge to our operating results which also reduces the carrying basis of the related asset. The new carrying value of the related asset is depreciated over the remaining estimated useful life of the asset. We also must make subjective judgments regarding the remaining useful life of the asset. We may incur additional impairment losses in future periods if factors influencing our estimates of the undiscounted cash flows change.

Income Taxes.    In determining taxable income for financial statement reporting purposes, we must make certain estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments are applied in the calculation of certain tax liabilities and in the determination of the recoverability of deferred tax assets, which arise from temporary differences between the recognition of assets and liabilities for tax and financial statement reporting purposes.

We must assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets. If recovery is not likely, we must increase our provision for taxes by recording a charge to income tax expense, in the form of a valuation allowance, for the deferred tax assets that we estimate will not ultimately be recoverable. We consider past performance, future expected taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in determining the need for a valuation allowance.

In addition, the calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax rules and the potential for future adjustment of our uncertain tax positions by the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing jurisdiction. If our estimates of these taxes are greater or less than actual results, an additional tax benefit or charge will result.

Results of Operations

We review and assess operating performance using segment net revenues and operating income (loss) before interest, other income (expense), equity in net loss of Spansion Inc. and other, income taxes and minority interest. These performance measures include the allocation of expenses to the operating segments based on management’s judgment.

Prior to December 21, 2005, we had the following three reportable segments:

 

   

the Computation Products segment, which included microprocessor products for desktop and mobile PCs, servers and workstations and AMD chipset products;

 

   

the Memory Products segment, which included Spansion Flash memory products; and

 

   

the Personal Connectivity Solutions segment, which included embedded processors for global commercial and consumer markets.

On December 21, 2005, Spansion completed its IPO. Following the IPO, our ownership interest in Spansion was reduced from 60 percent to approximately 38 percent of Spansion’s outstanding common stock. In

 

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November 2006, we sold 21 million shares of Spansion’s Class A common stock in an underwritten public offering. As a result of this sale, as of December 31, 2006 we owned approximately 21 percent of Spansion’s outstanding common stock. During 2007, we further reduced our interest in Spansion by selling approximately 14 million additional shares of Spansion’s Class A common stock, leaving us with approximately 14 million shares, or a 10.4 percent ownership interest in Spansion’s outstanding common stock as of December 29, 2007.

As a result of Spansion’s IPO, our financial results of operations included Spansion’s financial results of operations as a consolidated subsidiary through December 20, 2005. From December 21, 2005, Spansion’s operating results and financial position were not consolidated as part of our financial results. Instead, we applied the equity method of accounting to reflect our share of Spansion’s net loss from December 21, 2005 through September 20, 2007. Under the equity method of accounting, our share of Spansion’s net loss impacts our net income (loss). On September 20, 2007, we changed the accounting for our investment in Spansion from the equity method to accounting for this investment as “available-for-sale” marketable securities pursuant to FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity because we no longer had the ability to exercise significant influence over Spansion’s operations (see Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Effective September 20, 2007, we are required to mark the investment to its current market price and book an impairment charge to the investment through earnings if the loss related to the market price change is deemed to be other than temporary. Accordingly, our operating results for the years ended December 25, 2005, December 31, 2006, and December 29, 2007 related to our investment in Spansion are not fully comparable with each other.

Following Spansion’s IPO, from December 26, 2005 through October 24, 2006, we had two reportable segments:

 

   

the Computation Products segment, which included microprocessors, AMD chipsets and related revenue; and

 

   

the Embedded Products segment, which included embedded processors and related revenue.

As a result of the acquisition of ATI, effective October 25, 2006, we had the following four reportable segments:

 

   

the Computation Products segment, which included microprocessors, AMD chipsets and related revenue;

 

   

the Embedded Products segment, which included embedded processors and related revenue;

 

   

the Graphics and Chipsets segment, which included graphics, video and multimedia products and chipsets sold by ATI prior to the acquisition and related revenue; and

 

   

the Consumer Electronics segment, which included products used in handheld devices, digital televisions and other consumer electronics products as well as related revenue and revenue for royalties received in connection with sales of game console systems that incorporated our technology.

Starting in the first quarter of 2007, in conjunction with the integration of ATI’s operations into ours, we began reviewing and addressing operating performance using the following three reportable segments:

 

   

the Computing Solutions segment, which includes what was formerly the Computation Products segment and the Embedded Products segment, as well as revenue from sales of ATI chipsets;

 

   

the Graphics segment, which includes graphics, video and multimedia products and related revenue; and

 

   

the Consumer Electronics segment, which includes products used in handheld devices, digital televisions and other consumer electronics products, as well as revenue from royalties received in connection with sales of game console systems that incorporate our technology.

In addition to the reportable segments, we have an All Other category, which is not a reportable segment. This category includes certain expenses and credits that are not allocated to any of the operating segments

 

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because we do not consider these expenses and credits in evaluating the performance of the operating segments. Following the ATI acquisition, we began including employee stock-based compensation expense, profit sharing expense, ATI acquisition-related and integration charges and charges for goodwill and intangible asset impairment in the All Other category. Also, this category included the sale of Personal Internet Communicator (PIC) products from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006, when the manufacturing of PIC products ceased.

We use a 52- to 53-week fiscal year. Prior to December 31, 2006, our fiscal year ended on the last Sunday in December. Commencing in 2007, our fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December. The years ended December 29, 2007 and December 25, 2005 each included 52 weeks, and the year ended December 31, 2006 consisted of 53 weeks. References in this report to 2007, 2006 and 2005 shall refer to the fiscal year unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The following is a summary of our net revenue and operating income (loss) by segment for 2007, 2006 and 2005. Prior period segment information has been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

 

      2007     2006     2005  
     (In millions)  

Computing Solutions

      

Net revenue

   $ 4,702     $ 5,367     $ 3,929  

Operating income (loss)

     (670 )     680       586  

Graphics

      

Net revenue

     903       166       —    

Operating income (loss)

     (100 )     (27 )     —    

Consumer Electronics

      

Net revenue

     408       120       —    

Operating income (loss)

     (17 )     20       —    

Memory Products

      

Net revenue

     —         —         1,913  

Operating income (loss)

     —         —         (311 )

All Other

      

Net revenue

     —         (4 )     6  

Operating income (loss)

     (2,078 )     (720 )     (43 )

Total

      

Net revenue

     6,013       5,649       5,848  

Operating income (loss)

   $ (2,865 )   $ (47 )   $ 232  

Computing Solutions

Computing Solutions net revenue of $4.7 billion in 2007 decreased by $665 million or 12 percent compared to net revenue of $5.4 billion in 2006 despite the inclusion of revenue from the sale of ATI chipsets for the full fiscal year in 2007 as compared to only nine weeks in 2006. Net revenue decreased as a result of a 32 percent decrease in average selling prices of products included in our Computing Solutions segment, partially offset by a 30 percent increase in unit shipments. The decrease in average selling prices was primarily caused by a decrease in the average selling prices of our microprocessor products. Microprocessor average selling prices decreased due to both competitive market conditions and a higher concentration of sales of processors for desktop and notebook PCs in 2007, which generally carry lower average selling prices than our processors for servers. In particular, our competitor first offered quad-core multi-chip module processors for servers and desktop PCs in November 2006, and these products were available throughout 2007. We first introduced our quad-core products for servers in August 2007 and for desktop PCs in November 2007. However, we did not achieve significant volume shipments of these products in 2007, and sales of these products did not significantly contribute to 2007

 

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revenue. In light of the timing of our quad-core product introductions and their lack of broad availability during 2007, we discounted the selling price of certain competing processor products. Unit shipments increased primarily due to the inclusion of ATI chipset sales, which accounted for 76 percent of the increase, and increased customer demand for our microprocessors for notebook PCs, which accounted for 24 percent of the increase. However, we did achieve record unit shipments in 2007 with respect to our microprocessor products.

Computing Solutions net revenue of $5.4 billion in 2006 increased $1.5 billion or 38 percent compared to net revenue of $3.9 billion in 2005. Although 2006 included revenue from sales of ATI chipsets from October 25, 2006 through December 31, 2006, it was not material. Net revenue increased as a result of a 39 percent increase in unit shipments of products included in our Computing Solutions segment. The increase in unit shipments in 2006 was caused primarily by an increase in unit shipments of our microprocessor products due to increased demand for processors in each of the desktop, server and mobile categories. However, we believe that the challenge we experienced with the ability of our supply chain to keep up with the increased demand across a diverse set of customers and geographies and to deliver products on a timely basis in the second half of 2006 had an adverse impact on microprocessor unit shipments. Moreover, despite a richer product mix in 2006, average selling prices remained relatively flat in 2006 as compared to 2005. Higher microprocessor average selling prices in the first half of 2006 were offset by lower microprocessor average selling prices in the second half of 2006 due to competitive market conditions. Specifically, in the second half of 2006 aggressive pricing by our principal competitor in an attempt to regain market share adversely impacted our microprocessor average selling prices. Our competitor also launched its quad-core multi-chip module processors in November 2006, and since we did not offer quad-core products during this period, we discounted the selling price of certain of our competing products during the fourth quarter, which adversely impacted our microprocessor average selling prices, margins and profitability.

Computing Solutions operating loss was $670 million in 2007 compared to operating income of $680 million in 2006. The operating loss was primarily due to the $665 million decrease in revenue described above, a $307 million increase in manufacturing expenses, a $309 million increase in research and development expenses and a $69 million increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses. Research and development expenses and marketing, general and administrative expenses increased for the reasons set forth under “Expenses,” below. Manufacturing expenses increased primarily due to increased volumes of microprocessors, a shift to higher-end microprocessors and the inclusion of ATI’s chipset business in the Computing Solutions segment for a full year in 2007, as opposed to only nine weeks in 2006.

Computing Solutions operating income of $680 million in 2006 increased by $94 million, or 16 percent, compared to operating income of $586 million in 2005. This increase was primarily due to a 38 percent increase in net revenue, partially offset by an increase in manufacturing expenses of $856 million, an increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses of $265 million and an increase in research and development expenses of $219 million. Manufacturing expenses increased primarily to support higher sales volume. Research and development expenses and marketing, general and administrative expenses increased for the reasons set forth under “Expenses,” below.

Graphics

Graphics net revenue and operating loss in 2007 were $903 million and $100 million, respectively. Graphics net revenue and operating loss for the period of October 25, 2006 through December 31, 2006 were $166 million and $27 million, respectively. The increases in revenue and operating losses were due to the inclusion of the operations attributable to the Graphics segment for the full year in 2007 compared to only nine weeks in 2006. We did not sell comparable products prior to the ATI acquisition. Graphics net revenue in the second half of 2007 increased 30 percent over the first half of 2007 due to the successful introduction of new products. From the first half of 2007 to the second half of 2007 unit shipments increased by 19 percent and average selling prices increased by 9 percent. The improvement in net revenue was the primary driver that significantly narrowed the operating loss from the first half of 2007 to the second half of 2007. We did not sell comparable products prior to the ATI acquisition.

 

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Consumer Electronics

Consumer Electronics net revenue and operating loss in 2007 were $408 million and $17 million, respectively. Consumer Electronics net revenue and operating income for the period from October 25, 2006 through December 31, 2006 were $120 million and $20 million, respectively. The increase in revenue was due to the inclusion of operations attributable to the Consumer Electronics segment for the full year in 2007 compared to only nine weeks in 2006. The 2007 operating loss resulted primarily from significantly lower unit shipments in the second quarter of 2007 due to decreased demand from a key OEM customer. This demand recovered moderately during the remainder of the year. Consumer Electronics net revenue was flat in the second half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2007. A decrease in revenue from sales of products used in handheld devices was offset by an increase in revenue from royalties on game consoles. Due to the seasonal increase in royalties on game consoles in the second half of 2007, the operating loss for the first half of 2007 improved slightly to an operating profit for the second half of 2007. We did not sell comparable products prior to the ATI acquisition.

Memory Products

As a result of Spansion’s IPO in December 2005, we stopped manufacturing and selling memory products. Therefore, we did not have a Memory Products segment in 2006 and 2007.

All Other Category

We did not have any net revenue for the All Other category in 2007. All Other net revenue in 2006 decreased by $10 million from 2005, primarily because we had minimal revenue from sales of PIC products and customers returned previously sold PIC products. Effective as of the third quarter of 2006, we ceased production of PIC products.

All Other operating loss of $2.1 billion in 2007 increased by $1.4 billion compared to an operating loss of $720 million in 2006. The increase in operating loss was primarily attributable to ATI acquisition-related impairment charges of $1.6 billion, which included a goodwill write-down of $1.3 billion and a write-down of specific intangible assets of $349 million and an increase of $224 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets, partially offset by a decrease in ATI integration charges of $453 million. Integration charges in 2006 included $416 million in expenses for acquired in-process research and development, which did not recur in 2007. See Part II, Item 7 “MD&A—ATI Acquisition.”

All Other operating loss of $720 million in 2006 increased by $677 million compared to an operating loss of $43 million in 2005. The increase in operating loss was primarily attributable to ATI acquisition-related charges of $557 million and an increase in employee stock-based compensation expense and profit sharing expense of $104 million. ATI acquisition-related charges included an in-process research and development write-off of $416 million, amortization of acquired intangible assets of $47 million, cost of fair value adjustments to acquired inventory of $62 million and a $32 million charge associated with the integration of ATI’s operations, which included termination of some AMD employees, cancellation of some existing contractual obligations and other costs that we incurred to integrate the operations of the two companies.

 

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Comparison of Gross Margin, Interest Income, Interest Expense, Other Income (Expense), Net, Income Taxes and Other Expenses

The following is a summary of certain consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 29, 2007, December 31, 2006, and December 25, 2005:

 

          2007             2006             2005      
     (In millions except for percentages)  

Cost of sales

   $ 3,751     $ 2,856     $ 3,456  

Gross margin

     2,262       2,793       2,392  

Gross margin percentage

     38 %     49 %     41 %

Gross margin percentage excluding Memory Products

     38 %     49 %     56 %

Research and development

   $ 1,847     $ 1,205     $ 1,144  

Marketing, general and administrative

     1,373       1,140       1,016  

In-process research and development

     —         416       —    

Amortization of acquired intangible assets and integration charges

     299       79       —    

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets

     1,608       —         —    

Interest income

     73       116       37  

Interest expense

     (367 )     (126 )     (105 )

Other income (expense), net

     (7 )     (13 )     (24 )

Equity in net loss of Spansion Inc. and other

     (155 )     (45 )     (107 )

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     23       23       (7 )

Gross Margin

Gross margin decreased to 38 percent in 2007 compared to 49 percent in 2006 primarily due to significantly lower average selling prices for our microprocessor products in 2007 compared to 2006. Gross margin percentage in the first half of 2007 was also negatively impacted by higher manufacturing unit costs for our microprocessor products due to a shift in our product mix to higher-end microprocessors and increased depreciation expenses associated with the expansion of Fab 36. However, manufacturing efficiencies, improved inventory management, and a richer product mix in the second half of 2007 offset the unfavorable impact in the first half of 2007. On an annual basis, the inclusion of ATI’s lower margin operations in our consolidated operations adversely impacted our gross margins by approximately two percentage points.

Gross margin increased to 49 percent in 2006 compared to 41 percent in 2005 because we did not consolidate Spansion’s results of operations, which historically had lower margins, with ours in 2006. Gross margin decreased to 49 percent in 2006 compared to gross margin, excluding the Memory Products segment, of 56 percent in 2005. Higher gross margins in the first half of 2006 were more than offset by lower gross margins in the second half of 2006. This decrease in gross margin was primarily due to increased manufacturing unit costs and flat average selling prices due to competitive market conditions in the second half of 2006. The increase in manufacturing unit costs was primarily due to a shift in our product mix to higher-end microprocessor products. In addition, consolidated gross margin was adversely impacted by approximately two percentage points due to the consolidation of ATI’s operations into ours from October 25, 2006 through December 31, 2006. Gross margin was also adversely impacted by approximately one percentage point due to the costs of fair value adjustments related to the inventory we acquired through the ATI acquisition.

We record grants and allowances that we receive from the State of Saxony and the Federal Republic of Germany for Fab 30 or Fab 36 as long-term liabilities on our consolidated financial statements. We amortize these amounts as they are earned as a reduction to operating expenses. We record the amortization of the production related grants and allowances as a credit to cost of sales. The credit to cost of sales totaled $138 million in 2007, $116 million in 2006, and $72 million in 2005. The fluctuations in the recognition of these credits have not significantly impacted our gross margins.

 

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Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased $642 million, or 53 percent, from $1.2 billion in 2006 to $1.8 billion in 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to: a $309 million increase in research and development expenses attributable to our Computing Solutions segment, a $186 million increase in research and development expenses attributable to our Graphics segment and a $149 million increase in research and development expenses attributable to our Consumer Electronics segment. Research and development expenses attributable to our Computing Solutions segment increased due primarily to higher product design costs for our next generation microprocessor products. In addition, research and development expenses attributable to ATI’s chipset business were included for the full year in 2007 compared to only nine weeks in 2006. Research and development expenses attributable to our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments increased primarily due to the inclusion of operations related to these segments for the full fiscal year in 2007 compared to nine weeks in 2006.

Research and development expenses increased $61 million, or 5 percent, from $1.1 billion in 2005 to $1.2 billion in 2006. This increase was primarily attributable to: a $219 million increase in research and development expenses attributable to our Computing Solutions segment primarily due to an increase in silicon design, platform and product development costs for our microprocessor products partially offset by a $10 million lower corporate bonus expense, increases of $42 million and $31 million, respectively due to the consolidation of research and development expenses attributable to our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments from October 25, 2006 through December 31, 2006, and a $51 million increase in stock-based compensation and profit sharing expenses. Fiscal 2006 research and development expenses were partially offset by the absence of research and development expenses related to Spansion’s operations because we did not consolidate Spansion’s results of operations into ours in 2006. In 2005, research and development expenses attributable to our Memory Products segment were $290 million.

From time to time, we also apply for and obtain subsidies from the State of Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union for certain research and development projects. We record the amortization of the research and development related grants and allowances, as well as the research and development subsidies, as a reduction of research and development expenses when all conditions and requirements set forth in the subsidy grant are met. The credit to research and development expenses totaled $30 million in 2007, $27 million in 2006, and $44 million in 2005.

Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses

Marketing, general and administrative expenses increased $233 million, or 20 percent, from $1.1 billion in 2006 to $1.4 billion in 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to: a $69 million increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Computing Solutions segment, a $106 million increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Graphics segment, a $45 million increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Consumer Electronics segment, and an $11 million increase in severance charges for workforce reductions. Marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Computing Solutions segment increased due to expansion of marketing programs for our microprocessor products, increased legal expenses and additional investments in information technology, partially offset by a nine million reduction in corporate bonus expense. Marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments increased primarily due to the inclusion of the operations related to these segments for the full fiscal year in 2007 compared to nine weeks in 2006.

Marketing, general and administrative expenses increased $124 million, or 12 percent, from one billion in 2005 to $1.1 billion in 2006. This increase was primarily attributable to a $265 million increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Computing Solutions segment primarily due to: a $215 million increase in marketing, branding and cooperative advertising costs for our microprocessor products,

 

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partially offset by $18 million lower corporate bonus expense, increases of $20 million and eight million, respectively, due to the consolidation of marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Graphics and Consumer Electronics segments from October 25, 2006 to December 31, 2006, and a $44 million increase in stock-based compensation and profit sharing expenses. The increase in marketing, general and administrative expenses were partially offset by the absence of marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to Spansion’s operations because we did not consolidate Spansion’s results of operations into ours in 2006. In 2005, marketing, general and administrative expenses attributable to our Memory Products segment were $208 million.

In-process research and development, amortization of acquired intangible assets and integration charges, and impairment to goodwill and acquired intangible assets.

Amortization of acquired intangible assets and integration charges in 2007 included amortization of $271 million and integration charges of $28 million. During 2007, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.6 billion associated with our goodwill and acquired intangible assets. See Part II, Item 7 “MD&A—“ATI Acquisition.”

In-process research and development charges of $416 million in 2006 related to projects acquired in connection with the acquisition of ATI. Amortization of acquired intangible assets and integration charges in 2006 included amortization of $47 million and integration charges of $32 million. See Part II, Item 7 “MD&A—“ATI Acquisition.”

Effects of 2002 Restructuring Plan

In December 2002, we began implementing a restructuring plan (the 2002 Restructuring Plan) to further align our cost structure to industry conditions resulting from weak customer demand and industry-wide excess inventory.

The 2002 Restructuring Plan resulted in the consolidation of facilities, primarily at our Sunnyvale, California site and at sales offices worldwide. We vacated and are attempting to sublease certain facilities that we currently occupy under long-term operating leases through 2011. At December 29, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we had approximately $50 million and $67 million of related vacated facility lease accruals recorded which will continue to be paid through 2011.

Interest Income

Interest income of $73 million in 2007 decreased $43 million from $116 million in 2006, primarily due to lower average cash and marketable securities balances in 2007 compared to 2006, partially offset by a 7 percent increase in weighted-average interest rates in 2007 compared to 2006.

Interest income of $116 million in 2006 increased from $37 million in 2005, primarily due to an increase in average cash and marketable securities during 2006 compared to 2005 and a 54 percent increase in weighted-average interest rates.

Interest Expense

 

      2007     2006     2005  
     (In millions)  

Total interest charges

   $ 390     $ 136     $ 140  

Less: interest capitalized

     (23 )     (10 )     (35 )

Interest expense

   $ 367     $ 126     $ 105  

 

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Interest expense of $367 million in 2007 increased $241 million from $126 million in 2006 primarily due to increased outstanding indebtedness as follows:

 

   

Interest expense incurred on our 6.00% Notes issued in April 2007 and our 5.75% Notes issued in August 2007, which were not outstanding in 2006, was $93 million and $35 million, respectively;

 

   

Interest expense incurred on the Fab 36 Term Loan increased by $61 million because we incurred a full year of interest expense in 2007 as opposed to approximately 11 weeks in 2006;

 

   

Interest expense incurred on the October 2006 Term Loan increased by $56 million because we incurred interest expense through August 2007, or almost three full quarters in 2007, as opposed to only nine weeks of interest expense in 2006; and

 

   

Interest expense incurred on capital lease payments was approximately $11 million higher in 2007 due to increased assets acquired under capital leases.

These increases were offset by the following reductions in interest expense:

 

   

Capitalized interest expense, which was primarily related to the continuing expansion of Fab 36, was two million higher in 2007 compared to 2006; and

 

   

Capitalized interest expense in connection with new projects in 2007, including construction of our new campus in Austin, Texas of six million and the Fab 38 facility in Dresden, Germany of five million.

Interest expense of $126 million in 2006 increased $21 million from $105 million in 2005 primarily for the following reasons:

 

   

Interest expense incurred on the October 2006 Term Loan and the Fab 36 Term Loan was $38 million and $10 million. These loans were not outstanding in 2005;

 

   

Interest expense incurred on capital lease payments was approximately $11 million higher in 2006 due to increased assets acquired under capital leases; and

 

   

Capitalized interest expense, which was primarily related to Fab 36, was $25 million lower in 2006 compared to 2005.

These factors were offset by the following factors:

 

   

During 2006 we did not consolidate Spansion’s results of operations, and therefore interest expense on Spansion’s third-party debt, which was $24 million for 2005, was not included in 2006;

 

   

Interest expense incurred on our 4.75% Debentures decreased by $21 million in 2006 compared to 2005 because holders of the 4.75% Debentures converted their debentures into shares of our common stock during the first quarter of 2006, whereas during 2005, $500 million of the aggregate principal amount of our 4.75% Debentures was outstanding; and

 

   

Interest expense incurred on our 7.75% Notes decreased by $13 million because we redeemed $210 million of the aggregate principal amount outstanding during the first quarter of 2006.

In September 2007, the FASB exposed for comment a proposed FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. APB 14-a, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (including partial cash settlement). This proposed FSP would change the accounting for certain convertible debt instruments, including our 6.00% Notes. Under the proposed new rules, for convertible debt instruments that may be settled entirely or partially in cash upon conversion, an entity should separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. The effect of the proposed new rules for our 6.00% Notes is that the equity component would be included in the paid-in-capital portion of stockholders’ equity on our balance sheet and the value of the equity component would be treated as an original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component of the 6.00% Notes. Higher interest

 

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expense would result by recognizing accretion of the discounted carrying value of the 6.00% Notes to their face amount as interest expense over the term of the 6.00% Notes. If issued as proposed, the final FSP would provide final guidance effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, would not permit early application, and would be applied retrospectively to all periods presented.

In November 2007, the FASB announced that it expected to begin its redeliberations of the proposed FSP in January 2008. Therefore, it is highly unlikely the proposed effective date for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007 will be retained.

We cannot predict the exact accounting treatment that will be imposed (which may differ from the foregoing description) or when any change will be finally implemented. However, if the final FSP is issued as exposed, we expect to have higher interest expense starting in the period of adoption due to the interest expense accretion and, if the retrospective application provisions of the proposed FSP are retained in the final FSP, the prior period interest expense associated with the 6.00% Notes would be higher than previously reported due to the retrospective application.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net, of an expense of seven million in 2007 decreased six million from an expense of $13 million in 2006 primarily due to a gain of $19 million on the sale of vacant land in Sunnyvale, California in 2007 and six million less in finance charges related to the Fab 36 Term Loan as compared to 2006. This decrease was offset by a non-recurring gain of $10 million associated with Spansion LLC’s repurchase of its 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 in 2006, a higher net charge of two million in 2007 due to charges for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs incurred in connection with our repayment of the October 2006 Term Loan and a reduction of seven million in other income due primarily to impairment charges on an investment recorded in 2007.

Other income (expense), net, of an expense of $13 million in 2006 decreased by $11 million as compared with an expense of $24 million in 2005 primarily due to: a non-recurring loss of approximately $10 million during the fourth quarter of 2005 resulting from the mark-to-market to earnings of certain foreign currency forward contracts which became ineffective in hedging against certain forecasted foreign currency transactions; a gain of $10 million associated with Spansion LLC’s repurchase of its 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 in 2006; an increase in other income of nine million primarily related to a gain on an investment and lower finance charges related to the Fab 36 Term Loan of two million in 2006 as compared to 2005. The decrease was offset by a charge of $16 million related to a debt redemption premium and a charge of four million related to unamortized issuance costs incurred in connection with our redemption of 35 percent of the principal outstanding amount, or $210 million, of our 7.75% Notes in 2006.

Equity in net loss of Spansion Inc. and other

Prior to Spansion’s IPO, we held a 60 percent controlling ownership interest in Spansion. Consequently, Spansion’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows through December 20, 2005 were included in our consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. Following the IPO, our ownership interest was diluted from 60 percent to approximately 38 percent, and we no longer exercised control over Spansion’s operations. Therefore, starting from December 21, 2005, we used the equity method of accounting to account for our investment in Spansion. In connection with the reduction in our ownership interest in Spansion, we recorded a loss of $110 million in 2005, which represents the difference between Spansion’s book value per share before and after the IPO multiplied by the number of shares we owned. In addition, in 2005 we also wrote off approximately $16 million in goodwill which was originally recorded in June 30, 2003 as a result of the formation of Spansion LLC.

In November 2006, we sold 21,000,000 shares of Spansion Class A common stock in an underwritten public offering. We received $278 million in net proceeds from the offering and realized a gain of six million from the

 

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sale. After the offering, we owned approximately 21 percent of Spansion’s outstanding common stock. We continued to use the equity method of accounting to account for our investment in Spansion.

During the first quarter of 2007, we sold 984,799 shares of Spansion Class A common stock. We received $13 million in net proceeds from the sales and realized a gain of $0.6 million. In July 2007, we sold 12,506,694 additional shares of Spansion Class A common stock. We received $144 million in net proceeds from these sales and realized a loss of two million. We continued to use the equity method of accounting to account for our investment in Spansion because, for accounting purposes, we were deemed to continue to have the ability to exercise significant influence over Spansion.

On September 20, 2007, Dr. Ruiz, our Chief Executive Officer, resigned as Chairman of Spansion’s Board of Directors. We also transferred our one share of Class B common stock to Spansion and, accordingly, relinquished the right to appoint a director to Spansion’s Board of Directors. Therefore, we changed our accounting for our investment from the equity method of accounting to accounting for this investment as “available-for-sale” marketable securities.

After giving consideration to Spansion’s operating results, its stock price changes in the preceding six months, and our intention to liquidate our investment, we concluded that this investment was other than temporarily impaired as of September 29, 2007 and again as of December 29, 2007. Therefore, we recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges of $111 million in 2007, reflecting a write-down of this investment to its fair market value of $56 million.

As of December 29, 2007, we owned a total of 14,037,910 shares, or approximately 10.4 percent, of Spansion’s outstanding common stock. The $56 million carrying value of this investment is included in the caption “Marketable Securities” on our consolidated balance sheet dated December 29, 2007. To the extent that the fair value of our investment in Spansion changes in the future due to fluctuations in Spansion’s common stock price, we would record either an unrealized loss or an unrealized gain within “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” a component of stockholders’ equity on our balance sheet. Should we sell our shares of Spansion in the future, we would record either a realized loss or a realized gain. In addition, to the extent that we conclude that any unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, we would record further impairment charges through earnings.

Income Taxes

We recorded an income tax provision of $23 million in each of 2007 and 2006 and a tax provision benefit of seven million in 2005. The income tax provision in 2007 primarily resulted from current foreign taxes reduced by the reversal of deferred U.S. taxes related to indefinite-lived goodwill, resulting from the goodwill impairment charge we recorded during the year, and recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits for tax holidays. The income tax provision in 2006 primarily results from current foreign taxes, plus deferred U.S. taxes related to indefinite-lived goodwill, and reduced by deferred foreign benefits from removing part of the valuation allowance on German net operating loss carryovers of Fab 36. The income tax benefit in 2005 primarily reflects U.S. tax benefits realized from the utilization of net operating losses and tax credits and foreign tax benefits generated by Spansion in certain foreign jurisdictions. Spansion’s IPO did not have a material impact on our tax provision.

As of December 29, 2007 substantially all of our U.S. and foreign deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities, continue to be subject to a valuation allowance. The realization of these assets is dependent on substantial future taxable income which, at December 29, 2007 in management’s estimate, is not more likely than not to be achieved.

Our gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased by less than one million during the year ended December 29, 2007. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that will affect the effective tax rate decreased by nine million

 

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during the year ended December 29, 2007, primarily due to the receipt of a retroactive tax holiday during the fourth quarter of the current year.

Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits decreased by a net $12 million and a net two million, respectively, for the year ended December 29, 2007. Substantially all of the net reduction in interest and penalties occurred in the third quarter of 2007 and was primarily due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in certain foreign jurisdictions.

During the 12 months beginning December 30, 2007, we expect to reduce our unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $43 million primarily from the expiration of certain statutes of limitation and audit resolutions. We do not believe it is reasonably possible that other unrecognized tax benefits will materially change in the next 12 months. However, the resolution of and/or closure on open audits is highly uncertain.

As of December 29, 2007, the Canadian Revenue Agency, or CRA, is auditing ATI for the years 2000—2004. The audit has been completed and currently is in the review process. As of December 29, 2007, we were not under audit by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. However, an IRS audit of AMD’s tax years 2004 and 2005 is scheduled to commence in March 2008. AMD and its subsidiaries have several foreign, foreign provincial, and U.S. state audits in process at any one point in time. We have provided for uncertain tax positions that require a FIN 48 liability.

As a result of the application of FIN 48, we have recognized $61 million of current and long-term deferred tax assets, previously under a valuation allowance, with $61 million of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 29, 2007.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation Expense

On December 26, 2005, we adopted FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options and employee stock purchases related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, based on estimated fair values. We adopted SFAS 123R using the modified prospective transition method. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, we recognized stock-based compensation expense in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Upon adoption of SFAS 123R, we changed our method of attributing the value of stock-based compensation expense from the multiple-option (i.e. accelerated) approach to the single option (i.e. straight-line) method. Also, upon adoption of SFAS 123R, we changed the method of valuing stock option awards from the Black-Scholes-Merton (Black-Scholes) option pricing model, which was previously used for our pro forma information disclosures of stock-based compensation expense as required under FASB Statement No. 123, Stock Based Compensation (SFAS 123) to a lattice-binomial option-pricing model. The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and employee stock purchases pursuant to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan under SFAS 123R for the years ended December 29, 2007 and December 31, 2006, which we recorded in our consolidated results of operations as follows:

 

     

Year Ended

December 29,
2007

  

Year Ended

December 31,
2006

     
     ( In millions)

Stock-based compensation included as a component of:

     

Cost of sales

   $ 11    $ 8

Research and development

     53      30

Marketing, general, and administrative

     49      39

Total stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and employee stock purchases

     113      77

Tax benefit

     —        —  

Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and employee stock purchases, net of tax

   $ 113    $ 77

We recognized minimal stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 25, 2005.

In anticipation of the adoption of SFAS 123R, beginning in the first quarter of 2006 we changed the quantity and type of instrument we primarily use in stock-based payment programs for our employees by shifting to granting more restricted stock units. Restricted stock units are awards that obligate us to issue a specific number of shares of our common stock if the vesting terms and conditions are satisfied. Restricted stock units based on continued service generally vest over three to four years from the date of grant. Restricted stock units based solely on performance conditions generally do not vest for at least one year from the date of grant. Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, all employees below the level of vice president receive restricted stock units and employees at the vice president level and above receive grants of restricted stock units and stock options. As of December 29, 2007, we had $39 million of total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to stock options that will be recognized over the weighted average period of 1.45 years. Also, as of December 29, 2007, we had $114 million of total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to restricted stock and restricted stock units that will be recognized over the weighted average period of 2.15 years. For additional information on stock-based compensation expense, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements.

On April 27, 2005, we accelerated the vesting of all stock options outstanding under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and our prior equity compensation plans that had exercise prices per share higher than the closing price of our stock on April 27, 2005, which was $14.51. Options to purchase approximately 12 million shares of

 

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our common stock became exercisable immediately. Options held by non-employee directors were not included in the vesting acceleration.

The primary purpose for accelerating the vesting was to eliminate future compensation expense we would otherwise recognize in our statement of operations with respect to these accelerated options upon the adoption of SFAS 123R. The acceleration of the vesting of these options did not result in a charge because such options were out of the money.

On December 15, 2005, we accelerated the vesting of all outstanding AMD stock options and restricted stock units held by Spansion employees that would otherwise have vested from December 16, 2005 to December 31, 2006. In connection with the modification of the terms of these options to accelerate their vesting, we recorded $1.2 million as non-cash compensation expense on a pro forma basis in accordance with SFAS 123, and this amount was included in the pro forma stock compensation expense for the year ended December 25, 2005.

The primary purpose for accelerating the vesting of these awards was to minimize future compensation expense that we and Spansion would otherwise have been required to recognize in Spansion’s and our respective statements of operations with respect to these awards. If we had not accelerated the vesting of these awards, they would have been subject to variable accounting in accordance with the guidance provided in EITF Issue No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling Goods or Service and EITF Issue No. 00-12, Accounting by an Investor for Stock-Based Compensation Granted to Employees of an Equity Method Investee. This accounting treatment would have applied because following Spansion’s IPO, we no longer consolidated Spansion’s results of operations in our financial statements. Accordingly, Spansion employees were no longer considered our employees. Under variable fair value accounting, we would have been required to re-measure the fair value of unvested stock-based awards of our common stock held by Spansion employees after Spansion’s IPO at the end of each accounting period until such awards were fully vested.

In connection with the acceleration of the vesting of these awards, we recorded a compensation charge in the fourth quarter of 2005 of $1.5 million, which was based on the estimated forfeiture rate of 7.94 percent. The actual forfeitures for 2006 were not materially different from the estimate used.

International Sales

International sales as a percent of net revenue were 87 percent in 2007, 75 percent in 2006 and 79 percent in 2005. The increase in international sales from 2006 to 2007 was attributable to the inclusion of sales of our graphics and chipsets products to contract manufacturers and add-in-board manufacturers based outside the United States, principally in China and Taiwan, for the full year in 2007 compared to nine weeks in 2006. In 2007 and 2006, primarily all of our net revenue was denominated in U.S. dollars. During 2005, approximately 14 percent of our net revenue was denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Japanese yen.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at December 29, 2007 totaled $1.9 billion and our debt and capital lease obligations totaled $5.3 billion.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $310 million in 2007. Our net loss of $3.4 billion was adjusted for non-cash charges consisting primarily of $1.6 billion of goodwill and acquisition-related intangible impairment charges, $1.3 billion of depreciation and amortization expense, $154 million of other-than-temporary impairment charges on our investment in Spansion stock and $112 million of stock-based compensation expense.

 

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These charges were partially offset by amortization to income of foreign grants and subsidies of $167 million. The net changes in our operating assets at December 29, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006 included a decrease of $503 million in accounts receivable partially offset by a decrease of $321 million in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and an increase of $134 million in prepaid and other current assets. Our accounts receivable balance decreased due to greater efficiency in management and collection of accounts receivables. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities decreased due to the timing of payments partially offset by increases in accrued interest and accruals for technology license payment obligations. The increase in prepaid and other assets was driven by increases in receivables for foreign grants and subsidies, purchases of technology licenses and an increase in prepaid insurance.

Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $1.3 billion in 2006. Our net loss of $166 million was adjusted for non-cash charges consisting primarily of $837 million of depreciation and amortization expense, $416 million for the write-off of in-process research and development expenses related to the ATI acquisition, stock-based compensation expense of $77 million, and $45 million related to an equity interest in the net loss of Spansion. These charges were partially offset by amortization of foreign grants and subsidies of $151 million. The net changes in our operating assets at December 31, 2006 compared to December 25, 2005 included an increase of $530 million in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in payables to related parties of $229 million and an increase of $175 million in other assets. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities was primarily related to higher purchases of raw materials, technology license payment obligations, and marketing accruals due to increased operations in the Computing Solutions segment. The decrease in payables to related parties is a result of our no longer shipping products and invoicing customers on behalf of Spansion after the second quarter of 2006. Prior to the second quarter of 2006, we shipped products to and invoiced Spansion’s customers in our name on behalf of Spansion and remitted the receipts to Spansion. The increase in other assets was primarily due to purchases of new technology licenses.

Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $1.5 billion in 2005. Our net income of $165 million was adjusted for non-cash charges consisting primarily of $1.2 billion of depreciation and amortization expense, a non-cash charge of approximately $110 million that we incurred as a result of the dilution of our ownership in Spansion from 60 percent to approximately 38 percent in conjunction with Spansion’s IPO, and a non-cash charge of $16 million in connection with our write-off of goodwill that was generated as of June 30, 2003 as a result of the formation of Spansion LLC on June 30, 2003. These charges were partially offset by minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries of $125 million and amortization of foreign grants and subsidies of $110 million. The net changes in our operating assets at December 31, 2005 compared to December 25, 2004 included increases of $313 million in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and $206 million in payables to related parties, partially offset by a $276 million increase in accounts receivable. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities was primarily attributable to the purchase of Fab 36 equipment. The increases in payables to related parties resulted from the separation of our operations from Spansion and the subsequent arrangement to ship and invoice customers on behalf of Spansion and remit the receipts to Spansion. The increase in accounts receivable was primarily due to the deconsolidation of Spansion’s results of operations from ours as a result of Spansion’s IPO.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $1.7 billion in 2007. We used $1.7 billion to purchase property, plant and equipment, including approximately $691 million to purchase equipment for Fab 36. We also purchased $545 million in available-for-sale securities. This was offset by $307 million in proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities, $157 million in proceeds from sales of Spansion shares, $73 million from sales of assets, including excess land in Sunnyvale, California and 200-millimeter wafer fabrication equipment and $18 million in other investing activities, consisting primarily of buyer deposits on assets to be sold.

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $4.3 billion in 2006. We used $3.9 billion, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired, to acquire ATI, and $1.9 billion to purchase property, plant and equipment,

 

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including approximately $987 million to purchase equipment for Fab 36. This was partially offset by a net cash inflow of $947 million from sales and maturities of available for sale securities, $278 million from sales of Spansion shares, and $175 million of proceeds from Spansion’s repurchase of its 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $2.3 billion in 2005. We used $1.5 billion to purchase property, plant and equipment, including approximately $726 million to construct and equip Fab 36. We also purchased a net amount of $885 million in available-for-sale securities, including a purchase of $175 million aggregate principal amount of Spansion’s 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes for approximately $159 million. We received $261 million in proceeds from Spansion’s repayment of amounts outstanding under promissory notes to us, partially offset by a decrease of $133 million in cash due to the deconsolidation of Spansion’s results of operations from ours.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $2.0 billion in 2007 and consisted primarily of proceeds of: $2.2 billion from the issuance and sale of our 6.00% Notes during the second quarter of 2007; $1.5 billion from the issuance and sale of our 5.75% Notes during the third quarter of 2007; $608 million from the sale of our common stock to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company in the fourth quarter of 2007; $78 million from the sale of stock under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the exercise of employee stock options; and $223 million of capital investment grants and allowances received from the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony, chiefly for the Fab 36 project. These proceeds were partially offset by the $2.2 billion repayment of our October 2006 Term Loan, a payment of $182 million for the purchase of a capped call in connection with the issuance of our 6.00% Notes and a payment of $46 million for our mandatory repurchase of silent partner contributions from our unaffiliated partners in AMD Fab 36 KG.

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $3.8 billion in 2006, and consisted primarily of proceeds of: $3.4 billion from borrowings under the October 2006 Term Loan and the Fab 36 Term Loan; proceeds of $495 million from the sale of our common stock in an equity offering; $231 million from the sale of stock under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the exercise of employee stock options; and capital investment grants and allowances from the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony for the Fab 36 project of $210 million. These amounts were offset by $539 million in payments on debt and capital lease obligations, primarily due to our redemption of 35 percent of the aggregate principal amount outstanding (or $210 million) of our 7.75% Notes, and $284 million to repay a portion of the amount outstanding under the October 2006 Term Loan. During 2006, we did not realize any excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation. Therefore, we did not record any related financing cash flow.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $494 million in 2005. This amount included $186 million in proceeds from borrowings by Spansion and $60 million of silent partnership contributions from the unaffiliated partners of AMD Fab 36 KG, which we classify as debt, approximately $90 million in investments from these unaffiliated partners, $189 million in proceeds from the sale of stock under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the exercise of stock options; and capital investment grants and allowances from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Free State of Saxony for the Fab 36 project of $163 million and $129 million of proceeds from equipment sale and leaseback transactions completed by Spansion. These amounts were offset by $316 million in payments on debt and capital lease obligations.

Liquidity

We believe that our current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balances at December 29, 2007, anticipated cash flows from operations and available external financing will be sufficient to fund our operations and capital investments in the next twelve months and over the longer term, including the approximately $1.1 billion we plan to spend for capital expenditures during fiscal 2008. Should additional funding be required, such as to meet payment obligations of our long-term debt when due, we may need to raise the required funds through

 

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borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities, which may be issued from time to time under an effective registration statement, through the issuance of securities in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or a combination of one or more of the foregoing.

We believe that, in the event additional funding is required, we will be able to access the capital markets on terms and in amounts adequate to meet our objectives. However, given the possibility of changes in market conditions or other occurrences, there can be no certainty that such funding will be available on terms favorable to us or at all.

We have an ongoing authorization from our Board of Directors to repurchase up to $300 million worth of our common stock over a period of time to be determined by management. These repurchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. We are not required to repurchase any particular amount of our common stock and the program may be suspended at any time at our discretion. During fiscal 2007, we did not repurchase any of our equity securities pursuant to this Board authorized program.

At this point in time we believe the current credit market difficulties do not have a material impact on our financial position or liquidity. However, a future degradation in credit market conditions could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or liquidity.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our principal contractual cash obligations at December 29, 2007, and is supplemented by the discussion following the table:

 

    Payment due by period
     Total   Fiscal
2008
  Fiscal
2009
  Fiscal
2010
  Fiscal
2011
  Fiscal
2012
  Fiscal 2013
and beyond
    (In millions)

5.75% Senior Notes due 2012

    $1,500   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 1,500     $—  

6.00% Senior Notes due 2015

    2,200     —       —       —       —       —       2,200

Fab 36 Term Loan

    839     179     268     303     89     —       —  

Repurchase obligations to Fab 36 Partners(1)

    94     47     47     —       —       —       —  

7.75% Senior Notes Due 2012

    390     —       —       —       —       390     —  

Other debt

    12     2     2     2     2     2     2

Other long-term liabilities

    130     2     68     42     —       —       18

Aggregate interest obligation(2)

    1,659     315     291     266     250     218     319

Obligations under capital leases(3)

    454     42     42     42     42     42     244

Operating leases

    343     73     61     55     29     25     100

Unconditional purchase commitments(4)

    2,256     666     500     268     257     93     472

Total contractual obligations

  $ 9,877   $ 1,326   $ 1,279   $ 978   $ 669   $ 2,270   $ 3,355

 

(1)

Represents the amount of silent partnership contributions that our subsidiaries are required to repurchase from the unaffiliated limited partners of AMD Fab 36 KG and is exclusive of the guaranteed rate of return. See “Fab 36 Term Loan and Guarantee and Fab 36 Partnership Agreements,” below.

(2)

Represents estimated aggregate interest obligations on our outstanding debt obligations, excluding capital lease obligations, including the guaranteed rate of return on the unaffiliated partners’ silent partnership contributions, which is based on our assumptions regarding wafer output.

(3)

Includes principal and imputed interest.

(4)

We have unconditional purchase commitments for goods and services where payments are based, in part, on volume or type of services we require. In those cases, we only included the minimum volume of purchase commitments in the table above. Also, purchase orders for goods and services that are cancelable upon notice and without significant penalties are not included in the amounts above.

 

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5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2012

On August 14, 2007, we issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2012. The 5.75% Notes bear interest at 5.75% per annum. Interest is payable in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year beginning February 15, 2008 until the maturity date of August 15, 2012. The terms of the 5.75% Notes are governed by an Indenture (the 5.75% Indenture), dated as of August 14, 2007, by and between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

The 5.75% Notes will be convertible, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date of the 5.75% Notes, into shares of our common stock based on an initial conversion rate of 49.6771 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 5.75% Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $20.13 per share. This initial conversion price represents a premium of 50% relative to the last reported sale price of our common stock on August 8, 2007 (the trading date preceding the date of pricing of the 5.75% Notes) of $13.42 per share. This initial conversion rate will be adjusted for certain anti-dilution events. In addition, the conversion rate will be increased in the case of corporate events that constitute a fundamental change (as defined in the 5.75% Indenture) of AMD under certain circumstances. Holders of the 5.75% Notes may require us to repurchase the 5.75% Notes for cash equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the 5.75% Indenture) or a termination of trading (as defined in the Indenture). Additionally, an event of default (as defined in the 5.75% Indenture) may result in the acceleration of the maturity of the 5.75% Notes.

The 5.75% Notes rank equally in right of payment with our existing and future senior debt and senior in right of payment to all of our future subordinated debt. The 5.75% Notes rank junior in right of payment to all our existing and future senior secured debt to the extent of the collateral securing such debt and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future debt and liabilities of our subsidiaries.

In connection with the issuance and sale of the 5.75% Notes, we also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the 5.75% Registration Rights Agreement), dated August 14, 2007, between us and Lehman Brothers Inc. (the initial purchaser), pursuant to which we agreed to file a shelf registration statement with the SEC for the resale by holders of the 5.75% Notes and the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the 5.75% Notes, use our reasonable best efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared effective and keep the registration statement effective for the period described in the 5.75% Registration Rights Agreement. On November 7, 2007, we filed a shelf registration statement that was automatically declared effective. We will file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the shelf registration statement, prepare and file a supplement to the prospectus, or file a new shelf registration statement on a quarterly basis in order to include any additional selling security holders in the shelf registration statement. We could be subject to paying additional interest on the 5.75% Notes for the period during which a default under the 5.75% Registration Rights Agreement exists.

The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting discounts, commissions and offering expenses payable by us, were approximately $1.5 billion. We used all of the net proceeds, together with available cash, to repay in full the remaining outstanding balance of the October 2006 Term Loan. All security interests under the October 2006 Term Loan were released. In connection with this repayment, we recorded a charge of approximately $17 million to write off the remaining unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the October 2006 Term Loan.

We may elect to purchase or otherwise retire our 5.75% Notes with cash, stock or other assets from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, either directly or through intermediaries, or by tender offer, when we believe the market conditions are favorable to do so. Such purchases may have a material effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015

On April 27, 2007, we issued $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015. The 6.00% Notes bear interest at 6.00% per annum. Interest is payable in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2007 until the maturity date of May 1, 2015. The terms of the 6.00% Notes are governed by an Indenture (the 6.00% Indenture), dated April 27, 2007, by and between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

Upon the occurrence of certain events described in the 6.00% Indenture, the 6.00% Notes will be convertible into cash up to the principal amount, and if applicable, into shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the 6.00% Notes (the 6.00% Conversion Shares) in respect of any conversion value above the principal amount, based on an initial conversion rate of 35.6125 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 6.00% Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $28.08 per share. This initial conversion price represents a premium of 100% relative to the last reported sale price of our common stock on April 23, 2007 (the trading date preceding the date of pricing of the 6.00% Notes) of $14.04 per share. The conversion rate will be adjusted for certain anti-dilution events. In addition, the conversion rate will be increased in the case of corporate events that constitute a fundamental change (as defined in the 6.00% Indenture) under certain circumstances. Holders of the 6.00% Notes may require us to repurchase the 6.00% Notes for cash equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a fundamental change or a termination of trading (as defined in the 6.00% Indenture). Additionally, an event of default (as defined in the 6.00% Indenture) may result in the acceleration of the maturity of the 6.00% Notes.

The 6.00% Notes rank equally with our existing and future senior debt and are senior to all of our future subordinated debt. The 6.00% Notes rank junior to all of our existing and future senior secured debt to the extent of the collateral securing such debt and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future debt and liabilities of our subsidiaries.

In connection with the issuance and sale of the 6.00% Notes, we also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the 6.00% Registration Rights Agreement), dated April 27, 2007, between us and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representative of the several initial purchasers of the 6.00% Notes, pursuant to which we agreed to file a shelf registration statement with the SEC for the resale by holders of the 6.00% Notes and the 6.00% Conversion Shares, use our reasonable best efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared effective and keep the registration statement effective for the period described in the 6.00% Registration Rights Agreement. On July 13, 2007 we filed a shelf registration statement that was automatically declared effective. We will file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the shelf registration statement, prepare and file a supplement to the prospectus, or file a new shelf registration statement on a quarterly basis in order to include any additional selling security holders in the shelf registration statement. We could be subject to paying additional interest on the 6.00% Notes for the period during which a default under the 6.00% Registration Rights Agreement exists.

In connection with the issuance of the 6.00% Notes, on April 24, 2007, we purchased the capped call. The capped call has an initial strike price of $28.08 per share, subject to certain adjustments, which matches the initial conversion price of the 6.00% Notes, and a cap price of $42.12 per share. The capped call is intended to reduce the potential common stock dilution to then existing stockholders upon conversion of the 6.00% Notes because the call option allows us to receive shares of common stock from the counterparty generally equal to the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 6.00% Notes. We do not anticipate experiencing an increase in the number of shares outstanding from the conversion of the 6.00% Notes unless the price of our common stock appreciates above $42.12 per share. If, however, the market value per share of our common stock, as measured under the terms of the capped call, exceeds the cap price of the capped call, there would be dilution to the extent that the then market value per share of the common stock exceeds the cap price. We analyzed the capped call under EITF Issue No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled In, a Company’s Own Stock, and determined that it meets the criteria for classification as an

 

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equity transaction. As a result, we have recorded the purchase of the capped call as a reduction in additional paid-in capital and will not recognize subsequent changes in its fair value.

The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting discounts, commissions and offering expenses payable by us, were approximately $2.2 billion. We used approximately $182 million of the net proceeds to purchase the capped call and applied $500 million of the net proceeds to prepay a portion of the amount outstanding under the October 2006 Term Loan. In connection with this repayment, we recorded a charge of approximately five million to write off unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the October 2006 Term Loan repayment.

In September 2007, the FASB exposed for comment a proposed FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. APB 14-a, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (including partial cash settlement). This proposed FSP would change the accounting for certain convertible debt instruments, including our 6.00% Notes. Under the proposed new rules, for convertible debt instruments that may be settled entirely or partially in cash upon conversion, an entity should separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. The effect of the proposed new rules for our 6.00% Notes is that the equity component would be included in the paid-in-capital portion of stockholders’ equity on our balance sheet and the value of the equity component would be treated as an original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component of the 6.00% Notes. Higher interest expense would result by recognizing accretion of the discounted carrying value of the 6.00% Notes to their face amount as interest expense over the term of the 6.00% Notes. If issued as proposed, the final FSP would provide final guidance effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, would not permit early application, and would be applied retrospectively to all periods presented.

In November 2007, the FASB announced it is expected to begin its redeliberations of the proposed FSP in January 2008. Therefore, it is highly unlikely the proposed effective date for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007 will be retained.

We cannot predict the exact accounting treatment that will be imposed (which may differ from the foregoing description) or when any change will be finally implemented. However, if the final FSP is issued as exposed, we expect to have higher interest expense starting in the period of adoption due to the interest expense accretion and, if the retrospective application provisions of the proposed FSP are retained in the final FSP, our prior period interest expense associated with the 6.00% Notes would be higher than previously reported due to retrospective application.

We may elect to purchase or otherwise retire our 6.00% Notes with cash, stock or other assets from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, either directly or through intermediaries, or by tender offer, when we believe the market conditions are favorable to do so. Such purchases may have a material effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

Fab 36 Term Loan and Guarantee and Fab 36 Partnership Agreements

Our 300-millimeter wafer fabrication facility, Fab 36, is located in Dresden, Germany at our wafer fabrication site. Fab 36 is owned by AMD Fab 36 Limited Liability Company & Co. KG (or AMD Fab 36 KG), a German limited partnership. We control the management of AMD Fab 36 KG through a wholly owned Delaware subsidiary, AMD Fab 36 LLC, which is a general partner of AMD Fab 36 KG. AMD Fab 36 KG is our indirect consolidated subsidiary.

To date, we have provided a significant portion of the financing for Fab 36. In addition to our financing, Leipziger Messe GmbH, a nominee of the State of Saxony, Fab 36 Beteiligungs GmbH, an investment consortium arranged by M+W Zander Facility Engineering GmbH, the general contractor for the project, and a consortium of banks have provided financing for the project. Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs are limited partners in AMD Fab 36 KG. We have also received grants and allowances from federal and state German authorities for the Fab 36 project.

 

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The funding to construct and facilitize Fab 36 consists of:

 

   

equity contributions from us of $860 million under the partnership agreements, revolving loans from us of up to approximately $1.1 billion, and guarantees from us for amounts owed by AMD Fab 36 KG and its affiliates to the lenders and unaffiliated partners;

 

   

investments of approximately $471 million from Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs;

 

   

loans of approximately $893 million from a consortium of banks, which were fully drawn as of December 2006;

 

   

up to approximately $798 million of subsidies consisting of grants and allowances from the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony, depending on the level of capital investments by AMD Fab 36 KG, of which $541 million of cash has been received as of December 29, 2007;

 

   

up to approximately $386 million of subsidies consisting of grants and allowances, from the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony, depending on the level of capital investments in connection with expansion of production capacity at our Dresden site, of which $17 million of cash has been received as of December 29, 2007; and

 

   

a loan guarantee from the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony of 80 percent of the losses sustained by the lenders referenced above after foreclosure on all other security.

As of December 29, 2007, we contributed to AMD Fab 36 KG the full amount of equity required under the partnership agreements and no loans from us were outstanding. These equity amounts have been eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.

On April 21, 2004, AMD Fab 36 KG entered into a 700 million euro Term Loan Facility Agreement among AMD Fab 36 KG, as borrower, and a consortium of banks led by Dresdner Bank AG, as lenders, dated April 21, 2004 (Fab 36 Term Loan) and other related agreements (collectively, the Fab 36 Loan Agreements) to finance the purchase of equipment and tools required to operate Fab 36. The consortium of banks agreed to make available up to $893 million in loans to AMD Fab 36 KG upon its achievement of specified milestones, including attainment of “technical completion” at Fab 36, which required certification by the banks’ technical advisor that AMD Fab 36 KG had a wafer fabrication process suitable for high-volume production of advanced microprocessors and had achieved specified levels of average wafer starts per week and average wafer yields, as well as cumulative capital expenditures of approximately $1.5 billion.

On October 13, 2006, we executed an Amendment Agreement dated as of October 10, 2006, which amended the terms of the Fab 36 Term Loan. Under the amended and restated Fab 36 Term Loan, AMD Fab 36 KG has the option to borrow in U.S. dollars as long as our group consolidated cash (which is defined as the sum of our unsecured cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments less the aggregate amount outstanding under any revolving credit facility) is at least $500 million. Moreover, to protect the lenders from currency risks, if our consolidated cash is below one billion or our credit rating drops below B3 by Moody’s and B- by Standard & Poor’s, AMD Fab 36 KG will be required to maintain a cash reserve account with deposits equal to 5 percent of the amount of U.S. dollar loans outstanding under the Fab 36 Term Loan and to make balancing payments into this account equal to the difference between (x) the total amount of U.S. dollar loans outstanding under the Fab 36 Term Loan and (y) the U.S dollar equivalent of 700 million euros (as reduced by repayments, prepayments, cancellations, and any outstanding loans denominated in euros.

In October 2006, AMD Fab 36 KG borrowed $645 million under the Fab 36 Term Loan (the First Installment). In December 2006, AMD Fab 36 KG borrowed $248 million under the Fab 36 Term Loan (the Second Installment). As of December 29, 2007, AMD Fab 36 KG had borrowed the full amount available under the Fab 36 Term Loan and the total amount outstanding under the Fab 36 Term Loan was $839 million. AMD Fab 36 KG may select an interest period of one, two, or three months or any other period agreed between AMD Fab 36 KG and the lenders. The rate of interest on each installment for the interest period selected is the

 

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percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable margin, plus LIBOR plus minimum reserve cost if any. As of December 29, 2007, the rate of interest for the initial interest period was 7.09875 percent for the First Installment and 6.7175 percent for the Second Installment. This loan is repayable in quarterly installments, which commenced in September 2007 and terminates in March 2011. An aggregate of $54 million has been repaid as of December 29, 2007.

The amended and restated Fab 36 Term Loan also sets forth certain covenants applicable to AMD Fab 36 KG. For example, for as long as group consolidated cash is at least one billion, our credit rating is at least B3 by Moody’s and B- by Standard & Poor’s, and no event of default has occurred, the only financial covenant that AMD Fab 36 KG is required to comply with is a loan to fixed asset value covenant. Specifically, the loan to fixed asset value (as defined in the agreement) as at the end of any relevant period specified in Column A below cannot exceed the percentage set out opposite such relevant period in Column B below:

 

Column A    Column B

(Relevant Period)

   (Maximum Percentage of Loan
to Fixed Asset Value)

up to and including 31 December 2008

   50 percent

up to and including 31 December 2009

   45 percent

thereafter

   40 percent

As of December 29, 2007, AMD Fab 36 KG was in compliance with this covenant.

If group consolidated cash is less than one billion or our credit rating is below B3 by Moody’s and B- by Standard & Poor’s, AMD Fab 36 KG will also be required to maintain minimum cash balances equal to the lesser of 100 million euros and 50 percent of the total outstanding amount under the Fab 36 Term Loan. AMD Fab 36 KG may elect to maintain the minimum cash balances in an equivalent amount of U.S. dollars if group consolidated cash is at least $500 million. If on any scheduled repayment date, our credit rating is Caa2 or lower by Moody’s or CCC or lower by Standard & Poor’s, AMD Fab 36 must increase the minimum cash balances by five percent of the total outstanding amount, and at each subsequent request of Dresdner Bank, by a further five percent of the total outstanding amount until such time as either the credit rating increases to at least Ba3 by Moody’s and BB- by Standard & Poor’s or the minimum cash balances are equal to the total outstanding amounts. Our credit rating was B1 with Moody’s and B with Standard and Poor’s as of December 29, 2007.

AMD Fab 36 KG pledged substantially all of its current and future assets as security under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements, we pledged our equity interest in AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 LLC, AMD Fab 36 Holding pledged its equity interest in AMD Fab 36 Admin and its partnership interest in AMD Fab 36 KG and AMD Fab 36 Admin and AMD Fab 36 LLC pledged all of their partnership interests in AMD Fab 36 KG. We guaranteed the obligations of AMD Fab 36 KG to the lenders under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements. We also guaranteed repayment of grants and allowances by AMD Fab 36 KG, should such repayment be required pursuant to the terms of the subsidies provided by the federal and state German authorities.

Pursuant to the terms of the Guarantee Agreement among us, as guarantor, AMD Fab 36 KG, Dresdner Bank AG and Dresdner Bank AG, Niederlassung Luxemburg, we have to comply with specified adjusted tangible net worth and EBITDA financial covenants if the sum of our group consolidated cash declines below the following amounts:

 

Amount

(in millions)

  

if Moody’s

Rating is at least

        

if Standard & Poor’s Rating

is at least

$500

   B1 or lower    and    B+ or lower

  425

   Ba3    and    BB-

  400

   Ba2    and    BB

  350

   Ba1    and    BB+

  300

   Baa3 or better    and    BBB-or better

 

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As of December 29, 2007, group consolidated cash was greater than $500 million and, therefore, the preceding financial covenants were not applicable.

If our group consolidated cash declines below the amounts set forth above, we would be required to maintain adjusted tangible net worth, determined as of the last day of each preceding fiscal quarter, of not less than the amounts set forth below:

 

Measurement Date on fiscal quarter ending    Amount
(In millions)

December 2005

   $ 1,500

March 2006 and on the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter

   $ 1,750

In addition, if our group consolidated cash declines below the amounts set forth above, we would be required to maintain EBITDA (as defined in the agreement) as of the last day of each preceding fiscal period set forth below in an amount not less than the amount set forth below opposite the date of such preceding fiscal period:

 

Period   

Amount

(In millions)

For the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending December 2005 and for the four fiscal quarters ending on each fiscal quarter thereafter    $850 and $750 on an annualized basis for the two most recent fiscal quarters ending prior to December 31, 2006

Also on April 21, 2004, AMD, AMD Fab 36 KG, AMD Fab 36 LLC, AMD Fab 36 Holding GmbH, a German company and wholly owned subsidiary of AMD that owns substantially all of our limited partnership interest in AMD Fab 36 KG, and AMD Fab 36 Admin GmbH, a German company and wholly owned subsidiary of AMD Fab 36 Holding that owns the remainder of our limited partnership interest in AMD Fab 36 KG, (collectively referred to as the AMD companies) entered into a series of agreements (the partnership agreements) with the unaffiliated limited partners of AMD Fab 36 KG, Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs, relating to the rights and obligations with respect to their limited partner and silent partner contributions in AMD Fab 36 KG. The partnership was established for an indefinite period of time. A partner may terminate its participation in the partnership by giving twelve months advance notice to the other partners. The termination becomes effective at the end of the year following the year during which the notice is given. However, other than for good cause, a partner’s termination will not be effective before December 31, 2015.

The partnership agreements set forth each limited partner’s aggregate capital contribution to AMD Fab 36 KG and the milestones for such contributions. Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreements, AMD, through AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin, agreed to provide an aggregate of $860 million, Leipziger Messe agreed to provide an aggregate of $294 million and Fab 36 Beteiligungs agreed to provide an aggregate of $176 million. The capital contributions of Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs are comprised of limited partnership contributions and silent partnership contributions. These contributions were due at various dates upon the achievement of milestones relating to the construction and operation of Fab 36. As of December 29, 2007, all capital contributions were made in full.

The partnership agreements also specify that the unaffiliated limited partners will receive a guaranteed rate of return of between 11 percent and 13 percent per annum on their total investment depending upon the monthly wafer output of Fab 36. We guaranteed these payments by AMD Fab 36 KG.

In April 2005, we amended the partnership agreements in order to restructure the proportion of Leipziger Messe’s silent partnership and limited partnership contributions. Although the total aggregate amount that Leipziger Messe has agreed to provide remained unchanged, the portion of its contribution that constitutes limited partnership interests was reduced by $74 million while the portion of its contribution that constitutes

 

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silent partnership interests was increased by a corresponding amount. In this report, we refer to this additional silent partnership contribution as the New Silent Partnership Amount.

Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreements and subject to the prior consent of the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony, AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin have a call option over the limited partnership interests held by Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs, first exercisable three and one-half years after the relevant partner has completed the applicable capital contribution and every three years thereafter. Also, commencing five years after completion of the relevant partner’s capital contribution, Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs each have the right to sell their limited partnership interest to third parties (other than competitors), subject to a right of first refusal held by AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin, or to put their limited partnership interest to AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin. The put option is thereafter exercisable every three years. Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs also have a put option in the event they are outvoted at AMD Fab 36 KG partners’ meetings with respect to certain specified matters such as increases in the partners’ capital contributions beyond those required by the partnership agreements, investments significantly in excess of the business plan, or certain dispositions of the limited partnership interests of AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin. The purchase price under the put option is the partner’s capital account balance plus accumulated or accrued profits due to such limited partner. The purchase price under the call option is the same amount, plus a premium of five million to Leipziger Messe and a premium of three million to Fab 36 Beteiligungs. The right of first refusal price is the lower of the put option price or the price offered by the third party that triggered the right. We guaranteed the payments under the put options.

In addition, AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin are obligated to repurchase the silent partnership interest of Leipziger Messe’s and Fab 36 Beteiligungs’ contributions over time. This mandatory repurchase obligation does not apply to the New Silent Partnership Amount. Specifically, AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin were required to repurchase Leipziger Messe’s silent partnership interest of $118 million in annual 25 percent installments commencing in December 2006, and Fab 36 Beteiligungs’ silent partnership interest of $88 million in annual 20 percent installments commencing in October 2005. As of December 29, 2007, AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin repurchased $53 million of Fab 36 Beteiligungs’ silent partnership contributions and $59 million of Leipziger Messe’s silent partnership contribution.

Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, we initially classified the portion of the silent partnership contribution that is mandatorily redeemable as debt on the consolidated balance sheets at its fair value at the time of issuance because of the mandatory redemption features described in the preceding paragraph. Each accounting period, we increase the carrying value of this debt towards its ultimate redemption value of the silent partnership contributions by the guaranteed annual rate of return of between 11 percent and 13 percent. We record this periodic accretion to redemption value as interest expense.

The limited partnership contributions that AMD Fab 36 KG received from Leipziger Messe and Fab 36 Beteiligungs and the New Silent Partnership Portion described above are not mandatorily redeemable, but rather are subject to redemption outside of the control of AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin. In consolidation, we initially record these contributions as minority interest, based on their fair value. Each accounting period, we increase the carrying value of this minority interest toward its ultimate redemption value of these contributions by the guaranteed rate of return of between 11 percent and 13 percent. We classify this periodic accretion of redemption value as minority interest. No separate accounting is required for the put and call options because they are not freestanding instruments and not considered derivatives under FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

As of December 29, 2007, AMD Fab 36 KG had received $206 million of silent partnership contributions and $265 million of limited partnership contributions, which includes a New Silent Partnership Amount of $74 million, from the unaffiliated partners. These contributions were recorded as debt and minority interest, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheet.

 

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In addition to support from us and the consortium of banks referenced above, the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony have agreed to support the Fab 36 project in the form of:

 

   

a loan guarantee equal to 80 percent of the losses sustained by the lenders after foreclosure on all other security; and

 

   

subsidies consisting of grants and allowances totaling up to approximately $798 million, depending on the level of capital investments by AMD Fab 36 KG and $386 million, depending on the level of capital investments for expansion of production capacity at our Dresden site.

In connection with the receipt of investment grants for the Fab 36 project, AMD Fab 36 KG is required to attain a certain employee headcount by December 2008 and is required to maintain this headcount through December 2013. We record these grants as long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet and amortize them to operations ratably starting from December 2004 through December 2013. Initially, we amortized the grant amounts as a reduction to research and development expenses. Beginning in the first quarter of 2006 when Fab 36 began producing revenue generating products, we started amortizing these amounts as a reduction to cost of sales. For allowances, starting from the first quarter of 2006, we amortize the amounts as a reduction of depreciation expense ratably over the life of the investments because these allowances are intended to subsidize the capital investments. Noncompliance with the covenants contained in the subsidy documents could result in the repayment of all or a portion of the amounts received to date.

As of December 29, 2007, AMD Fab 36 KG received cash allowances of $320 million for capital investments made in 2003 through 2006 as well as cash grants of $221 million for capital investments made in 2003 through 2007 and a prepayment for capital investments planned for the first half of 2008.

The Fab 36 Loan Agreements also require that we:

 

   

provide funding to AMD Fab 36 KG if cash shortfalls occur, including funding shortfalls in government subsidies resulting from any defaults caused by AMD Fab 36 KG or its affiliates; and

 

   

guarantee 100 percent of AMD Fab 36 KG’s obligations under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements until the loans are repaid in full.

Under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements, AMD Fab 36 KG, AMD Fab 36 Holding and AMD Fab 36 Admin are generally prevented from paying dividends or making other payments to us. In addition, AMD Fab 36 KG would be in default under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements if we or any of the AMD companies fail to comply with certain obligations thereunder or upon the occurrence of certain events and if, after the occurrence of the event, the lenders determine that their legal or risk position is adversely affected. Circumstances that could result in a default include:

 

   

our failure to provide loans to AMD Fab 36 KG as required under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements;

 

   

failure to pay any amount due under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements within five days of the due date;

 

   

occurrence of any event which the lenders reasonably believe has had or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or condition of AMD Fab 36 KG or AMD or their ability to perform under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements;

 

   

filings or proceedings in bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to us, AMD Fab 36 KG or any limited partner;

 

   

occurrence of a change in control (as defined in the Fab 36 Loan Agreements) of AMD;

 

   

AMD Fab 36 KG’s noncompliance with certain affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on payment of profits, dividends or other distributions except in limited circumstances and restrictions on incurring additional indebtedness, disposing of assets and repaying subordinated debt; and

 

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AMD Fab 36 KG’s noncompliance with certain financial covenants, including loan to fixed asset value ratio and, in certain circumstances, a minimum cash covenant.

In general, any default with respect to other indebtedness of AMD or AMD Fab 36 KG that is not cured, would result in a cross-default under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements.

The occurrence of a default under the Fab 36 Loan Agreements would permit the lenders to accelerate the repayment of all amounts outstanding under the Fab 36 Term Loan. In addition, the occurrence of a default under this agreement could result in a cross-default under the indenture governing our 7.75% Notes, 6.00% Notes, and 5.75% Notes. We cannot provide assurance that we would be able to obtain the funds necessary to fulfill these obligations. Any such failure would have a material adverse effect on us.

7.75% Senior Notes Due 2012

On October 29, 2004, we issued $600 million of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2012 in a private offering pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. On April 22, 2005, we exchanged these notes for publicly registered notes which have substantially identical terms as the old notes except that the publicly registered notes are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and, therefore, do not contain legends restricting their transfer. The 7.75% Notes mature on November 1, 2012. Interest on the 7.75% Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1, beginning May 1, 2005. Prior to November 1, 2008, we may redeem some or all of the 7.75% Notes at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the indenture governing the 7.75% Notes. Thereafter, we may redeem the 7.75% Notes for cash at the following specified prices plus accrued and unpaid interest:

 

Period    Price as
Percentage of
Principal Amount

Beginning on November 1, 2008 through October 31, 2009

   103.875 percent

Beginning on November 1, 2009 through October 31, 2010

   101.938 percent

Beginning on November 1, 2010 through October 31, 2011

   100.000 percent

On November 1, 2011

   100.000 percent

Holders have the right to require us to repurchase all or a portion of our 7.75% Notes in the event that we undergo a change of control, as defined in the indenture governing the 7.75% Notes at a repurchase price of 101 percent of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The indenture governing the 7.75% Notes contains certain covenants that limit, among other things, our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries, which include all of our subsidiaries, from:

 

   

incurring additional indebtedness except specified permitted debt;

 

   

paying dividends and making other restricted payments;

 

   

making certain investments if an event of default exists, or if specified financial conditions are not satisfied;

 

   

creating or permitting certain liens;

 

   

creating or permitting restrictions on the ability of the restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us;

 

   

using the proceeds from sales of assets;

 

   

entering into certain types of transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

consolidating, merging or selling our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety.

 

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In February 2006, we redeemed 35 percent (or $210 million) of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 7.75% Notes. The holders of the 7.75% Notes received 107.75 percent of the principal amount of the 7.75% Notes plus accrued interest. In connection with this redemption, we recorded a charge of approximately $16 million, which represents the 7.75% redemption premium, and a charge of four million, which represents 35 percent of the unamortized issuance costs incurred in connection with the original issuance of the 7.75% Notes.

We may elect to purchase or otherwise retire the remaining principal outstanding under our 7.75% Notes with cash, stock or other assets from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, either directly or through intermediaries, or by tender offer, when we believe the market conditions are favorable to do so. Such purchases may have a material effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

Other Long-Term Liabilities

Other Long-Term Liabilities in the Contractual Obligations table above includes $105 million of payments due under certain software and technology licenses that will be paid through 2010 and $26 million related to employee benefit obligations. Other Long-Term Liabilities excludes amounts recorded on our consolidated balance sheet that do not require us to make cash payments, which, as of December 29, 2007, primarily consisted of $401 million of deferred grants and subsidies related to the Fab 30 and Fab 36 projects and a $17 million deferred gain as a result of the sale and leaseback of our headquarters in Sunnyvale, California in 1998.

Other Long Term Liabilities in the Contractual Obligations table above also excludes $51 million of non-current uncertain tax benefits under FIN 48, which are included in the caption, “Other Long Term Liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheet at December 29, 2007. Included in the non-current uncertain tax benefits is a potential cash payment of approximately $35 million that could be payable by us upon settlement with a taxing authority. We have not included this amount in the Contractual Obligations table above as we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate regarding the timing of any settlement with the respective taxing authority, if any.

Capital Lease Obligations

As of December 29, 2007, we had aggregate outstanding capital lease obligations of $234 million. Included in this amount is $213 million in obligations under certain energy supply contracts which AMD entered into with local energy suppliers to provide our Dresden, Germany wafer fabrication facilities with utilities (gas, electricity, heating and cooling) to meet the energy demands for our manufacturing requirements. We account for certain fixed payments due under these energy supply arrangements as capital leases pursuant to EITF Issue No. 01-8, Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease and FASB Statement No. 13, Accounting for Leases. The capital lease obligations under the energy supply arrangements are payable in monthly installments through 2020.

Operating Leases

We lease certain of our facilities, including our executive offices in Sunnyvale, California, and in some jurisdictions we lease the land on which these facilities are built, under non-cancelable lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2021. We lease certain of our manufacturing and office equipment for terms ranging from one to five years. Our total future non-cancelable lease obligations as of December 29, 2007, were $343 million, of which $50 million is accrued as a liability for certain facilities that were included in our 2002 Restructuring Plan. We will make these payments through 2011.

Unconditional Purchase Commitments

Total non-cancelable purchase commitments as of December 29, 2007, were $2.3 billion for periods through 2020. These purchase commitments include $975 million related to contractual obligations of Fab 30 and Fab 36

 

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to purchase energy and gas and approximately $400 million representing future payments to IBM for the period from December 30, 2007 through 2011 pursuant to our joint development agreement. As IBM’s services are being performed ratably over the life of the agreement, we expense the payments as incurred. The remaining purchase commitments also include non-cancelable contractual obligations to purchase raw materials, natural resources and office supplies.

In connection with the acquisition of ATI, we made several commitments to the Minister of Industry under the Investment Canada Act, including that we will: increase spending on research and development in Canada to a specified amount over the course of a three-year period when compared to ATI’s expenditures in this area in prior years; maintain Canadian employee headcount at specified levels by the end of the three-year anniversary of the acquisition; increase by a specified amount the number of our Canadian employees focusing on research and development; attain specified Canadian capital expenditures over a three-year period; maintain a presence in Canada through a variety of commercial activities for a period of five years; and nominate a Canadian for election to our Board of Directors over the next five years. Our minimum required Canadian capital expenditures and research and development commitments are included in our aggregate unconditional purchase commitments.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Guarantees of Indebtedness Recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet

The following table summarizes the principal guarantees issued as of December 29, 2007 related to underlying liabilities that are already recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 29, 2007 and their expected expiration dates by year. No incremental liabilities are recorded on our consolidated balance sheet for these guarantees.

 

      Amounts
Guaranteed
   2008    2009
     (In millions)

Repurchase obligations to Fab 36 partners(1)

   $ 94    $ 47    $ 47

Payment guarantees on behalf of consolidated subsidiaries(2)

     54      54      —  

Total guarantees

   $ 148    $ 101    $ 47

 

(1)

This amount represents the amount of silent partnership contributions that we are required to repurchase from the unaffiliated limited partners of AMD Fab 36 KG and is exclusive of the guaranteed rate of return of an aggregate of approximately $112 million.

(2)

This amount represents the payment obligation due to a supplier arising out of the purchase of equipment by our consolidated subsidiary, AMD Fab 36 KG. We guaranteed these payment obligations on behalf of our subsidiary. At December 29, 2007, approximately $24 million was outstanding under this guarantee and recorded as a payable on our consolidated balance sheet. The obligation under the guarantee diminishes as AMD Fab 36 KG pays its supplier.

Guarantees of Indebtedness Not Recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet

AMTC and BAC Guarantees

The Advanced Mask Technology Center GmbH & Co. KG (AMTC) and Maskhouse Building Administration GmbH & Co. KG (BAC) are joint ventures formed by AMD, Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon) and DuPont Photomasks, Inc. (Dupont) for the purpose of constructing and operating an advanced photomask facility in Dresden, Germany. We procure advanced photomasks from AMTC and use them in manufacturing our microprocessors. In April 2005, DuPont was acquired by Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Toppan, named Toppan Photomasks, Inc. In December 2007, Infineon entered into an assignment agreement to transfer its interest in AMTC and BAC to Qimonda AG, with the exception of certain AMTC/BAC related payment guarantees. The assignment became effective in January 2008.

 

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In December 2002, BAC obtained a $110 million term loan to finance the construction of the photomask facility. At the same time, AMTC and BAC, as lessor, entered into a lease agreement. The term of the lease agreement is ten years, which coincides with the repayment by BAC of the $110 million term loan. Each joint venture partner guaranteed a specific percentage of AMTC’s rental payments. Pursuant to an agreement between AMTC, BAC and DuPont (now Toppan), AMTC may exercise a “step-in” right, in which it would assume Toppan’s remaining rental payments in connection with the rental agreement between Toppan and BAC. As of December 29, 2007, our guarantee of AMTC’s portion of the rental obligation was approximately $11 million, and our maximum liability in the event AMTC exercises its “step-in” right and the other joint venture partners default under the guarantee was approximately $102 million. These estimates are based upon forecasted rents to be charged in the future and are subject to change based upon the actual usage of the facility by the tenants and foreign currency exchange rates.

In December 2002, AMTC obtained a $176 million revolving credit facility to finance its operations. In December 2007, AMTC entered into a new $141 million revolving credit facility, of which $96 million was outstanding as of December 29, 2007. The proceeds were used to repay all amounts outstanding under the existing $176 million revolving credit facility and to provide additional financing for the acquisition of new tools. Subject to certain conditions under the revolving credit facility, AMTC may request that the loan amount be increased by an additional $59 million. The term of the revolving credit facility is three years. Upon request by AMTC and subject to certain conditions, the term of the revolving credit facility may be extended by two additional one year periods. Pursuant to a guarantee agreement, each joint venture partner guaranteed one third of AMTC’s outstanding loan balance under the revolving credit facility. As of December 29, 2007, our liability under this guarantee was $32 million plus our portion of accrued interest and expenses. Under the terms of the guarantee, if our group consolidated cash (which is defined as cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities less the aggregate amount outstanding under any revolving credit facility) is less than or expected to be less than $500 million, we will be required to provide cash collateral equal to one third of the balance outstanding under the revolving credit facility. We evaluated our guarantee under the provisions of FIN 45 and concluded it was immaterial to our financial position or results of operations.

Outlook

Our outlook disclosure is based on current expectations and contains forward-looking statements. Reference should be made to “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of Part I, Item 1—Business. For a discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in the following disclosure, see the “Risk Factors” section in this report and such other risks and uncertainties as set forth in this report or detailed in our other Securities and Exchange Commission reports and filings.

In the first quarter of 2008, we expect revenue to decrease in line with seasonality. We also expect during the first quarter that: operating expenses will increase by approximately five percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2007; acquisition-related charges will be approximately $55 million; income tax expense will be approximately $15 million; and depreciation and amortization expense will be approximately $315 million. We also expect capital expenditures to be approximately $1.1 billion for 2008, of which we expect to incur $425 million in the first quarter of 2008.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements but clarifies the fair value definition, establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop assumptions used for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 clarifies that the fair value is the exchange price in an orderly transaction between market participants to sell the asset or transfer the liability in the market. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to

 

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unobservable data, for example, the reporting entity’s own data. It emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement and a fair value measurement should therefore be based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. SFAS 157 expands disclosures about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition, including the inputs used to measure fair value and the effect of such measurements on earnings for the period. In its February 6, 2008 meeting, the FASB decided to (i) partially defer the effective date of SFAS 157 for one year for certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities and (ii) remove certain leasing transactions from the scope of SFAS 157. The partial deferral is applicable to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis. Companies will still need to apply SFAS 157’s recognition and disclosure requirements for financial assets and financial liabilities or for nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities that are remeasured at least annually. The FASB also decided to amend SFAS 157 to exclude SFAS 13, Accounting for Leases, and its related interpretive accounting pronouncements that address leasing transactions. The exclusion does not apply to fair value measurements of assets and liabilities recorded as a result of a lease transaction but measured pursuant to other pronouncements within the scope of SFAS 157. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted SFAS 157 at the beginning of our fiscal year 2008 on December 30, 2007. There has been no material impact to our financial statements due to the adoption of SFAS 157.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). This statement allows entities to voluntarily choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities as well as certain nonfinancial instruments that are similar to financial instruments (collectively, eligible items) at fair value (the fair value option). The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. If the fair value option is elected for an instrument, the statement specifies that all subsequent changes in fair value for that instrument shall be reported in earnings. The statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Upon initial adoption, this statement provides entities with a one-time chance to elect the fair value option for the eligible items. The effect of the first measurement to fair value should be reported as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year the statement is adopted. We adopted SFAS 159 at the beginning of our fiscal year 2008 on December 30, 2007 and did not make any elections for fair value accounting. Therefore, we did not record a cumulative-effect adjustment to our opening retained earnings balance.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 141 (Revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141R). This statement retains the fundamental requirements of the original pronouncement requiring that the acquisition method of accounting, or purchase method, be used for all business combinations. SFAS 141R defines the acquirer as the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the business combination, establishes the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves control and requires the acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest at their fair values as of the acquisition date. In addition, SFAS 141R requires, among other things, expensing of acquisition-related and restructuring-related costs, measurement of pre-acquisition contingencies at fair value, measurement of equity securities issued for purchase at the date of close of the transaction and capitalization of in-process research and development, all of which represent modifications to current accounting for business combinations. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted. Adoption of SFAS 141R will not impact our accounting for business combinations closed prior to its adoption, but given the nature of the changes noted above, we expect our accounting for business combinations occurring subsequent to adoption will be significantly different than that applied following current accounting literature.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51 (SFAS 160). This Statement amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to establish accounting and reporting standards for the

 

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noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. It requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest. This Statement establishes a single method of accounting for changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 160 on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No.48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. We adopted FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007 as required. The cumulative effect of applying FIN 48 was reported as a reduction of the beginning balance of retained earnings of six million and a decrease to goodwill of three million.

As of the date of adoption, our total gross unrecognized tax benefits were $149 million, of which $28 million, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The recognition of the remaining unrecognized tax benefits would be reported as an adjustment to goodwill to the extent of pre-acquisition unrecognized tax benefits or would be offset by a change in valuation allowance.

We recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as interest expense and income tax expense, respectively. We accrued interest and penalties of $21 million and $38 million, respectively, as of the date of adoption of FIN 48.

As of the date of adoption of FIN 48, tax years 1994 – 2006 remain subject to examination in the U.S., 1999 – 2006 in Canada and 1999 – 2006 in various foreign jurisdictions.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk.    Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio and long-term debt. We usually invest our cash in investments with short maturities or with frequent interest reset terms. Accordingly, our interest income fluctuates with short-term market conditions. As of December 29, 2007, substantially all of our investments in our portfolio were highly liquid investments and consisted primarily of bank notes, short-term corporate notes, money market auction rate preferred stocks and short-term federal agency notes.

In April 2007, we issued $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Notes. The 6.00% Notes bear interest at 6.00% per annum. Interest is payable in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2007 until the maturity date of May 1, 2015 unless the 6.00% Notes are repurchased or converted prior to the maturity date. We used $500 million of the net proceeds to repay a portion of the amounts outstanding under our October 2006 Term Loan. As a result of this partial repayment, the margin on the interest rate for the October 2006 Term Loan was reduced from 2.25 percent to 2.00 percent. Of the remaining net proceeds, approximately $1.5 billion was invested in investments with short maturities or with frequent interest reset terms and $182 million was used to purchase a capped call associated with the sale and issuance of our 6.00% Notes.

In August 2007, we issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Notes. The 5.75% Notes bear interest at 5.75% per annum. Interest is payable in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year beginning February 15, 2008 until the maturity date of August 15, 2012 unless the 5.75% Notes are repurchased or

 

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converted prior to the maturity date. We used all of the net proceeds, together with available cash, to repay in full the outstanding balance of the October 2006 Term Loan.

With the full repayment of the October 2006 Term Loan, we replaced a substantial amount of our floating interest rate debt with fixed interest rate debt. Accordingly, our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates on reported interest expense and corresponding cash flows has decreased.

We will continue to monitor our exposure to interest rate risk.

Default Risk.    We mitigate default risk in our investment portfolio by investing in only the highest credit quality securities and by constantly positioning our portfolio to respond appropriately to a significant reduction in a credit rating of any investment issuer or guarantor. The portfolio includes marketable securities with active secondary or resale markets to ensure portfolio liquidity. We are averse to principal loss and strive to preserve our invested funds by limiting default risk and market risk. At this point in time, we believe the current credit market difficulties do not have a material impact on our financial position. However, a future degradation in credit market conditions, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position.

With the exception of the October 2006 Term Loan, which was used to fund a portion of the ATI acquisition, we generally use proceeds from borrowings primarily for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and working capital needs.

The following table presents the cost basis, fair value and related weighted-average interest rates by year of maturity for our investment portfolio and debt obligations as of December 29, 2007:

 

     Fiscal
2008
    Fiscal
2009
    Fiscal
2010
    Fiscal
2011
    Fiscal
2011
    Thereafter     Total     Fiscal 2007
Fair Value
 
    (In millions except for percentages)  

Investment Portfolio

               

Cash equivalents:

               

Fixed rate amounts

  $ 986     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 986     $ 986  

Weighted-average rate

    5.03 %     —         —         —         —         —         5.03 %     5.03 %

Variable rate amounts

  $ 312     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 312     $ 312  

Weighted-average rate

    4.83 %     —         —         —         —         —         4.83 %     4.83 %

Marketable securities

               

Fixed rate amounts

  $ 132     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 132     $ 132  

Weighted-average rate

    5.11 %     —         —         —         —         —         5.11 %     5.11 %

Variable rate amounts

  $ 269     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 269     $ 269  

Weighted-average rate

    6.44 %     —         —         —         —         —         6.44 %     6.44 %

Long-term investments:

               

Fixed rate amounts

  $ 12     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 12     $ 12  

Weighted-average rate

    4.77 %     —         —         —         —         —         4.77 %     4.77 %

Total Investment Portfolio

  $ 1,711     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 1,711     $ 1,711  

Debt Obligations

               

Fixed rate amounts

  $ 49     $ 49     $ 2     $ 2     $ 1,891     $ 2,203     $ 4,196     $ 3,240  

Weighted-average rate

    12.83 %     12.82 %     6.86 %     6.86 %     6.16 %     6.00 %     6.23 %     6.30 %

Variable rate amounts

  $ 179     $ 268     $     303     $     89     $ —       $ —       $ 839     $ 839  

Weighted-average rate

    7.10 %     7.10 %     7.11 %     7.11 %     —         —         7.10 %     7.10 %

Total Debt Obligations

  $ 228     $ 317     $ 305     $ 91     $ 1,891     $ 2,203     $ 5,035     $ 4,079  

 

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Foreign Exchange Risk.    As of December 29, 2007, as a result of our foreign operations, we had costs, assets and liabilities that were denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the euro and Canadian dollar. For example, some fixed asset purchases and certain expenses of our German subsidiaries, AMD Saxony and AMD Fab 36 KG, are denominated in euros while sales of products are denominated in U.S. dollars. Additionally, as a result of our acquisition of ATI in October 2006, some of our expenses and debt are denominated in Canadian dollars.

As a consequence, movements in exchange rates could cause our foreign currency denominated expenses to increase as a percentage of net revenue, affecting our profitability and cash flows. We use foreign currency forward and option contracts to reduce our exposure to currency fluctuations on our foreign currency exposures. The objective of these contracts is to minimize the impact of foreign currency exchange rate movements on our operating results and on the cost of capital asset acquisitions. Our accounting policy for these instruments is based on our designation of such instruments as hedges of underlying exposure to variability in cash flows. We do not use these contracts for speculative or trading purposes.

Unrealized gains and losses related to the foreign currency forward and option contracts for the year ended December 29, 2007 were not material. We do not anticipate any material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows resulting from the use of these instruments in the future. However, we cannot give any assurance that these strategies will be effective or that transaction losses can be minimized or forecasted accurately. In particular, generally we hedge only a portion of our foreign currency exchange exposure. Moreover, we determine our total foreign currency exchange exposure using projections of long-term expenditures for items such as payroll, equipment and materials used in manufacturing. We cannot assure you that our hedging activities will eliminate foreign exchange rate exposure. Failure to do so could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

The following table provides information about our foreign currency forward and option contracts as of December 29, 2007 and December 31, 2006. All of our foreign currency forward contracts and option contracts mature within 12 months.

 

     Fiscal 2007    Fiscal 2006  
      Notional
Amount
   Average
Contract
Rate
   Estimated
Fair Value
Gain (Loss)
   Notional
Amount
   Average
Contract
Rate
   Estimated
Fair Value
Gain (Loss)
 
     (In millions except contract rates)  

Foreign currency forward contracts:

                 

Japanese yen

   $ 13    112.76    $ —      $ 26    117.62    $ —    

Canadian Dollar

     172    1.0231      8      117    1.1181      (4 )

Euro

     894    1.4228      30      1,099    1.3036      13  

Total:

   $ 1,079         $ 38    $ 1,242         $ 9  

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

          Three Years Ended December 29, 2007      
      2007     2006     2005  
     (In millions, except per share amounts)  

Net revenue

   $ 6,013     $ 5,649     $ 4,972  

Net revenue from related party (see Note 5)

     —         —         876  
      

Total net revenue

     6,013       5,649       5,848  

Cost of sales

     3,751       2,856       3,456  
      

Gross margin

     2,262       2,793       2,392  

Research and development

     1,847       1,205       1,144  

Marketing, general and administrative

     1,373       1,140       1,016  

In-process research and development

     —         416       —    

Amortization of acquired intangible assets and integration charges

     299       79       —    

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets

     1,608       —         —    

Operating income (loss)

     (2,865 )     (47 )     232  

Interest income

     73       116       37  

Interest expense

     (367 )     (126 )     (105 )

Other income (expense), net

     (7 )     (13 )     (24 )
      

Income (loss) before minority interest, equity in net loss of Spansion Inc. and other and income taxes

     (3,166 )     (70 )     140  

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     (35 )     (28 )     125  

Equity in net loss of Spansion Inc. and other (see Note 4)

     (155 )     (45 )     (107 )

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     23       23       (7 )
      

Net income (loss)

   $ (3,379 )   $ (166 )   $ 165  

Net income (loss) per common share:

      

Basic

   $ (6.06 )   $ (0.34 )   $ 0.41  

Diluted

   $ (6.06 )   $ (0.34 )   $ 0.40  

Shares used in per share calculation:

      

Basic

     558       492       400  

Diluted

     558       492       441  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

      December 29,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
    

(In millions, except

par value amounts)

 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,432     $ 1,380  

Marketable securities

     457       161  

Total cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities

     1,889       1,541  

Accounts receivable

     650       1,153  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (10 )     (13 )

Total accounts receivable, net

     640       1,140  

Inventories:

    

Raw materials

     48       83  

Work-in-process

     472       545  

Finished goods

     301       186  

Total inventories

     821       814  

Deferred income taxes

     64       25  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     402       443  

Total current assets

     3,816       3,963  

Property, plant and equipment:

    

Land and land improvements

     49       53  

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     1,037       1,410  

Equipment

     6,125       5,202  

Construction in progress

     677       672  

Total property, plant and equipment

     7,888       7,337  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (3,168 )     (3,350 )

Property, plant and equipment, net

     4,720       3,987  

Acquisition related intangible assets, net (see Note 3)

     587       1,207  

Goodwill (see Note 3)

     1,907       3,217  

Investment in Spansion (see Note 4)

     —         371  

Other assets

     520       402  

Total assets

   $ 11,550     $ 13,147  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,009     $ 1,338  

Accrued compensation and benefits

     186       177  

Accrued liabilities

     821       769  

Income taxes payable

     72       78  

Deferred income on shipments to distributors

     101       169  

Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     238       125  

Other current liabilities

     198       249  

Total current liabilities

     2,625       2,905  

Deferred income taxes

     6       31  

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion

     5,031       3,672  

Other long-term liabilities

     633       517  

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     265       237  

Commitments and contingencies (see Notes 14 and 17)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Capital stock:

    

Common stock, par value $0.01; 1,500 shares authorized on December 29, 2007 and 750 shares authorized on December 31, 2006; shares issued: 612 on December 29, 2007 and 553 on December 31, 2006; shares outstanding: 606 on December 29, 2007 and 547 on December 31, 2006

     6       5  

Capital in excess of par value

     6,016       5,409  

Treasury stock, at cost (7 shares on December 29, 2007 and December 31, 2006)

     (95 )     (93 )

Retained earnings (deficit)

     (3,100 )     308  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     163       156  

Total stockholders’ equity

     2,990       5,785  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 11,550     $ 13,147  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Three Years Ended December 29, 2007

 

    

Number

of

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital in
excess of

par value

   

Treasury

stock

   

Retained

earnings

   

Accumulated

other

comprehensive

income (loss)

   

Total
stockholders’

Equity

 
    (In millions)  

December 26, 2004

  392   $ 4   $ 2,408     $ (91 )   $ 309     $ 381     $ 3,011  

Comprehensive loss:

             

Net income

  —       —       —         —         165       —         165  

Other comprehensive loss:

             

Net change in unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         4       4  

Net change in cumulative translation adjustments

  —       —       —         —         —         (192 )     (192 )

Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         (48 )     (48 )

Less: Reclassification adjustment for loss included in earnings, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         16       16  

Net change in minimum pension liability

  —       —       —         —         —         3       3  
                   

Total other comprehensive loss

                (217 )
                   

Total comprehensive loss

                (52 )
                   

Issuance of shares:

             

Employee stock plans

  17     —       188       1       —         —         189  

Conversion of the remaining 4.5% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2007

  27     —       199       —         —         —         199  

Compensation recognized under employee stock plans

  —       —       5       —         —         —         5  

December 25, 2005

  436   $ 4   $ 2,800     $ (90 )   $ 474     $ 164     $ 3,352  

Comprehensive loss:

             

Net loss

  —       —       —         —         (166 )     —         (166 )

Other comprehensive loss:

             

Net change in unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         (3 )     (3 )

Net change in cumulative translation adjustments

  —       —       —         —         —         (2 )     (2 )

Net change in unrealized gains on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         7       7  

Reclassification adjustment for gain included in earnings, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         (10 )     (10 )
                   

Total other comprehensive loss

                (8 )
                   

Total comprehensive loss

                (174 )
                   

Issuance of shares:

             

Employee stock plans

  18     —       234       (3 )     —         —         231  

Common stock issued in public offering, net of issuance cost

  14     —       495       —         —         —         495  

Common stock issued for ATI Acquisition (see Note 3)

  58     1     1,171       —         —         —         1,172  

Fair value of vested options and restricted stock units issued to ATI employees (see Note 3)

  —       —       144       —         —         —         144  

Conversion of 4.75% Senior Debentures due 2022

  21     —       488       —         —         —         488  

Compensation recognized under employee stock plans

  —       —       77       —         —         —         77  

December 31, 2006

  547   $ 5   $ 5,409     $ (93 )   $ 308     $ 156     $ 5,785  

Comprehensive loss:

             

Net loss

  —       —       —         —         (3,379 )     —         (3,379 )

Other comprehensive income:

             

Net change in unrealized gains on investments, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         2       2  

Net change due to reduction in Spansion investment

  —       —       —         —         —         (9 )     (9 )

Net change in unrealized gains on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $0

  —       —       —         —         —         21       21  

Reclassification adjustment for gain included in earnings, net of taxes of $1

  —       —       —         —         —         (7 )     (7 )
                   

Total other comprehensive income

                7  
                   

Total comprehensive loss

                (3,372 )
                   

Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting pronouncements

  —       —       —         —         (29 )     —         (29 )

Issuance of shares:

             

Employee stock plans

  10     0     80       (2 )     —         —         78  

Common stock issued, net of issuance cost

  49     1     602       —         —         —         603  

Purchased of capped call

  —       —       (182 )     —         —         —         (182 )

Compensation recognized under employee stock plans

  —       —       111       —         —         —         111  

Others

  —       —       (4 )     —         —         —         (4 )

December 29, 2007

  606   $ 6   $ 6,016     $ (95 )   $ (3,100 )   $ 163     $ 2,990  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

      Three Years Ended December 29, 2007  
          2007             2006             2005      
     (In millions)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income (loss)

   $ (3,379 )   $ (166 )   $ 165  

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

      

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     34       28       (125 )

Depreciation and amortization

     1,305       837       1,219  

Write off of in-process research and development

     —         416       —    

Provision for doubtful accounts

     (3 )     —         (5 )

Equity in (income) loss of Spansion and other

     154       51       (3 )

(Gain) loss on dilution of equity interest in Spansion Inc.

     —         (6 )     110  

(Benefit) Provision for deferred income taxes

     (24 )     (2 )     (22 )

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets

     1,608       —         16  

Gain on Spansion’s repurchase of its 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes

     —         (10 )     —    

Amortization of foreign grant and subsidy income

     (167 )     (151 )     (110 )

Net loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     (20 )     14       6  

Compensation recognized under employee stock plans

     112       77       5  

Other

     43       27       7  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     503       (55 )     (276 )

Inventories

     4       6       (28 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (134 )     96       62  

Other assets

     51       (175 )     (10 )

Tax refund receivable

     —         —         7  

Income taxes payable

     (76 )     (1 )     (36 )

Refund of customer deposits under long-term purchase agreements

     —         —         (18 )

Accounts payables and accrued liabilities

     (321 )     301       519  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (310 )     1,287       1,483  

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (1,685 )     (1,857 )     (1,513 )

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

     73       23       10  

Proceeds from Spansion repayment of intercompany loans

     —         22       261  

Proceeds from sale of Spansion Inc. stock

     157       278       —    

Acquisition of ATI, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired

     —         (3,893 )     —    

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (545 )     (2,119 )     (1,562 )

Proceeds from sale and maturity of available-for-sale securities

     307       3,066       836  

Purchase of Spansion’s 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes

     —         —         (159 )

Proceeds from Spansion’s repurchase of its 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes

     —         175       —    

Net cash impact of change in status of Spansion from consolidated subsidiary to unconsolidated investee

     —         —         (133 )

Other

     18       2       (10 )

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

   $ (1,675 )   $ (4,303 )   $ (2,270 )

 

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Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—(Continued)

      Three Years Ended December 29, 2007  
          2007             2006             2005      
     (In millions)  

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from notes payable to banks

   $ —       $ —       $ 77  

Proceeds from borrowings, net of issuance cost

     3,649       3,366       169  

Repayments of debt and capital lease obligations

     (2,291 )     (539 )     (316 )

Purchase of capped call

     (182 )     —         —    

Proceeds from foreign grants and subsidies

     223       210       163  

Proceeds from sale leaseback transactions

     —         —         129  

Proceeds from limited partners’ contribution

     —         —