NOTE 2:  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES AND CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK

Basis of Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest March 31. For ease of presentation, March 31 has been utilized as the fiscal year-end for all financial statement captions. Fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995 each consisted of 52 weeks.

Cash Equivalents and Investments. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit with banks, tax-advantaged municipal bonds, and investments in money market instruments with insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities at date of acquisition of 90 days or less. Short-term investments consist of tax-advantaged municipal bonds and corporate bonds with maturities greater than 90 days but less than one year. Restricted investments consist of U.S. Treasury Securities held as collateral relating to leases for the Company's facilities. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company maintains its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in several financial instruments with various banks and investment banking institutions. This diversification of risk is consistent with Company policy to maintain liquidity and ensure the safety of principal.

Management classifies investments as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. Securities are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and the ability to hold the securities until maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization, as well as any interest on the securities, is included in interest income. Securities not classified as held to maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses, net of tax, included as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in other income. The fair values for marketable debt and equity securities are based on quoted market prices. The cost of securities matured or sold is based on the specific identification method.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market (estimated net realizable value) and are comprised of the following at March 31, 1997 and 1996:

Advances for Wafer Purchases. During fiscal 1995, the Company advanced $42 million to Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Epson), a primary wafer supplier. Repayment of this amount was in the form of wafer deliveries and was completed during fiscal 1997. In fiscal 1997, the Company signed an additional agreement with Seiko Epson. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets of three to five years for machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures and up to thirty years for buildings.

Revenue Recognition. Net revenues are stated net of discounts and allowances. Revenue from product sales direct to customers and foreign distributors is generally recognized upon shipment. However, the Company defers the recognition of revenue and the related cost of revenue on shipments to domestic distributors that have certain rights of return and price protection privileges on unsold product until the product is sold by the distributor.

Foreign Currency Translation. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for the Company's Ireland manufacturing facility. Assets and liabilities that are not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars, and the resulting gains or losses are included in net income. The functional currency is the local currency for each of the Company's other foreign subsidiaries. Assets and liabilities are translated at month-end exchange rates, and statements of income are translated at the average exchange rates during the year. Exchange gains or losses arising from translation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are included as a component of stockholders' equity. Prior to fiscal 1997, translation adjustments were not material and therefore were not disclosed as a separate component of stockholders' equity.

Derivative Financial Instruments. As part of its ongoing asset and liability management activities, the Company enters into certain derivative financial arrangements to reduce financial market risks. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Employee Stock Plans. The Company accounts for its stock option and employee stock purchase plans in accordance with provisions of the Accounting Principles Board's Opinion No. 25 (APB 25), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees."

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates relate to the useful lives of fixed assets and intangible assets, allowances for doubtful accounts and customer returns, inventory reserves, potential reserves relating to litigation matters and other reserves. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

Net Income Per Share. Net income per common and common equivalent share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common equivalent shares consist of stock options (using the treasury stock method). Fully diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding, plus other dilutive shares which are not common equivalent shares. The effect of the convertible subordinated notes was antidilutive in the calculation of fully diluted earnings per share for the periods presented. In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 128, Earnings per Share, which the Company will be required to adopt during the quarter ending December 31, 1997. At that time, the Company will be required to change the method currently used to compute net income per share and to restate all prior periods. The new requirements will include a calculation of "basic" net income per share, which will exclude the dilutive effect of stock options. The calculation of basic net income per share for fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995 results in net income per share of $1.52, $1.43 and $.85, respectively. A calculation of "diluted" net income per share will also be required. However, this calculation is not expected to differ materially from the actual net income per share amounts reported for the years presented.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. The Company believes that the concentration of credit risk in its trade receivables with respect to the high-technology industry is substantially mitigated by the Company's credit evaluation process, relatively short collection terms, distributor agreements, and the geographical dispersion of sales. The Company generally does not require collateral. Bad debt write-offs have been insignificant for all years presented.

Concentration of Other Risks. The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological change, intense competitive pressure and cyclical market patterns. The Company's results of operations are affected by a wide variety of factors, including general economic conditions, conditions relating to technology companies, conditions specific to the semiconductor industry, decreases in average selling prices over the life of any particular product, the timing of new product introductions (by the Company, its competitors and others), the ability to manufacture in a timely manner sufficient quantities of a given product, the timely implementation of new manufacturing technologies, the ability to safeguard patents and intellectual property from competitors, and the impact of new technologies resulting in rapid escalation of demand for some products in the face of equally steep decline in demand for others. As a result, the Company may experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in future operating results due to the factors mentioned above or other factors.

| Previous Note | Next Note |

| Annual Report 1997 |
| Letter to Shareholders | Financial Highlights | MD&A | Consolidated Statements |
| Notes to Consolidated Statements | Selected Consolidated Information |