Edgar Filing: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC

form10-q.htm

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2007.

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

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number: 0-21184

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware		86-0629024
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2355 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85224-6199

(480) 792-7200

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,

Including Area Code, of Registrant’s

Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by checkmark 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 the filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x No ¨

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer x

Accelerated filer ¨

Non-accelerated filer ¨

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). (Check One)

Yes ¨ No x

Shares Outstanding of Registrant’s Common Stock
Class	Outstanding at February 1, 2008
Common Stock, $0.001 par value	188,804,070 shares

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

		Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)

	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007	3

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Three and Nine months Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006	4

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine months Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006	5

	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	6

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	16

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	32

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	33

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	33

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	33

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	41

Item 5.	Other Information	42

Item 6.	Exhibits	42

SIGNATURES		43

CERTIFICATIONS

EXHIBITS

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

ASSETS
	December 31,			March 31,
	2007			2007
	(Unaudited)			(Note 1)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	831,005		$	167,477
Short-term investments		607,011			583,000
Accounts receivable, net		114,396			124,559
Inventories		124,801			121,024
Prepaid expenses		21,332			15,547
Deferred tax assets		60,658			61,983
Other current assets		38,019			11,147
Total current assets		1,797,222			1,084,737

Property, plant and equipment, net		524,769			605,722
Long-term investments		215,384			527,910
Goodwill		31,886			31,886
Intangible assets, net		11,789			8,456
Other assets		35,698			10,830

Total assets	$	2,616,748		$	2,269,541

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accounts payable	$	35,596		$	34,675
Accrued liabilities		47,859			129,882
Deferred income on shipments to distributors		93,349			91,363
Total current liabilities		176,804			255,920

Convertible debentures		1,150,103			---
Long-term income tax payable		111,512			---
Deferred tax liability		14,112			8,327
Other long-term liabilities		1,022			926

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding.		---			---
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 450,000,000 shares; issued 218,789,994 and outstanding
189,013,788 shares at December 31, 2007; issued and outstanding 217,439,960 shares at March 31, 2007.		189			217
Additional paid-in capital		797,433			755,834
Retained earnings		1,284,989			1,255,486
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(168	)		(7,169	)
Less shares of common stock held in treasury at cost; 29,776,206 shares at December 31, 2007; and no shares at March 31, 2007.		(919,248	)		---
Total stockholders’ equity		1,163,195			2,004,368

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,616,748		$	2,269,541

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2007			2006

Net sales	$	252,600		$	251,004		$	775,319		$	781,495
Cost of sales (1)		99,553			101,294			309,015			311,340
Gross profit		153,047			149,710			466,304			470,155

Operating expenses:
Research and development (1)		30,306			28,043			89,358			85,151
Selling, general and administrative (1)		43,501			40,185			130,250			122,482
Loss on sale of Fab 3		---			---			26,763			---
		73,807			68,228			246,371			207,633

Operating income		79,240			81,482			219,933			262,522

Other income (expense):
Interest income		13,467			15,002			42,787			43,910
Interest expense		(1,635	)		(890	)		(1,635	)		(5,146	)
Other, net		205			260			1,079			452

Income before income taxes		91,277			95,854			262,164			301,738
Income tax provision		11,153			23,005			41,068			72,417
Net income	$	80,124		$	72,849		$	221,096		$	229,321


Basic net income per common share	$	0.39		$	0.34		$	1.02		$	1.07
Diluted net income per common share	$	0.38		$	0.33		$	1.00		$	1.04
Dividends declared per common share	$	0.300		$	0.250		$	0.885		$	0.700

Basic common shares outstanding		207,002			215,710			216,046			214,603
Diluted common shares outstanding		211,337			220,920			221,097			219,837

(1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follow:
Cost of sales	$	1,555		$	1,595		$	4,638		$	1,595
Research and development		2,729			2,431			7,824			7,244
Selling, general and administrative		4,073			3,714			11,699			10,874


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007			2006
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	221,096		$	229,321
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		76,605			87,792
Deferred income taxes		(1,558	)		7,563
Share-based compensation expense related to equity incentive plans		24,161			19,714
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation		(16,811	)		(14,648	)
Tax benefit from equity incentive plans		18,047			14,659
Convertible debt derivative revaluation and amortization		103			---
Gain on sale of assets		(625	)		(364	)
Write-down of investments		892			---
Loss on sale of Fab 3		26,763			---
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable		10,163			19,276
Increase in inventories		(3,444	)		(3,422	)
Increase (decrease) in deferred income on shipments to distributors		1,986			(7,346	)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(105	)		12,702
Change in other assets and liabilities		2,862			(7,422	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		360,135			357,825

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(1,158,361	)		(1,087,068	)
Sales and maturities of investments		1,454,825			700,620
Investment in other assets		(4,717	)		(673	)
Proceeds from sale of Fab 3		27,523			---
Proceeds from sale of assets		1,175			1,746
Capital expenditures		(49,053	)		(51,416	)
Net cash used provided by (used in) investing activities		271,392			(436,791	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of cash dividend		(191,592	)		(150,526	)
Repurchase of common stock		(964,767	)		---
Proceeds from issuance of convertible debentures, net of issuance costs		1,127,000			---
Proceeds from sale of common stock		44,549			42,302
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation		16,811			14,648
Payments on short-term borrowings		---			(239,454	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		32,001			(333,030	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		663,528			(411,996	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		167,477			565,273
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	831,005		$	153,277


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(1)	Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Microchip Technology Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We own 100% of the outstanding stock in all of our subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). In the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which are necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 or for any other period.

(2)	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 establishes a single model to address accounting for uncertain tax positions. 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 de-recognition, measurement classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company adopted FIN 48 on April 1, 2007, and did not recognize any cumulative-effect adjustment associated with its unrecognized tax benefits, interest, and penalties. See further discussion in Note 8.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurement (SFAS No. 157). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company is in the process of determining the effect, if any, that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (SFAS No. 159). Under this Statement, the Company may elect to report financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis with changes in value reported in earnings. SFAS No. 159 is effective for years beginning after November 15, 2007 and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this Statement.

In June 2007, the FASB ratified EITF 07-3, Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services Received for Use in Future Research and Development Activities (EITF 07-3). EITF 07-3 requires that nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities be deferred and capitalized and recognized as an expense as the goods are delivered or the related services are performed. EITF 07-3 is effective, on a prospective basis, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007 and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of EITF 07-3 to have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141R). SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. SFAS No. 141R also establishes disclosure requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS No. 141R on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (SFAS No. 160). SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in a parent's ownership interest, and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. SFAS No. 160 also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 160 on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Potential Changes in Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2007, the FASB released proposed FSP APB 14-a Accounting For Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement) (FSP APB 14-a) that would alter the accounting treatment for convertible debt instruments that allow for either mandatory or optional cash settlements. FSP APB 14-a, if adopted as proposed, would impact the accounting associated with the Company's $1.15 billion junior convertible debentures. If adopted as proposed, this FSP would require the Company to recognize additional (non-cash) interest expense based on the market rate for similar debt instruments without the conversion feature. Furthermore, it would require recognizing interest expense in prior periods pursuant to retrospective accounting treatment. The proposed FSP was issued for a 45-day comment period that ended on October 15, 2007 but has not been issued in final form. The FASB is expected to begin its re-deliberations of the guidance in FSP APB 14-a in the first quarter of calendar 2008 and the ultimate effective date and outcome of such re-deliberations is unknown at this time.

(3)	Loss on Sale of Fab 3

The Company received an unsolicited offer on its Puyallup, Washington facility (Fab 3) in September 2007. The Company assessed its available capacity in its current facilities, along with potential available capacity from outside foundries and determined the capacity of Fab 3 would not be required in the near term. As a result of this assessment, the Company accepted the offer on September 21, 2007, and the transaction closed on October 19, 2007. The Company received $27.5 million in cash, net of expenses associated with the sale, and recognized a loss on sale of $26.8 million, representing the difference between the carrying value of the assets and the amounts received.

(4)	Investments

The Company’s investments are intended to establish a high-quality portfolio that preserves principal, meets liquidity needs, avoids inappropriate concentrations and delivers an appropriate yield in relationship to the Company’s investment guidelines and market conditions. The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2007 (amounts in thousands):

	Adjusted Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value

Government agency bonds	$	506,138	$	229	$	958	$	505,409
Auction rate securities		60,433		---		---		60,433
Floating rate securities		56,080		150		---		56,230
Municipal bonds		109,656		685		60		110,281
Corporate bonds and certificates of deposit		90,000		103		61		90,042
	$	822,307	$	1,167	$	1,079	$	822,395

Included within the Company’s short-term investments are AA and AAA rated investments in auction rate securities. Auction rate securities are variable rate debt instruments whose interest rates are reset approximately every 7 to 35 days. The underlying securities generally have longer dated contractual maturities. The auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale and are recorded at estimated fair value. Typically, the carrying value of auction rate securities approximates estimated fair value due to the frequent resetting of the interest rates. In September 2007, auction rate securities that were originally purchased for $24.9 million failed the auction process. The failures resulted in the interest rates on these investments resetting at Libor plus 125 or 175 basis points. The $24.9 million in auctions have continued to fail through the date of the filing of this report. The investments are not liquid, and the Company now earns a higher rate of interest on the investments. In the event the Company needed to access these funds, it would not be able to until a future auction on these investments was successful. The fair value of the failed auction rate securities has been estimated by management based upon pricing data provided by the firms managing the Company’s investments and could change significantly based on market conditions. Based on the estimated values, the Company concluded these investments were other than temporarily impaired, and recognized an impairment charge on these investments of $0.9 million in the three months ended December 31, 2007. If the issuers are unable to successfully close future auctions or if their credit ratings deteriorate, the Company may be required to further adjust the carrying value of these investments through an additional impairment charge to earnings. There are $22.4 million in original purchase value of the failed auction rate securities that are insured for their principal and interest in the case of default by Ambac, FGIC and MBIA. Based on information available at December 31, 2007, management has no reason to beleive the counterparties or the insurers will be unable to fulfill these obligastions, however, there can be no assurance that such obligations could be fulfilled in future periods. As a result of the $0.9 million impairment charge taken on the failed auction rate securities in the three months ended December 31, 2007, the securities have a carrying value of $24.0 million and the adjusted cost of these investments in the table above reflects this carrying value. Based on the Company’s ability to access its cash and other short-term investments, its expected operating cash flows, and its other sources of cash, it does not anticipate the lack of liquidity on these investments will affect its ability to operate its business as usual.

At December 31, 2007, the Company evaluated the other investments within its investment portfolio and noted other unrealized losses of $1.1 million due to fluctuations in interest rates. Management does not believe any of these unrealized losses represented an other-than-temporary impairment based on its evaluation of available evidence as of December 31, 2007. The Company’s intent is to hold these investments until such time as these assets are no longer impaired. For those investments not scheduled to mature until after December 31, 2008, such recovery is not anticipated to occur in the next year and these investments have been classified as long-term investments. At December 31, 2007, short-term investments consisted of $607.0 million and long-term investments consisted of $215.4 million.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2007, by maturity, are shown below (amounts in thousands). Expected maturities can differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties, and the Company views its available-for-sale securities as available for current operations.

	Adjusted Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value

Available-for-sale
Due in one year or less	$	192,315	$	179	$	357	$	192,137
Due after one year and through five years		514,946		789		722		515,013
Due after five years and through ten years		10,309		75		---		10,384
Due after ten years		104,737		124		---		104,861
	$	822,307	$	1,167	$	1,079	$	822,395

During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007, the Company did not have any gross realized gains or losses on sales of available-for-sale securities.

(5)	Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of the following (amounts in thousands):

	December 31, 2007		March 31, 2007

Trade accounts receivable	$	117,228	$	127,467
Other		451		636
		117,679		128,103
Less allowance for doubtful accounts		3,283		3,544
	$	114,396	$	124,559

(6)	Inventories

The components of inventories consist of the following (amounts in thousands):

	December 31, 2007		March 31, 2007

Raw materials	$	4,591	$	5,118
Work in process		94,355		83,783
Finished goods		25,855		32,123
	$	124,801	$	121,024

Inventory impairment charges establish a new cost basis for inventory and charges are not subsequently reversed to income even if circumstances later suggest that increased carrying amounts are recoverable.

(7)	Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following (amounts in thousands):

	December 31, 2007		March 31, 2007

Land	$	35,065	$	47,212
Building and building improvements		327,232		372,149
Machinery and equipment		1,087,133		1,059,565
Projects in process		82,305		69,040
		1,531,735		1,547,966
Less accumulated depreciationand amortization		1,006,966		942,244
	$	524,769	$	605,722

Depreciation expense attributed to property and equipment was $75.2 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and $86.4 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2006.

As a result of the sale of Fab 3, the amounts at December 31, 2007 reflect the removal of $54.2 million of net property, plant and equipment.

(8)	Income Taxes

Effective at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company adopted the provision of FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes–an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. The adoption of FIN 48 did not impact the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption was $102.8 million. The Company historically classified unrecognized tax benefits in current income taxes payable. As a result of the adoption of FIN 48, unrecognized tax benefits were reclassified to long-term income taxes payable.

The Company’s policy to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for taxes on the consolidated condensed statements of income did not change as a result of implementing the provisions of FIN 48. As of the date of adoption of FIN 48, the Company did not have an accrued liability for the payment of interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax benefits due to tax overpayments.

The Company files U.S. federal, U.S. state, and foreign income tax returns. For U.S. federal, and in general for state tax returns, the fiscal 2002 through fiscal 2007 tax years remain open for examination by tax authorities. For foreign tax returns, the Company is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to fiscal 2002.

The Company recognizes liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in the United States and other tax jurisdictions based on its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional tax payments are more likely than not. The Company believes that it maintains adequate reserves to offset any potential income tax liabilities that may arise upon final resolution of matters for open tax years. The IRS is currently auditing the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Company believes that it has appropriate support for the income tax positions taken and to be taken on its tax returns and that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open years based on an assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter.

If such amounts ultimately prove to be unnecessary, the resulting reversal of such reserves would result in tax benefits being recorded in the period the reserves are no longer deemed necessary. If such amounts ultimately prove to be less than an ultimate assessment, a future charge to expense would be recorded in the period in which the assessment is determined. Although timing of the resolution and/or closure on audits is highly uncertain, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits would materially change in the next 12 months.

The income tax provision in the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 was impacted by a $5.7 million favorable resolution of a foreign tax matter and for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 the income tax provision was impacted by the loss on sale of Fab 3 and the resolution of the foreign tax matter. There were no such losses or settlements in the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2006. The following table displays the impact the loss and settlement had on the income tax provision that the Company recorded in the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007 (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended December 31, 2007			Nine Months Ended December 31, 2007
Income before taxes	$	91,277		$	262,164

Loss on sale of Fab 3		---			26,763

Income before taxes excluding loss on sale		91,277			288,927
Effective tax rate		18.50	%		19.76	%
Income tax provision excluding effect of loss on sale		16,886			57,105
Tax benefit of loss on sale of Fab 3 at 38.5%		---			10,304
Tax benefit from resolution of foreign tax matter		5,733			5,733
Income tax provision	$	11,153		$	41,068

(9) 2.125% Junior Subordinated Convertible Debentures

In December 2007, the Company issued $1.15 billion principal amount of 2.125% convertible debentures due December 15, 2037, to two initial purchasers in a private offering. The debentures are subordinated in right of payment to any future senior debt of the Company and are effectively subordinated in right of payment to the liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries. The debentures are convertible, subject to certain conditions, into shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion rate of 29.2783 shares of common stock per one thousand dollar principal amount of debentures, representing an initial conversion price of approximately $34.16 per share of common stock. As of December 31, 2007, none of the conditions allowing holders of the debentures to convert had been met. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment for certain events as outlined in the indenture governing the debentures but will not be adjusted for accrued interest. The Company received net proceeds of $1,127.0 million after deduction of issuance costs of $23.0 million. The debt issuance costs are recorded in long-term other assets and are being amortized to interest expense over 30 years. Interest is payable in cash semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, beginning on June 15, 2008. Interest expense related to the debentures for the third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2008 totaled $1.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, and was included in interest expense on the condensed consolidated statements of income. The debentures also have a contingent interest component that will require the Company to pay interest during any semiannual interest period if the average trading price of the debenture is greater or less than certain thresholds beginning with the semiannual interest period commencing on December 15, 2017 (the maximum amount of contingent interest that will accrue is 0.50% of such average trading price per year) and upon the occurrence of certain events, as outlined in the indenture governing the debentures.

On or after December 15, 2017, the Company may redeem all or part of the debentures for the principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest if the closing price of the Company’s common stock has been at least 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days during any 30 consecutive trading-day period prior to the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption. The debentures are also redeemable on or prior to June 7, 2008 if certain U.S. federal tax rules are enacted.

Prior to September 1, 2037, holders of the debentures may convert their debentures only upon the occurrence of certain events, as outlined in the indenture. Upon conversion, the Company will satisfy its conversion obligation by delivering cash, shares of common stock or any combination, at the Company’s option. If holders of the debentures convert their debentures in connection with a fundamental change, as defined in the indenture, the Company will, in certain circumstances, be required to pay a make-whole premium in the form of an increase in the conversion rate. Additionally, in the event of a fundamental change, the holders of the debentures may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of their debentures at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

If upon conversion the Company elects to deliver cash for the principal amount of the debentures and shares of common stock, if any, the Company would pay the holder the cash value of the applicable number of shares of the Company’s common stock, up to the principal amount of the debentures and shares of common stock for any conversion value in excess of the principal amount. If the conversion value exceeds one thousand dollars, the Company may also elect to deliver cash in lieu of common stock for the conversion value in excess of one thousand dollars (conversion spread).

There would be no adjustment to the numerator in the net income per common share computation for the cash settled portion of the debentures as that portion of the debt instrument will always be settled in cash. The conversion spread will be included in the denominator for the computation of diluted net income per common share.

The Company concluded the embedded features related to the contingent interest payments and the Company making specific types of distributions (e.g., extraordinary dividends) qualify as derivatives and should be bundled as a compound embedded derivative under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS No. 133). The fair value of the derivative at the date of issuance of the debentures was $1.3 million and is accounted for as a discount on the debentures. The initial fair value of the debentures of $1,148.7 million will be accreted to par value over the term of the debt resulting in $1.3 million being amortized to interest expense over 30 years. Any change in fair value of this embedded derivative will be included in interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of income. The fair value of the derivative as of December 31, 2007 was $1.4 million, resulting in $0.1 million of additional interest expense in the three months ended December 31, 2007. The balance of the debentures on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2007 was $1,150.1 million, including the fair value of the embedded derivative. The Company also concluded that the debentures are not conventional convertible debt instruments and that the embedded stock conversion option qualifies as a derivative under SFAS 133. In addition, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to and Potentially Settled in a Company’s Own Stock, the Company has concluded that the embedded conversion option would be classified in stockholders’ equity if it were a freestanding instrument. Accordingly, the embedded conversion option is not required to be accounted for separately as a derivative.

Under the terms of a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the offering of the debentures, the Company is required to file a shelf registration statement covering resales of the debentures and any common stock issuable upon conversion of the debentures with the SEC within 120 days of the closing of the offering of the debentures and to cause such shelf registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days of the closing of the offering of the debentures. In addition, the Company must maintain the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement until all of the debentures and all shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the debentures cease to be outstanding, have been sold or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement, have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the period of time specified in Rule 144(k) for the holding period has passed. If the Company fails to comply with the terms of the registration rights agreement, it will be required to pay additional interest on the debentures at a rate per annum equal to 0.25% for the first 90 days after the date of such failure and 0.50% thereafter.

(10)	Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income offset by net unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments. The components of other comprehensive loss and related tax effects were as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended December 31,				Nine months Ended December 31,
	2007		2006		2007		2006

Decrease (increase) in unrealized losses on investments, net of tax effect of $668, $(112), $1,840, and $558, respectively	$	2,847	$	487	$	7,001	$	4,426

Comprehensive income was $77.3 million and $214.1 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007, respectively. Comprehensive income was $72.4 million and $224.9 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2006, respectively.

(11)	Employee Benefit Plans

Equity Incentive Plans

The Company has equity incentive plans under which incentive stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and non-qualified stock options have been granted to employees and under which non-qualified stock options have been granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (2004 Plan), is shareholder approved and permits the grant of stock options and RSUs to employees, non-employee members of the Board of Directors and consultants. At December 31, 2007, 11.5 million shares remained available for future grant under the 2004 Plan.

The Board of Directors or the plan administrator determines eligibility, vesting schedules and exercise prices for equity incentives granted under the plans. Equity incentives granted generally have a term of 10 years, and in the case of newly hired employees, generally vest and become exercisable at the rate of 25% after one year of service and ratably on a monthly or quarterly basis over a period of 36 months thereafter; subsequent equity incentive grants to existing employees generally vest and become exercisable ratably on a monthly or quarterly basis over a period starting in 48 months and ending in 60 months after the date of grant. Beginning in fiscal 2008, the Company converted its equity granting practices to a quarterly process instead of an annual process. The quarterly grants generally vest 48 months from the date of grant.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

The following table presents details of share-based compensation expense resulting from the application of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payments (SFAS 123R) (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2007			2006
Cost of sales	$	1,555	(1)	$	1,595	(1)	$	4,638	(1)	$	1,595	(1)
Research and development		2,729			2,431			7,824			7,244
Selling, general and administrative		4,073			3,714			11,699			10,874
Pre-tax effect of share-based compensation		8,357			7,740			24,161			19,713
Income tax benefit		1,546			1,857			4,763			4,730
Net income effect of share-based compensation	$	6,811		$	5,883		$	19,398		$	14,983

(1) During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007, $1.7 million and $5.0 million, respectively, was capitalized to inventory and $1.6 million and $4.6 million, respectively, of capitalized inventory was sold. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2006, $1.7 million and $5.0 million, respectively, was capitalized to inventory and $1.6 million of capitalized inventory was sold.

The amount of unearned share-based compensation currently estimated to be expensed in the remainder of fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2012 related to unvested share-based payment awards at December 31, 2007 is $63.1 million. The weighted average period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be recognized is approximately 2.52 years.

Combined Incentive Plan Information

RSU activity under the 2004 Plan for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 is set forth below:

	Number of Shares
Nonvested shares at March 31, 2007		1,687,443
Granted		781,594
Cancelled		(126,617	)
Vested		(101,931	)
Nonvested shares at December 31, 2007		2,240,489

The total pre-tax intrinsic value of RSUs which vested during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 was $1.1 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic value of RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2007 was $70.3 million. The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic value was calculated based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $31.42 per share on December 31, 2007. At December 31, 2007, the weighted average remaining expense recognition period was 2.85 years.

The weighted average fair values per share of the RSUs awarded are calculated based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the respective grant dates discounted for the Company’s expected dividend yield. The weighted average fair value per share of RSUs awarded in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 was $29.81 and $31.60, respectively.

Option activity under the Company’s stock incentive plans for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 is set forth below:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share
Outstanding at March 31, 2007		14,740,546		$	21.88
Granted		29,400			37.73
Exercised		(2,251,169	)		16.88
Cancelled		(139,121	)		25.01
Outstanding at December 31, 2007		12,379,656		$	22.79

The total pre-tax intrinsic value of options exercised during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 was $9.2 million and $47.1 million, respectively. This intrinsic value represents the difference between the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of each equity award.

The following table summarizes information about the stock options outstanding at December 31, 2007:

Range of Exercise Prices		Number of Outstanding		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Life		Number Exercisable		WeightedAverage Exercise Price
						(in years)
$	4.72 – $15.92		2,012,238	$	13.04		2.27		2,012,238	$	13.04
	15.93 – 17.85		125,874		17.37		2.71		125,874		17.37
	17.86 – 18.48		1,544,030		18.48		5.21		1,233,703		18.48
	18.49 – 23.39		1,564,098		22.38		2.79		1,564,088		22.38
	23.40 – 25.26		892,699		24.18		4.37		892,699		24.19
	25.27 – 25.29		1,601,438		25.29		7.22		35,822		25.29
	25.30 – 27.00		691,099		26.21		6.00		672,515		26.21
	27.01 – 27.05		1,406,484		27.05		6.23		80,232		27.05
	27.06 – 27.15		1,498,782		27.15		4.20		1,498,782		27.15
	27.16 – 37.84		1,042,914		29.98		5.86		826,536		29.59
			12,379,656	$	22.79		4.69		8,942,489	$	21.66

The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable at December 31, 2007 was $107.3 million and $87.5 million, respectively. The aggregate pre-tax intrinsic values were calculated based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock of $31.42 per share on December 31, 2007.

The weighted average fair value per share of stock options granted in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 was $11.19 and $12.14, respectively.

The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton (Black-Scholes) option pricing model. The following are the weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model to value the options:

	Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007			2006
Expected life (in years)		6.50			5.44
Expected volatility		38	%		40	%
Risk-free interest rate		4.30	%		4.83	%
Expected dividend yield		3.20	%		3.20	%

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an employee stock purchase plan and an international employee stock purchase plan (the Purchase Plans) for all eligible employees. Under the Purchase Plans, employees may purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at six-month intervals at 85% of fair market value (calculated in the manner provided in the plan). Employees purchase such stock using payroll deductions, which may not exceed 10% of their total cash compensation. The Purchase Plans impose certain limitations upon an employee’s right to acquire common stock, including the following: (i) no employee may purchase more than 7,500 shares of common stock on any purchase date and (ii) no employee may be granted rights to purchase more than $25,000 of common stock for each calendar year in which such rights are at any time outstanding. At December 31, 2007, 4.5 million shares were available for future issuance under the Purchase Plans. The Company issued 227,034 shares under the Purchase Plans in the nine months ended December 31, 2007.

The weighted average fair values per share of stock purchased in connection with the Company’s stock purchase plan have been estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007			2006
Expected life (in years)		0.50			0.50
Expected volatility		29	%		30	%
Risk-free interest rate		4.24	%		5.22	%
Expected dividend yield		3.20	%		3.20	%

(12)	Net Income Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended December 31,				Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007		2006		2007		2006

Net income	$	80,124	$	72,849	$	221,096	$	229,321

Weighted average common shares outstanding		207,002		215,710		216,046		214,603

Dilutive effect of stock options and RSUs		4,335		5,210		5,051		5,234

Weighted average common and potential common shares outstanding		211,337		220,920		221,097		219,837

Basic net income per common share	$	0.39	$	0.34	$	1.02	$	1.07

Diluted net income per common share	$	0.38	$	0.33	$	1.00	$	1.04

(13)	Stock Repurchase

On October 25, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to 10.0 million shares of its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had repurchased 8,009,969 shares under this authorization for $270.8 million. On December 11, 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 10.0 million shares of its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2007, all of this authorization remained outstanding and there is no expiration date associated with this program.

The Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 21.5 million shares of its common stock concurrent with the convertible debenture transaction described in Note 9 and no further shares are available to be repurchased under this authorization.

As of December 31, 2007, approximately 29.8 million shares remained as treasury shares with the balance of the shares being used to fund share issuance requirements under the Company’s equity incentive plans. The timing and amount of future repurchases will depend upon market conditions, interest rates and corporate considerations.

(14)

Dividends

On October 28, 2002, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved and instituted a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per share was paid on November 20, 2007 in the aggregate amount of $66.4 million. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share was declared on January 24, 2008 and will be paid on February 21, 2008 to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2008, representing an increase of 20.8% over the per share amount in the same quarter of the previous year. The Company expects the February 2008 payment of its quarterly cash dividend to be approximately $60.6 million.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This report, including “Part I – Item 2Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Part II - Item 1A Risk Factors”contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our strategy, financial performance and revenue sources. We use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “future,” “intend” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors including those set forth under “Risk Factors,” beginning at page 33 and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the following:

The effects and amount of competitive pricing pressure on our product lines;

Our ability to moderate future average selling price declines;

The effect of product mix on gross margin;

The amount of changes in demand for our products and those of our customers;

The level of orders that will be received and shipped within a quarter;

The effect that distributor and customer inventory holding patterns will have on us;

Our belief that our direct sales personnel combined with our distributors provide an effective means of reaching our customer base;

Our ability to increase the proprietary portion of our analog and interface product lines and the effect of such an increase;

The impact of any supply disruption we may experience;

Our ability to effectively utilize our facilities at appropriate capacity levels and anticipated costs;

That our capital expenditures over the next 12 months will provide sufficient manufacturing capability to meet our anticipated needs;

That manufacturing costs will be reduced by our transition to advanced process technologies;

Our ability to maintain manufacturing yields;

Continuing our investments in new and enhanced products;

Continuing our investments in auction rate securities;

The ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

The cost effectiveness of using our own assembly and test operations;

Our anticipated level of capital expenditures;

Continuing to receive patents on our inventions;

Continuation of quarterly cash dividends;

The sufficiency of our existing sources of liquidity;

The impact of seasonality on our business;

Expected impact of SFAS 123R on our business and related assumptions used in such analysis;

That the resolution and costs of legal actions will not harm our business;

That the idling of assets will not impair the value of such assets;

The recoverability of our deferred tax assets;

The adequacy of our tax reserves to offset any potential tax liabilities and the outcomes of examinations by the IRS and other tax authorities;

Our belief that the expiration of any tax holidays will not have a material impact;

The ability to obtain title to land underlying our Thailand facility, its fair value and adequacy of associated reserves;

The accuracy of our estimates of the useful life and values of our property and equipment;

Our ability to obtain intellectual property licenses and minimize the effects of litigation;

The level of risk we are exposed to for product liability claims;

The amount of labor unrest, political instability, governmental interference and changes in general economic conditions that we experience;

The effect of changes in market interest rates;

The effect of fluctuations in currency rates;

The timing and amount of repurchases of our common stock;

Our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected if we do not effectively manage our liabilities;

The effect of any interruption in information technology systems;

The integration of operations and personnel in an acquisition

The conversion of our debentures will dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders

The availability of financing on acceptable terms;

The effect of expansion of environmental laws; and

The impact of export regulations on our business.

We begin our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) with a summary of Microchip’s overall business strategy to give the reader an overview of the goals of our business and the overall direction of our business and products. This is followed by a discussion of the Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates that we believe are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments incorporated in our reported financial results. We then discuss our Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the three and nine months ended December 31, 2006. We then provide an analysis of changes in our balance sheet and cash flows, and discuss our financial commitments in sections titled “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” “Contractual Obligations” and “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.”

Strategy

Our goal is to be a worldwide leader in providing specialized semiconductor products for a wide variety of embedded control applications. Our strategic focus is on embedded control products, which include microcontrollers, high-performance linear and mixed signal devices, power management and thermal management devices, interface devices, Serial EEPROMs, and our patented KeeLoq security devices. We provide highly cost-effective embedded control products that also offer the advantages of small size, high performance, low voltage/power operation and ease of development, enabling timely and cost-effective embedded control product integration by our customers.

We sell our products to a broad base of domestic and international customers across a variety of industries. The principal markets that we serve include consumer, automotive, industrial, office automation and telecommunications. Our business is subject to fluctuations based on economic conditions within these markets. The recent weakness in the U.S. housing market and general economic conditions have impacted our net sales to customers that serve the consumer market.

Our manufacturing operations include wafer fabrication and assembly and test. The ownership of our manufacturing resources is an important component of our business strategy, enabling us to maintain a high level of manufacturing control resulting in us being one of the lowest cost producers in the embedded control industry. By owning our wafer fabrication facilities and much of our assembly and test operations, and by employing statistical process control techniques, we have been able to achieve and maintain high production yields. Direct control over manufacturing resources allows us to shorten our design and production cycles. This control also allows us to capture the wafer manufacturing and a portion of the assembly and test profit margin.

We employ proprietary design and manufacturing processes in developing our embedded control products. We believe our processes afford us both cost-effective designs in existing and derivative products and greater functionality in new product designs. While many of our competitors develop and optimize separate processes for their logic and memory product lines, we use a common process technology for both microcontroller and non-volatile memory products. This allows us to more fully leverage our process research and development costs and to deliver new products to market more rapidly. Our engineers utilize advanced computer-aided design (CAD) tools and software to perform circuit design, simulation and layout, and our in-house photomask and wafer fabrication facilities enable us to rapidly verify design techniques by processing test wafers quickly and efficiently.

We are committed to continuing our investment in new and enhanced products, including development systems, and in our design and manufacturing process technologies. We believe these investments are significant factors in maintaining our competitive position. Our current research and development activities focus on the design of new microcontrollers, digital signal controllers, memory and mixed-signal products, new development systems, software and application-specific software libraries. We are also developing new design and process technologies to achieve further cost reductions and performance improvements in existing products.

We market our products worldwide primarily through a network of direct sales personnel and distributors. Our distributors focus primarily on servicing the product and technical support requirements of a broad base of diverse customers. We believe that our direct sales personnel combined with our distributors provide an effective means of reaching this broad and diverse customer base. Our direct sales force focuses primarily on major strategic accounts in three geographical markets: the Americas, Europe and Asia. We currently maintain sales and support centers in major metropolitan areas in North America, Europe and Asia. We believe that a strong technical service presence is essential to the continued development of the embedded control market. Many of our field sales engineers (FSEs), field application engineers (FAEs), and sales management have technical degrees and have been previously employed in an engineering environment. We believe that the technical knowledge of our sales force is a key competitive advantage in the sale of our products. The primary mission of our FAE team is to provide technical assistance to strategic accounts and to conduct periodic training sessions for FSEs and distributor sales teams. FAEs also frequently conduct technical seminars for our customers in major cities around the world, and work closely with our distributors to provide technical assistance and end-user support.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

General

Our discussion and analysis of Microchip’s financial condition and results of operations is based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We review the accounting policies we use in reporting our financial results on a regular basis. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, share-based compensation, inventories, income taxes, property, plant and equipment, impairment of property, plant and equipment, convertible debentures and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Results may differ from these estimates due to actual outcomes being different from those on which we based our assumptions. We review these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We also have other policies that we consider key accounting policies, such as our policy regarding revenue recognition to OEMs; however, we do not believe these policies require us to make estimates or judgments that are as difficult or subjective as our policies described below.

Revenue Recognition– Distributors

Our distributors worldwide have broad rights to return products and price protection rights, so we defer revenue recognition until the distributor sells the product to their customers. We reduce product pricing through price protection based on market conditions, competitive considerations and other factors. Price protection is granted to distributors on the inventory that they have on hand at the date the price protection is offered. When we reduce the price of our products, it allows the distributor to claim a credit against its outstanding accounts receivable balances based on the new price of the inventory it has on hand as of the date of the price reduction. There is no revenue impact to us from the price protections. We also grant certain credits to our distributors. The credits are granted to the distributors on specially identified pieces of the distributors’ business to allow them to earn a competitive gross margin on the sale of our products to their end customers. The credits are on a per unit basis and are not given to the distributor until they provide documentation of the sale to their end customer. The effect of granting these credits establishes the net selling price from us to our distributors for the product and results in the net revenue recognized by us when the product is sold by the distributors to their end customers. Upon our shipment to distributors, amounts billed are included as accounts receivable, inventory is relieved, and the sale and cost of sale are deferred and are reflected net as a current liability until the product is sold by the distributor to their customers.

Share-based Compensation

In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we adopted SFAS No. 123R, which requires the measurement at fair value and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards, including grants of employee stock options, RSUs and employee stock purchase rights, to be recognized in our financial statements based on their respective grant date fair values. Total share-based compensation during the nine months ended December 31, 2007 was $24.5 million, of which $19.5 million was reflected in operating expenses and $5.0 million was capitalized to inventory. Share-based compensation reflected in cost of sales during the nine months ended December 31, 2007 was $4.6 million.

Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of share-based awards at the date of grant requires judgment. The fair value of our RSUs is based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant discounted for expected future dividends. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of employee stock options and rights to purchase shares under stock participation plans, consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R. Option pricing models, including the Black-Scholes model, also require the use of input assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend rate, and expected risk-free rate of return. We use a blend of historical and implied volatility based on options freely traded in the open market as we believe this is more reflective of market conditions and a better indicator of expected volatility than using purely historical volatility. The expected life of the awards is based on historical and other economic data trended into the future. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the terms of our awards. The dividend yield assumption is based on our history and expectation of future dividend payouts.

SFAS No. 123R requires us to develop an estimate of the number of share-based awards which will be forfeited due to employee turnover. Quarterly changes in the estimated forfeiture rate can have a significant effect on reported share-based compensation, as the effect of adjusting the rate for all expense amortization after April 1, 2006 is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. If the actual forfeiture rate is higher or lower than the estimated forfeiture rate, then an adjustment is made to increase or decrease the estimated forfeiture rate, which will result in a decrease or increase to the expense recognized in the financial statements. If forfeiture adjustments are made, they would affect our gross margin, research and development expenses, and selling, general, administrative expenses. The effect of forfeiture adjustments in fiscal 2007 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2008 were immaterial.

We evaluate the assumptions used to value our awards on a quarterly basis. If factors change and we employ different assumptions, share-based compensation expense may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the past. If there are any modifications or cancellations of the underlying unvested securities, we may be required to accelerate, increase or cancel any remaining unearned share-based compensation expense. Future share-based compensation expense and unearned share-based compensation will increase to the extent that we grant additional equity awards to employees or we assume unvested equity awards in connection with acquisitions.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method. We write down our inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those we projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Inventory impairment charges establish a new cost basis for inventory and charges are not subsequently reversed to income even if circumstances later suggest that increased carrying amounts are recoverable. In estimating our inventory obsolescence, we primarily evaluate estimates of demand over a 12-month period and record impairment charges for inventory on hand in excess of the estimated 12-month demand.

Income Taxes

As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income within the relevant jurisdiction and to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. We have not provided for a valuation allowance because we believe that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. Should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made. At December 31, 2007, our gross deferred tax asset was $60.7 million.

Various taxing authorities in the United States and other countries in which we do business scrutinize the tax structures employed by businesses. Companies of our size and complexity are regularly audited by the taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which they conduct significant operations. We are currently under audit by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for our fiscal years ended March 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004. We recognize liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in the United States and other tax jurisdictions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional tax payments are probable. We believe that we maintain adequate tax reserves to offset any potential tax liabilities that may arise upon these and other pending audits in the United States and other countries in which we do business. If such amounts ultimately prove to be unnecessary, the resulting reversal of such reserves would result in tax benefits being recorded in the period the reserves are no longer deemed necessary. If such amounts ultimately prove to be less than an ultimate assessment, a future charge to expense would be recorded in the period in which the assessment is determined.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. At December 31, 2007, the carrying value of our property and equipment totaled $524.8 million, which represents 20.1% of our total assets. This carrying value reflects the application of our property and equipment accounting policies, which incorporate estimates, assumptions and judgments relative to the useful lives of our property and equipment. Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from five to seven years on manufacturing equipment and approximately 30 years on buildings.

We began production activities at Fab 4 on October 31, 2003. We began to depreciate the Fab 4 assets as they were placed in service for production purposes. As of December 31, 2007, all of the buildings and supporting facilities were being depreciated as well as the manufacturing equipment that had been placed in service. All manufacturing equipment that was not being used in production activities was maintained in projects in process and is not being depreciated until it is placed into service since management believes there will be no change to its utility from the present time until it is placed into productive service. The lives to be used for depreciating this equipment at Fab 4 will be evaluated at such time as the assets are placed in service. We do not believe that the temporary idling of such assets has impaired the estimated life or carrying values of the underlying assets.

The estimates, assumptions and judgments we use in the application of our property and equipment policies reflect both historical experience and expectations regarding future industry conditions and operations. The use of different estimates, assumptions and judgments regarding the useful lives of our property and equipment and expectations regarding future industry conditions and operations, could result in materially different carrying values of assets and results of operations.

We do not currently hold title to the land on which our Thailand facility resides. The land is subject to a bankruptcy relating to the seller of the land. We are currently working with the creditors in attempts to reach resolution on this matter. We have provided reserves that we estimate will be adequate to obtain full title. Such reserves are set at the estimated fair value of the land. However, timing of the resolution is difficult to predict and the ultimate amount to be paid could change.

Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment

We assess whether indicators of impairment of long-lived assets are present. If such indicators are present, we determine whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets in question is 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. If the assets determined to be impaired are to be held and used, we recognize an impairment loss through a charge to our operating results to the extent the present value of anticipated net cash flows attributable to the asset are less than the asset’s carrying value, which we depreciate over the remaining estimated useful life of the asset. We may incur impairment losses, or additional losses on already impaired assets, in future periods if factors influencing our estimates change.

Convertible Debentures

We account for our contingent convertible debentures and related provisions in accordance with the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue (EITF) No. 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios, EITF No. 00-27, Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments, EITF No. 00-19 (EITF 00-19), Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock, and EITF No. 01-6, The Meaning of “Indexed to a Company’s Own Stock,” EITF No. 04-08 (EITF 04-08), The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earn. We also evaluate the instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133 (SFAS 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which requires bifurcation of embedded derivative instruments and measurement of fair value of accounting purposes. EITF 04-08 requires us to include the dilutive effect of the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding convertible debentures in our diluted income per share calculation regardless of whether the market price trigger or other contingent conversion feature has been met. We apply the treasury stock method as we have the intent and current ability to settle the principal amount of the convertible debentures in cash. This method results in incremental dilutive shares when the average fair value of our common stock for a reporting period exceeds the initial conversion price per share of $34.16.

Litigation

Our current estimated range of liability related to pending litigation is based on the probable loss of claims for which we can estimate the amount and range of loss. Recorded reserves were not significant at December 31, 2007.

Because of the uncertainties related to both the probability of loss and the amount and range of loss on our pending litigation, we are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the liability that could result from an unfavorable outcome. As additional information becomes available, we will assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and revise our estimates. Revisions in our estimates of the potential liability could materially impact our results of operation and financial position.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain operational data as a percentage of net sales for the periodsindicated:

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2007			2006

Net sales		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Cost of sales		39.4	%		40.4	%		39.9	%		39.8	%
Gross profit		60.6	%		59.6	%		60.1	%		60.2	%
Research and development		12.0	%		11.1	%		11.5	%		10.9	%
Selling, general and administrative		17.2	%		16.0	%		16.8	%		15.7	%
Loss on sale of Fab 3		---	%		---	%		3.4	%		---	%
Operating income		31.4	%		32.5	%		28.4	%		33.6	%

Net Sales

We operate in one industry segment and engage primarily in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of semiconductor products. We sell our products to distributors and original equipment manufacturers, referred to as OEMs, in a broad range of market segments, perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and generally require no collateral.

Our net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2007 were $252.6 million, a decrease of 2.3% from the previous quarter’s sales of $258.6 million, and an increase of 0.6% from net sales of $251.0 million in the three months ended December 31, 2006. The changes in net sales in these periods resulted primarily from changes in market conditions across all of our product lines. Average selling prices for our products for the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 were flat compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2006. For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007, average selling prices for our products were down approximately 4% over the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006. The number of units of our products sold for the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 was flat compared to the three-month period ended December 31, 2006. For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007, the number of units of our products sold was up approximately 3% over the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006. The average selling prices and the unit volumes of our sales are impacted by the mix of our products sold. Key factors in achieving the amount of net sales during the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007 include:

overall demand for our products;

increasing semiconductor content in our customers’ products;

customers’ increasing needs for the flexibility offered by our programmable solutions;

our new product offerings that have increased our served available market;

economic conditions in the markets we serve, specifically housing and consumer; and

inventory holding patterns of our customers.

We recognize revenue from product sales upon shipment to OEMs. Under our shipping terms, legal title passes to the customer upon shipment from Microchip and we have no post-shipment obligations. Distributors generally have broad rights to return products and price protection rights, so we defer revenue recognition until the distributors sell the product to their customers. Upon shipment, amounts billed to distributors are included in accounts receivable, inventory is relieved and the sale and cost of sales is deferred and reflected net as a current liability until the product is sold by the distributors to their customers.

Sales by product line for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Three Months Ended December 31, (unaudited)										Nine Months Ended December 31, (unaudited)
	2007		%			2006		%			2007		%			2006		%

Microcontrollers	$	202,942		80.3	%	$	200,073		79.7	%	$	621,776		80.1	%	$	626,167		80.1	%
Memory products		29,672		11.8	%		30,105		12.0	%		92,600		12.0	%		92,843		11.9	%
Analog and interface products		19,986		7.9	%		20,826		8.3	%		60,943		7.9	%		62,485		8.0	%
Total sales	$	252,600		100.0	%	$	251,004		100.0	%	$	775,319		100.0	%	$	781,495		100.0	%

Microcontrollers

Our microcontroller product line represents the largest component of our total net sales. Microcontrollers and associated application development systems accounted for approximately 80.3% of our total net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and approximately 80.1% of our total net sales for the nine-month period ended December 2007 compared to approximately 79.7% of our total net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 and approximately 80.1% of our total net sales for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006.

Net sales of our microcontroller products increased approximately 1.4% in the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and decreased approximately 0.7% in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2006. These sales changes were primarily due to economic conditions in the markets we serve and other factors described on page 22 above. The end markets that we serve include the consumer, automotive, industrial control, communications and computing markets.

Historically, average selling prices in the semiconductor industry decrease over the life of any particular product. The overall average selling prices of our microcontroller products have remained relatively constant over time due to the proprietary nature of these products. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, moderate pricing pressure in certain microcontroller product lines, primarily due to competitive conditions. We have been able to in the past, and expect to be able to in the future, moderate average selling price declines in our microcontroller product lines by introducing new products with more features and higher prices. We may be unable to maintain average selling prices for our microcontroller products as a result of increased pricing pressure in the future, which would adversely affect our operating results.

Memory Products

Sales of our memory products accounted for approximately 11.8% of our total net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and 12.0% of our total net sales for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to approximately 12.0% of our total net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 and 11.9% of our total net sales in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006.

Net sales of our memory products decreased approximately 1.4% in the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and 0.3% in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2006. These sales decreases were driven by customer demand conditions within the Serial EEPROM market which products comprise substantially all of our memory product net sales.

Serial EEPROM product pricing has historically been cyclical in nature, with steep price declines followed by periods of relative price stability, driven by changes in industry capacity at different stages of the business cycle. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, varying degrees of competitive pricing pressures in our Serial EEPROM products. We may be unable to maintain the average selling prices of our Serial EEPROM products as a result of increased pricing pressure in the future, which could adversely affect our operating results.

Analog and Interface Products

Sales of our analog and interface products accounted for approximately 7.9% of our total net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and 7.9% of our total net sales for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to approximately 8.3% of our total net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 and 8.0% of our total net sales for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006.

Net sales of our analog and interface products decreased approximately 4.0% in the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and 2.5% in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2006. These sales decreases in our analog and interface products were driven by supply and demand conditions within the analog and interface market.

Analog and interface products can be proprietary or non-proprietary in nature. Currently, we consider more than half of our analog and interface product mix to be proprietary in nature, where prices are relatively stable, similar to the pricing stability experienced in our microcontroller products. The non-proprietary portion of our analog and interface business will experience price fluctuations, driven primarily by the current supply and demand for those products. We may be unable to maintain the average selling prices of our analog and interface products as a result of increased pricing pressure in the future, which would adversely affect our operating results. We anticipate the proprietary portion of our analog and interface products will continue to increase over time.

Turns Orders

Our net sales in any given quarter depend upon a combination of shipments from backlog and orders received in that quarter for shipment in that quarter, which we refer to as turns orders. Historically, we have proven our ability to respond quickly to customer orders as part of our competitive strategy, resulting in customers placing orders with short delivery schedules. Shorter lead times generally mean that turns orders as a percentage of our business are relatively high in any particular quarter and reduce our backlog visibility on future product shipments. Turns orders correlate to overall semiconductor industry conditions and product lead times. Turns orders are difficult to predict, and we may not experience the combination of turns orders and shipments from backlog in a quarter that would be sufficient to achieve anticipated net sales. If we do not achieve a sufficient level of turns orders in a particular quarter, our net sales and operating results may suffer.

Distribution

Distributors accounted for approximately 65% of our net sales in the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and 64% in the three-month period ended December 31, 2006. Distributors accounted for approximately 65% of our net sales in the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

Our largest distributor accounted for approximately 11% of our net sales in the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007. Our two largest distributors accounted for approximately 19% of our net sales in the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 and 21% in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006.

Generally, we do not have long-term agreements with our distributors and we, or our distributors, may terminate our relationships with each other with little or no advanced notice. The loss of, or the disruption in the operations of, one or more of our distributors could reduce our future net sales in a given quarter and could result in an increase in inventory returns.

At December 31, 2007, our distributors were maintaining an average of approximately 1.9 months of inventory of our products. Over the past three fiscal years, the months of inventory maintained by our distributors have fluctuated between approximately 1.8 and 2.8 months. Thus, inventory levels at our distributors are at the low end of the range we have experienced over the last three years. As we recognize revenue based on sell through for all of our distributors, we do not believe that inventory holding patterns at our distributors will materially impact our net sales and earnings.

Sales by Geography

Sales by geography for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Three Months Ended December 31, (unaudited)										Nine Months Ended December 31, (unaudited)
	2007		%			2006		%			2007		%			2006		%

Americas	$	65,989		26.1	%	$	70,072		27.9	%	$	206,293		26.6	%	$	217,280		27.8	%

Europe		71,026		28.1	%		70,749		28.2	%		226,063		29.2	%		218,348		27.9	%

Asia		115,585		45.8	%		110,183		43.9	%		342,963		44.2	%		345,867		44.3	%

Total sales	$	252,600		100.0	%	$	251,004		100.0	%	$	775,319		100.0	%	$	781,495		100.0	%

Our sales to foreign customers have been predominately in Asia and Europe, which we attribute to the manufacturing strength in those areas for automotive, communications, computing, consumer and industrial control products. Americas sales include sales to customers in the United States, Canada, Central America and South America. Sales to customers in Asia have generally increased over time due to many of our customers transitioning their manufacturing operations to Asia and growth in demand from the emerging Asian market. The geographic sales information above is based on where the product is shipped for manufacturing purposes and does not reflect where the design activity has occurred or where the end product will ultimately be consumed.

Sales to foreign customers accounted for approximately 75% of our net sales in the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007. Sales to foreign customers accounted for approximately 75% of our net sales in the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 and 74% of our net sales in the nine months ended December 31, 2006. Substantially all of our foreign sales are U.S. dollar denominated.

Gross Profit

Our gross profit was $153.0 million in the three months ended December 31, 2007 and $149.7 million in the three months ended December 31, 2006. Our gross profit was $466.3 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and $470.2 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2006. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 60.6% in the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 59.6% in the three months ended December 31, 2006. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 60.1% in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 60.2% in the nine months ended December 31, 2006.

The most significant factors affecting our gross profit percentage in the periods covered by this report were:

increased cost of sales of $3.0 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007, compared to the prior year period, associated with share-based compensation expense under the SFAS 123R;

fluctuations in the product mix of microcontrollers, proprietary and non-proprietary analog products and Serial EEPROM products resulting in lower average selling prices for our products;

lower depreciation expense as a percentage of cost of sales; and

unfavorable foreign exchange rate fluctuations impacting our Thailand manufacturing operations.

Other factors that impacted gross profit percentage in the periods covered by this report include:

changes in capacity utilization and absorption of fixed costs;

gross profit on products sold through the distribution channel;

continued cost reductions in wafer fabrication and assembly and test manufacturing such as new manufacturing technologies and more efficient manufacturing techniques; and

the process technologies used in our wafer fabrication operations.

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2007, we operated at approximately 99% of our Fab 2 capacity, which is approximately the same level of utilization from the same period of the previous fiscal year. Our utilization of Fab 4’s total capacity is at relatively low levels although we are utilizing all of the installed equipment base. We expect to maintain approximately the same levels of capacity utilization at Fab 2 and Fab 4 during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

The process technologies utilized impact our gross margins. Fab 2 currently utilizes various manufacturing process technologies, but predominantly utilizes our 0.5 to 1.0 micron processes. At December 31, 2007, Fab 4 predominantly utilized our 0.5 micron process technology. We continue to transition products to more advanced process technologies to reduce future manufacturing costs. All of our production has been on 8-inch wafers for the periods covered by this report.

Our overall inventory levels were $124.8 million at December 31, 2007 compared to $121.0 million at March 31, 2007. We had 114 days of inventory on our balance sheet at December 31, 2007 compared to 107 days at March 31, 2007 and 110 days at December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2007, $3.6 million of share-based compensation expense was included in inventory compared to $3.2 million at March 31, 2007, as a result of the adoption of SFAS 123R. The adoption of this accounting standard adversely impacted our gross profit in the three and nine months ending December 31, 2007, as inventory including share-based compensation was sold.

We anticipate that our gross margins will fluctuate over time, driven primarily by the overall product mix of microcontroller, analog and interface and memory products and the percentage of net sales of each of these products in a particular quarter, as well as manufacturing yields, fixed cost absorption, capacity utilization levels, particularly those at Fab 4, and competitive and economic conditions.

At December 31, 2007, approximately 68% of our assembly requirements were being performed in our Thailand facility, compared to approximately 73% as of December 31, 2006. Third-party contractors located in Asia perform the balance of our assembly operations. Substantially all of our test requirements were being performed in our Thailand facility as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. We believe that the assembly and test operations performed at our Thailand facility provide us with significant cost savings when compared to third-party contractor assembly and test costs, as well as increased control over these portions of the manufacturing process.

We rely on outside wafer foundries for a small portion of our wafer fabrication requirements.

Our use of third parties involves some reduction in our level of control over the portions of our business that we subcontract. While we review the quality, delivery and cost performance of our third-party contractors, our future operating results could suffer if any third-party contractor is unable to maintain manufacturing yields, assembly and test yields and costs at approximately their current levels.

Research and Development (R&D)

R&D expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2007 were $30.3 million, or 12.0% of sales, compared to $28.0 million, or 11.2% of sales, for the three months ended December 31, 2006. R&D expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 were $89.4 million, or 11.5% of sales, compared to $85.2 million, or 10.9% of sales, for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. We are committed to investing in new and enhanced products, including development systems software, and in our design and manufacturing process technologies. We believe these investments are significant factors in maintaining our competitive position. We expense all R&D costs as incurred. R&D expenses include labor, depreciation, masks, prototype wafers, and expenses for the development of process technologies, new packages, and software to support new products and design environments.

R&D expenses increased $2.3 million, or 8.1%, for the three months ended December 31, 2007 over the same period last year. R&D expenses increased $4.2 million, or 4.9%, for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 over the same period last year. The primary reason for the increases in R&D expenses in these periods was higher labor costs as a result of expanding our internal R&D headcount.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2007 were $43.5 million, or 17.2% of sales, compared to $40.2 million, or 16.0% of sales, for the three months ended December 31, 2006. Selling, general and administrative expense for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 were $130.3 million, or 16.8% of sales, compared to $122.5 million, or 15.7% of sales, for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salary expenses related to field sales, marketing and administrative personnel, advertising and promotional expenditures and legal expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include costs related to our direct sales force and field applications engineers who work in sales offices worldwide to stimulate demand by assisting customers in the selection and use of our products.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.3 million, or 8.3%, for the three months ended December 31, 2007 over the same period last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $7.8 million, or 6.3%, for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 over the same period last year. The primary reason for the increases in selling, general and administrative expenses in these periods was higher labor costs as a result of expanding our internal resources involved in the technical aspect of selling our products.

Selling, general and administrative expenses fluctuate over time, primarily due to revenue and operating expense levels.

Loss on Sale of Fab 3

In August 2002, we acquired a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gresham, Oregon, referred to as Fab 4. After the acquisition of Fab 4 was completed, we undertook an analysis of the potential production capacity at Fab 4. The results of the production capacity analysis led us to determine that Fab 3’s capacity would not be needed in the foreseeable future and during the second quarter of fiscal 2003 we committed to a plan to sell Fab 3. Accordingly, Fab 3 was classified as an asset held-for-sale as of December 31, 2002, and we maintained that classification until March 31, 2005.

On March 31, 2005, we changed the classification of Fab 3 from an asset held-for-sale to an asset held-for-future-use and began to depreciate the asset. Fab 3 had been on the market for over two years, and we had not received any acceptable offers on the facility. Over that period of time, our business had increased significantly and we thought that over the next several years we would need to begin planning for future wafer fabrication capacity as a larger percentage of Fab 4’s clean room capacity was utilized. We determined that the appropriate action to take was to stop actively marketing the Fab 3 facility and hold it for future use. As a result of this change in classification, we had to assess the fair value of the Fab 3 asset to determine if any additional impairment charge was required upon the change in classification from held-for-sale to held-for-future-use under SFAS No. 144. We performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the Fab 3 asset based on various financial projections in developing the fair value estimate given that it was the best available valuation technique for the asset. The discounted cash flow analysis confirmed the carrying value of the Fab 3 asset at March 31, 2005 was not in excess of its fair value. No indicators of impairment for the Fab 3 asset arose between March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2007.

We received an unsolicited offer on the Fab 3 facility in September 2007. We assessed our available capacity in our current facilities, along with our capacity available from outside foundries and determined the capacity of Fab 3 would not be required in the near term. As a result of this assessment, we accepted the offer to sell Fab 3 on September 21, 2007 and the transaction closed on October 19, 2007. We received $27.5 million in cash net of expenses associated with the sale and recognized an impairment charge of $26.8 million on the sale of Fab 3, representing the difference between the carrying value of the assets at September 30, 2007 and the amounts realized subsequent to September 30, 2007.

Other Income (Expense)

Interest income in the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007 decreased from interest income in the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2006 as the average interest rates on our invested cash balances were at lower levels in the periods ended December 31, 2007 compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year. Interest expense in the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 was higher than interest expense in the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 due to the $1.15 billion in 2.125% convertible debentures we issued in December 2007. Interest expense in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 was lower than the interest expense in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006 due to the paydown of short-term debt that was outstanding in the earlier period.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provisions for income taxes reflect tax on foreign earnings and federal and state tax on U.S. earnings. We had an effective tax rate of 12.2% for the three-month period ended December 31, 2007 and 15.7% in the nine-month period ending December 31, 2007 and 24.0% for the three and nine-month periods ending December 31, 2006. The lower tax rates in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the same periods last year were driven by a $5.7 million favorable resolution of a foreign tax matter in the three months ended December 31, 2007, a $10.3 million U.S. tax benefit associated with the sale of Fab 3 in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and the impact of the resolution of certain tax matters through a tax settlement that was finalized with the IRS in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.

At December 31, 2007, our gross deferred tax asset was $60.7 million. Our gross deferred tax asset decreased by $1.3 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the level at March 31, 2007, due primarily to changes in various temporary differences between our book and tax reporting. At December 31, 2007, our deferred tax liability was $14.1 million. Our gross deferred tax liability increased by $5.8 million in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 compared to the level at March 31, 2007, due primarily to temporary differences related to our outstanding convertible debentures and changes in temporary differences in depreciation between our book and tax reporting.

Our Thailand manufacturing operations currently benefit from tax holidays that have been granted to us by the Thailand government based on our investments in property, plant and equipment in Thailand. Our tax holiday periods in Thailand expire at various times in the future. One of our Thailand tax holidays expired in September 2006 and that expiration did not have a material impact on our effective tax rate. We do not expect the future expiration of any of our tax holiday periods in Thailand to have a material impact on our effective tax rate. Any expiration of tax holidays are expected to have a minimal impact on our overall tax expense due to other tax holidays and an increase in income in other taxing jurisdictions with lower statutory rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

We had $1,653.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments at December 31, 2007, an increase of $375.0 million from the March 31, 2007 balance. The increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments over this time period is primarily attributable to cash generated from operating activities and cash received from the issuance of our convertible debentures being offset by dividends and stock repurchase activity in the nine months ended December 31, 2007.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided from operating activities was $360.1 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 compared to $357.8 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006. The change in cash flow from operations was primarily from changes in accounts receivable, other assets and liabilities, accounts payable and accrued liability balances, and changes in deferred taxes.

Investing Activities

During the nine months ended December 31, 2007, net cash provided by investing activities was $271.4 million. During the nine months ended December 31, 2006, net cash used in investing activities was $436.8 million. The increase in cash was due primarily to changes in our net purchases, sales and maturities of short-term and long-term investments in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2007 and cash proceeds from the sale of Fab 3.

See further discussions of our investment portfolio in Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Our level of capital expenditures varies from time to time as a result of actual and anticipated business conditions. Capital expenditures in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 were $49.1 million compared to $51.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. Capital expenditures are primarily for the expansion of production capacity and the addition of research and development equipment. We currently anticipate spending approximately $90 million during the next 12 months to invest in equipment and facilities to maintain, and selectively increase, capacity to meet our currently anticipated needs, including approximatley $30 million to expand our building footprint in Thailand.

We expect to finance capital expenditures through our existing cash balances and cash flows from operations. We believe that the capital expenditures anticipated to be incurred over the next 12 months will provide sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet our currently anticipated needs.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $32.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. Net cash used in financing activities was $333.0 million in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2006. During the nine-months ended December 31, 2007, we received net proceeds of $1,127.0 million from the issuance of our 2.125% convertible debentures and repurchased $964.8 million of our common stock. Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee purchases under our employee stock purchase plan were $44.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and $42.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. We paid cash dividends to our shareholders of $191.6 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and $150.5 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2006. During the nine months ended December 31, 2006, we paid down $239.5 million in short-term borrowings. Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements were $16.8 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and $14.7 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2006.

Hedging Activities

We enter into hedging transactions from time to time in an attempt to reduce our exposure to currency rate fluctuations. At December 31, 2007, we had $2.1 million of foreign currency hedges outstanding. Although none of the countries in which we conduct significant foreign operations have had a highly inflationary economy in the last five years, there is no assurance that inflation rates or fluctuations in foreign currency rates in countries where we conduct operations will not adversely affect our operating results in the future.

Stock Repurchases

On October 25, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 10.0 million shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2007, we had repurchased 8,009,969 shares under this authorization for $270.8 million. On December 11, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 10.0 million shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2007, all of this authorization remained outstanding and there is no expiration date associated with this program.

We purchased 21.5 million shares of our common stock concurrent with the convertible debenture transaction described in Note 9 to our financial statements and no further shares are available to be repurchased under this authorization.

As of December 31, 2007, approximately 29.8 million shares remained as treasury shares with the balance of the shares being used to fund share issuance requirements under our equity incentive plans. The timing and amount of future repurchases will depend upon market conditions, interest rates and corporate considerations.

Dividends

On October 28, 2002, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved and instituted a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock. The initial quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share was paid on December 6, 2003 in the aggregate amount of $4.0 million. We have continued to pay quarterly dividends and have increased the amount of such dividends on a regular basis. A quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share was paid on November 20, 2007 in the aggregate amount of $66.4 million. A quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share was declared on January 24, 2008 and will be paid on February 21, 2008 to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2008. We expect the February 2008 cash dividend to be approximately $60.6 million. Since the inception of our dividend program, we have paid aggregate dividends of $594.0 million.

We believe that our existing sources of liquidity combined with cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our currently anticipated cash requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, the semiconductor industry is capital intensive. In order to remain competitive, we must constantly evaluate the need to make significant investments in capital equipment for both production and research and development. We may seek additional equity or debt financing from time to time to maintain or expand our wafer fabrication and product assembly and test facilities, or for other purposes. The timing and amount of any such financing requirements will depend on a number of factors, including demand for our products, changes in industry conditions, product mix, and competitive factors. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, and any additional equity financing would result in incremental ownership dilution to our existing stockholders.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations at December 31, 2007, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods. This table excludes amounts already recorded on our balance sheet as current liabilities at December 31, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

	Payments Due by Period
	Total		Less than 1 year		1 – 3 years		3 – 5 years		More than 5 years
Operating lease obligations	$	16,162	$	5,730	$	8,226	$	2,051	$	155
Capital purchase obligations (1)		47,198		47,198		---		---		---
Other purchase obligations andcommitments (2)		2,005		808		1,197		---		---
2.125% convertible debentures – principal and interest (3)		1,881,564		24,438		48,875		48,875		1,759,376

Total contractual obligations (4)	$	1,946,929	$	78,174	$	58,298	$	50,929	$	1,759,531

(1) Capital purchase obligations represent commitments for construction or purchases of property, plant and equipment. They are not recorded as liabilities on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, as we have not yet received the related goods or taken title to the property.

(2) Other purchase obligations and commitments include payments due under various types of licenses.

(3) In December 2007, we issued $1.15 billion principal amount of 2.125% debentures due December 15, 2037. We will pay cash interest at a rate of 2.125% payable semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2008.

(4) Total contractual obligations do not include contractual obligations recorded on the balance sheet as current liabilities, or certain purchase obligations as discussed below.

Purchase orders or contracts for the purchase of raw materials and other goods and services are not included in the table above. We are not able to determine the aggregate amount of such purchase orders that represent contractual obligations, as purchase orders may represent authorizations to purchase rather than binding agreements. For the purpose of this table, contractual obligations for purchase of goods or services are defined as agreements that are enforceable and legally binding on Microchip and that specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Our purchase orders are based on our current manufacturing needs and are fulfilled by our vendors with short time horizons. We do not have significant agreements for the purchase of raw materials or other goods specifying minimum quantities or set prices that exceed our expected requirements for three months. We also enter into contracts for outsourced services; however, the obligations under these contracts were not significant and the contracts generally contain clauses allowing for cancellation without significant penalty.

The expected timing of payment of the obligations discussed above is estimated based on current information. Timing of payments and actual amounts paid may be different depending on the time of receipt of goods or services or changes to agreed-upon amounts for some obligations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2007, we are not involved in any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 establishes a single model to address accounting for uncertain tax positions. 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 de-recognition, measurement classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. We adopted FIN 48 on April 1, 2007, and did not recognize any cumulative-effect adjustment associated with our unrecognized tax benefits, interest, and penalties.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurement (SFAS No. 157). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value accordance with in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are in the process of determining the effect, if any, that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (SFAS No. 159). Under this Standard, we may elect to report financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis with changes in value reported in earnings. SFAS No. 159 is effective for years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this Standard.

In June 2007, the FASB ratified EITF 07-3, Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services Received for Use in Future Research and Development Activities (EITF 07-3). EITF 07-3 requires that nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities be deferred and capitalized and recognized as an expense as the goods are delivered or the related services are performed. EITF 07-3 is effective, on a prospective basis, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007 and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. We do not expect the adoption of EITF 07-3 to have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141R). SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. SFAS No. 141R also establishes disclosure requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS No. 141R on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (SFAS No. 160). SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in a parent’s ownership interest, and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. SFAS No. 160 also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 160 on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Potential Changes in Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2007, the FASB released proposed FSP APB 14-a Accounting For Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement) (FSP APB 14-a) that would alter the accounting treatment for convertible debt instruments that allow for either mandatory or optional cash settlements. FSP APB 14-a, if adopted as proposed, would impact the accounting associated with our $1,150.1 million junior convertible debentures. If adopted as proposed, this FSP would require us to recognize additional (non-cash) interest expense based on the market rate for similar debt instruments without the conversion feature. Furthermore, it would require recognizing interest expense in prior periods pursuant to retrospective accounting treatment. The proposed FSP was issued for a 45-day comment period that ended on October 15, 2007 but has not been issued in final form. The FASB is expected to begin its redeliberations of the guidance in FSP APB 14-a in the first quarter of calendar year 2008 and the ultimate effective date and outcome of such redeliberations is unknown at this time.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Included within our investment portfolio are $60.4 million of AA and AAA rated investments in auction rate securities. In September 2007, auction rate securities that were originally purchased for $24.9 million failed the auction process. The failures resulted in the interest rate on these investments resetting at LIBOR plus 125 or 175 basis points. While we now earn a higher rate of interest on the investments, the investments are not liquid. The $24.9 million in auctions have continued to fail through the date of the filing of this report. All of our holdings in investments where the auctions have failed are owned by one of our non U.S. subsidiaries and these funds are permanently invested offshore and are not required for our ongoing operations. In the event we need to access these funds, we will not be able to until a future auction on these investments is successful. The fair value of the failed auction rate securities has been estimated by management using pricing information provided by the firms managing our investments and could change significantly based on market conditions. Based on the estimated valuations provided, we concluded the investments in auction rate securities were other than temporarily impaired, and recognized a $0.9 million impairment charge on these investments in the three months ended December 31, 2007. If the issuers are unable to successfully close future auctions or if their credit ratings deteriorate, we may be required to further adjust the carrying value of these investments through an impairment charge to earnings. There are $22.4 million in original purchase value of the failed auction rate securities that are insured for their principal and interest in the case of default by Ambac, FGIC and MBIA. Based on information available at December 31, 2007, management has no reason to beleive the counterparties or the insurers will be unable to fulfill these obligations, however, there can be no assurance that such obligations could be fulfilled in future periods. As a result of the $0.9 million impairment charge taken on the failed auction rate securities in the three months ended December 31, 2007, the securities have a carrying value of $24.0 million. Based on our ability to access our cash and other short-term investments, our expected operating cash flows, and our other sources of cash, we do not anticipate the lack of liquidity on these investments will affect our ability to operate our business as usual. We have continued to invest a portion of our portfolio in auction rate securities where the underlying assets have not been impacted by the current liquidity issues in the marketplace. Our continued investments in auction rate securities are primarily in municipal bond auction rate structures. We have not had any additional securities fail the auction process.

During the normal course of business, we are subject to a variety of market risks, examples of which include, but are not limited to, interest rate movements and foreign currency fluctuations and collectability of accounts receivable. We continuously assess these risks and have established policies and procedures to help protect against any material adverse effects of these and other potential exposures. Although we do not anticipate any material losses in these risk areas, no assurance can be made that material losses will not be incurred in these areas in the future. During the nine months ended December 31, 2007, there were no material changes in our exposure to market risk as disclosed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2007 other than the auction rate securities described above.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as required by paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we evaluated under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management. Our disclosure controls and procedures include components of our internal control over financial reporting. Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is expressed at the level of reasonable assurance because a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the three months ended December 31, 2007, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of our business, we are involved in a limited number of legal actions, both as plaintiff and defendant, and could incur uninsured liability in any one or more of them. Although the outcome of these actions is not presently determinable, we believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not harm our business and will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. Litigation relating to the semiconductor industry is not uncommon, and we are, and from time to time have been, subject to such litigation. No assurances can be given with respect to the extent or outcome of any such litigation in the future.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

When evaluating Microchip and its business, you should give careful consideration to the factors listed below, in addition to the information provided elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and in other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate due to factors that could reduce our net sales and profitability.

Our quarterly operating results are affected by a wide variety of factors that could reduce our net sales and profitability, many of which are beyond our control. Some of the factors that may affect our quarterly operating results include:

changes in demand or market acceptance of our products and products of our customers;

levels of inventories at our customers;

the mix of inventory we hold and our ability to satisfy orders from our inventory;

changes in utilization of our manufacturing capacity and fluctuations in manufacturing yields;

our ability to secure sufficient assembly and testing capacity;

availability of raw materials and equipment;

competitive developments including pricing pressures;

the level of orders that are received and can be shipped in a quarter;

the level of sell-through of our products through distribution;

changes or fluctuations in customer order patterns and seasonality;

constrained availability from other electronic suppliers impacting our customers’ability to ship their products, which in turn may adversely impact our sales to those customers;

costs and outcomes of any tax audits or any litigation involving intellectual property, customers or other issues;

disruptions in our business or our customers' businesses due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, war, worldwide oil prices and supply, public health concerns or disruptions in the transportation system;

property damage or other losses, whether or not covered by insurance; and

general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally.

We believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful and that you should not rely upon any such comparisons as indications of future performance. In future periods our operating results may fall below our public guidance or the expectations of public market analysts and investors, which would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock.

Our operating results will suffer if we ineffectively utilize our manufacturing capacity or fail to maintain manufacturing yields.

The manufacture and assembly of integrated circuits, particularly non-volatile, erasable CMOS memory and logic devices such as those that we produce, are complex processes. These processes are sensitive to a wide variety of factors, including the level of contaminants in the manufacturing environment, impurities in the materials used, the performance of our wafer fabrication personnel and equipment, and other quality issues. As is typical in the semiconductor industry, we have from time to time experienced lower than anticipated manufacturing yields. Our operating results will suffer if we are unable to maintain yields at approximately the current levels. This could include delays in the recognition of revenue, loss of revenue or future orders, and customer-imposed penalties for failure to meet contractual shipment deadlines.

Our operating results are also adversely affected when we operate at less than optimal capacity. Lower capacity utilization results in certain costs being charged directly to expense and lower gross margins.

We are dependent on orders that are received and shipped in the same quarter and are therefore limited in our visibility of future product shipments.

Our net sales in any given quarter depend upon a combination of shipments from backlog and orders received in that quarter for shipment in that quarter, which we refer to as turns orders. We measure turns orders at the beginning of a quarter based on the orders needed to meet the shipment targets that we set entering the quarter. Historically, we have relied on our ability to respond quickly to customer orders as part of our competitive strategy, resulting in customers placing orders with relatively short delivery schedules. Shorter lead times generally mean that turns orders as a percentage of our business are relatively high in any particular quarter and reduces our backlog visibility on future product shipments. Turns orders correlate to overall semiconductor industry conditions and product lead times. Because turns orders are difficult to predict, varying levels of turns orders make our net sales more difficult to forecast. If we do not achieve a sufficient level of turns orders in a particular quarter relative to our revenue targets, our revenue and operating results may suffer.

Intense competition in the markets we serve may lead to pricing pressures, reduced sales of our products or reduced market share.

The semiconductor industry is intensely competitive and has been characterized by price erosion and rapid technological change. We compete with major domestic and international semiconductor companies, many of which have greater market recognition and substantially greater financial, technical, marketing, distribution and other resources than we do with which to pursue engineering, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of their products. We may be unable to compete successfully in the future, which could harm our business.

Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors both within and outside our control, including, but not limited to:

the quality, performance, reliability, features, ease of use, pricing and diversity of our products;

our success in designing and manufacturing new products including those implementing new technologies;

the rate at which customers incorporate our products into their own applications;

product introductions by our competitors;

the number, nature and success of our competitors in a given market;

our ability to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials and other supplies at acceptable prices;

our ability to protect our products and processes by effective utilization of intellectual property rights;

the quality of our customer service and our ability to address the needs of our customers; and

general market and economic conditions.

Historically, average selling prices in the semiconductor industry decrease over the life of any particular product. The overall average selling prices of our microcontroller and proprietary analog and interface products have remained relatively constant, while average selling prices of our Serial EEPROM and non-proprietary analog and interface products have declined over time.

We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, modest pricing declines in certain of our more mature proprietary product lines, due primarily to competitive conditions. We have been able to moderate average selling price declines in many of our proprietary product lines by continuing to introduce new products with more features and higher prices. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future. We have experienced in the past and expect to continue to experience in the future varying degrees of competitive pricing pressures in our Serial EEPROM and non-proprietary analog products.

We may be unable to maintain average selling prices for our products as a result of increased pricing pressure in the future, which could adversely impact our operating results.

Our business is dependent on selling through distributors.

Sales through distributors accounted for approximately 65% of our net sales in fiscal 2007 and the first nine months of fiscal 2008. Our two largest distributors together accounted for approximately 21% of our net sales in fiscal 2007. Our largest distributor accounted for approximately 11% of our net sales during the first nine months of fiscal 2008. We do not have long-term agreements with our distributors and both we and our distributors may each terminate our relationship with little or no advance notice.

On February 4, 2008 we terminated our distributor Arrow Electronics and announced that we have partnered with Avnet Electronics Marketing and Future Electronics to provide our global distribution services. We believe that these two global distributors combined with our regional and specialty distributor partners will have a positive long-term impact in supporting the technical and commercial support needs of our customers. Our net sales of product sold by Arrow Electronics in the three months ended December 31, 2007 represented approximately 7% of our net sales. Although we do not believe the termination of Arrow Electronics will have a material adverse impact on our net sales, there can be no assurance as to what the long-term or short-term impact on us will be as a result of these recent actions.

During fiscal 2006, we reduced the gross margin that certain of our distributors earn when they sell our products. We reduced these distributors' gross margins because we believed these distributors did not have sufficient technical sales resources to properly address the marketplace for our products. Since fiscal 2006, we have added a significant number of technical sales employees throughout our worldwide sales organization to address the support requirements for both our OEM and distribution customers. Although these actions have not had a material adverse impact on the overall effectiveness of our distribution channel, there can be no assurance that there will not be an adverse impact in the future.

The loss of, or a disruption in the operations of, one or more of our distributors could reduce our net sales in a given period and could result in an increase in inventory returns.

Our success depends on our ability to introduce new products on a timely basis.

Our future operating results will depend on our ability to develop and introduce new products on a timely basis that can compete effectively on the basis of price and performance and which address customer requirements. The success of our new product introductions depends on various factors, including, but not limited to:

proper new product selection;

timely completion and introduction of new product designs;

development of support tools and collateral literature that make complex new products easy for engineers to understand and use; and

market acceptance of our customers' end products.

Because our products are complex, we have experienced delays from time to time in completing development of new products. In addition, our new products may not receive or maintain substantial market acceptance. We may be unable to design, develop and introduce competitive products on a timely basis, which could adversely impact our future operating results.

Our success also depends upon our ability to develop and implement new design and process technologies. Semiconductor design and process technologies are subject to rapid technological change and require significant R&D expenditures. We and other companies in the industry have, from time to time, experienced difficulties in effecting transitions to advanced process technologies and, consequently, have suffered reduced manufacturing yields or delays in product deliveries. Our future operating results could be adversely affected if any transition to future process technologies is substantially delayed or inefficiently implemented.

We must attract and retain qualified personnel to be successful, and competition for qualified personnel is intense in our market.

Our success depends upon the efforts and abilities of our senior management, engineering and other personnel. The competition for qualified engineering and management personnel is intense.

We may be unsuccessful in retaining our existing key personnel or in attracting and retaining additional key personnel that we require. The loss of the services of one or more of our key personnel or the inability to add key personnel could harm our business. We have no employment agreements with any member of our senior management team. As a result of the anticipated impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R in our first fiscal quarter of 2007 would have on our results of operations, we changed our equity compensation program during fiscal 2006. We now grant fewer equity based shares per employee and the type of equity instrument is generally restricted stock units rather than stock options. This change in our equity compensation program may make it more difficult for us to attract or retain qualified management and engineering personnel, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

We are dependent on several contractors to perform key manufacturing functions for us.

We use several contractors located in Asia for a portion of the assembly and testing of our products. We also rely on outside wafer foundries for a portion of our wafer fabrication. Although we own the majority of our manufacturing resources, the disruption or termination of any of our contractors could harm our business and operating results.

Our use of third parties involves some reduction in our level of control over the portions of our business that we subcontract. Our future operating results could suffer if any contractor were to experience financial, operations or production difficulties or situations when demand exceeds capacity, or if they were unable to maintain manufacturing yields, assembly and test yields and costs at approximately their current levels, or if due to their locations in foreign countries they were to experience political upheaval or infrastructure disruption. Further, procurement from third parties is done by purchase order and contracts. If these third parties are unable or unwilling to timely deliver products or services conforming to our quality standards, we may not be able to qualify additional manufacturing sources for our products in a timely manner or at all, and such arrangements, if any, may not be on favorable terms to us. In such event, we could experience an interruption in production, an increase in manufacturing and production costs, decline in product reliability, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

We may lose sales if our suppliers of raw materials and equipment fail to meet our needs.

Our semiconductor manufacturing operations require raw materials and equipment that must meet exacting standards. We generally have more than one source for these supplies, but there are only a limited number of suppliers capable of delivering various raw materials and equipment that meet our standards. The raw materials and equipment necessary for our business could become more difficult to obtain as worldwide use of semiconductors in product applications increases. We have experienced supply shortages from time to time in the past, and on occasion our suppliers have told us they need more time than expected to fill our orders or that they will no longer support certain equipment with updates or spare and replacements parts. An interruption of any raw materials or equipment sources, or the lack of supplier support for a particular piece of equipment, could harm our business.

Our operating results may be impacted by both seasonality and the wide fluctuations of supply and demand in the semiconductor industry.

The semiconductor industry is characterized by seasonality and wide fluctuations of supply and demand. Since a significant portion of our revenue is from consumer markets and international sales, our business may be subject to seasonally lower revenues in particular quarters of our fiscal year. However, strength in our overall business in certain recent periods and semiconductor industry conditions have had a more significant impact on our results than seasonality, and has made it difficult to assess the impact of seasonal factors on our business. The industry has also experienced significant economic downturns, characterized by diminished product demand and production over-capacity. We have sought to reduce our exposure to this industry cyclically by selling proprietary products that cannot be easily or quickly replaced, to a geographically diverse base of customers across a broad range of market segments. However, we have experienced substantial period-to-period fluctuations in operating results and expect, in the future, to experience period-to-period fluctuations in operating results due to general industry or economic conditions.

We are exposed to various risks related to legal proceedings or claims.

We are currently, and in the future may be, involved in legal proceedings or claims regarding patent infringement, intellectual property rights, contracts and other matters. As is typical in the semiconductor industry, we receive notifications from customers from time to time who believe that we owe them indemnification or other obligations related to infringement claims made against the customers by third parties. These legal proceedings and claims, whether with or without merit, could result in substantial cost to us and divert our resources. If we are not able to resolve a claim, negotiate a settlement of a matter, obtain necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms, reengineer our products or processes to avoid infringement, and/or successfully prosecute or defend our position, we could incur uninsured liability in any of them, be required to take an appropriate charge to operations, be enjoined from selling a material portion of our product line or using certain processes, suffer a reduction or elimination in value of inventories, and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed.

It is also possible that from time to time we may be subject to warranty or product liability claims that could lead to significant expenses related to the defense of such claims, diversion of resources, increased costs associated with the replacement of affected products, lost revenue or delay in recognition of revenue due to cancellation of orders and unpaid receivables, customer imposed fines or penalties for failure to meet contractual requirements, and a requirement to pay damages claims. Because the systems into which our products are integrated have a higher cost of goods than the products we sell, these expenses and damages may be significantly higher than the sales and profits we received from the products involved. While we specifically exclude consequential damages in our standard terms and conditions, our ability to avoid such liabilities may be limited by applicable law. We do have product liability insurance, but we do not expect that insurance will cover all claims or be of a sufficient amount to fully protect against such claims. Costs or payments we may make in connection with warranty or product liability claims may adversely affect the results of our operations.

Further, we sell to customers in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and medical, where failure of their systems could cause damage to property or persons. We may be subject to product liability claims if our products cause the system failures. We will face increased exposure to product liability claims if there are substantial increases in either the volume of our sales into these applications or the frequency of system failures caused by our devices.

Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could result in lost revenue or market opportunities.

Our ability to obtain patents, licenses and other intellectual property rights covering our products and manufacturing processes is important for our success. To that end, we have acquired certain patents and patent licenses and intend to continue to seek patents on many of our inventions and manufacturing processes. The process of seeking patent protection can be long and expensive, and patents may not be issued from currently pending or future applications. In addition, our existing patents and any new patents that are issued may not be of sufficient scope or strength to provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage to us. We may be subject to or may ourselves initiate interference proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which can require significant financial and management resources. In addition, the laws of certain foreign countries do not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Infringement of our intellectual property rights by a third party could result in uncompensated lost market and revenue opportunities for us.

We do not typically have long-term contracts with our customers.

We do not typically enter into long-term contracts with our customers and we cannot be certain about future order levels from our customers. When we do enter into customer contracts, the contract is generally cancelable at the convenience of the customer. Even though we have over 59,000 end customers and our ten largest customers made up approximately 10% of our total revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2007, cancellation of customer contracts could have an adverse financial impact on our revenue and profits.

Further, as the practice has become more commonplace in the industry, we have entered into contracts with certain customers that differ from our standard terms of sale. Under these contracts we commit to supply quantities of products on scheduled delivery dates. If we become unable to supply the customer as required under the contract, the customer may incur additional production costs, lost revenues due to subsequent delays in their own manufacturing schedule, or quality related issues. Under these contracts, we may be liable for the costs the customer has incurred. While we try to limit such liabilities, if they should arise, there may be a material adverse impact on our results of operation and financial condition.

Business interruptions could harm our business.

Operations at any of our manufacturing facilities, or at any of our wafer fabrication or test and assembly subcontractors, may be disrupted for reasons beyond our control, including work stoppages, power loss, incidents of terrorism or security risk, political instability, public health issues, telecommunications, transportation or other infrastructure failure, fire, earthquake, floods, or other natural disasters. If operations at any of our facilities, or our subcontractors' facilities are interrupted, we may not be able to shift production to other facilities on a timely basis. If this occurs, we would likely experience delays in shipments of products to our customers and alternate sources for production may be unavailable on acceptable terms. This could result in reduced revenues and profits and the cancellation of orders or loss of customers. In addition, business interruption insurance will likely not be enough to compensate us for any losses that may occur and any losses or damages incurred by us as a result of business interruptions could significantly harm our business.

We are highly dependent on foreign sales and operations, which exposes us to foreign political and economic risks.

Sales to foreign customers account for a substantial portion of our net sales. During fiscal 2007 and the first nine months of fiscal 2008, approximately 75% of our net sales were made to foreign customers. We purchase a substantial portion of our raw materials and equipment from foreign suppliers. In addition, we own product assembly and testing facilities located near Bangkok, Thailand, which has experienced periods of political uncertainty in the past. We also use various foreign contractors for a portion of our assembly and testing and for a portion of our wafer fabrication requirements. Substantially all of our finished goods inventory is maintained in Thailand.

Our reliance on foreign operations, foreign suppliers, maintenance of substantially all of our finished goods in inventory at foreign locations and significant foreign sales exposes us to foreign political and economic risks, including, but not limited to:

· political, social and economic instability;

· public health conditions;

· trade restrictions and changes in tariffs;

· import and export license requirements and restrictions;

· difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;

· employment regulations;

· disruptions in international transport or delivery;

· fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

· difficulties in collecting receivables;

· economic slowdown in the worldwide markets served by us; and

· potentially adverse tax consequences.

If any of these risks materialize, our sales could decrease and/or our operating results could suffer.

A substantial portion of our short-term investment portfolio is invested in auction rate securities and if an auction fails for amounts we have invested, our investment will not be liquid. If the issuer is unable to successfully close future auctions and their credit rating deteriorates, we may be required to adjust the carrying value of our investment through an impairment charge to earnings.

At December 31, 2007, $60.4 million of our investment portfolio was invested in auction rate securities. If an auction fails for amounts we have invested, our investment will not be liquid. In September 2007, auctions for $24.9 million of our original purchase value of our investments in auction rate securities had failed. The $24.9 million in failed auctions have continued to fail through the date of the filing of this report. As a result, we will not be able to access such funds until a future auction on these investments is successful. The fair value of the failed auction rate securities has been estimated by management based on pricing data provided by the firms managing our investments and could change significantly based on market conditions. Based on the estimated values, we concluded these investments were other than temporarily impaired and recognized an impairment charge on these investments of $0.9 million in the three months ended December 31, 2007. If the issuers are unable to successfully close future auctions or if their credit rating deteriorate, we may be required to further adjust the carrying value of the investments through an impairment charge to earnings. There are $22.4 million of original purchase value of the failed auctions that are insured for their principal and interest in the case of default. As a result of the $0.9 million impairment charge taken on the failed auction rate securities in the three months ended December 31, 2007, the securities have a carrying value of $24.0 million. Our ongoing investments in auction rate securities that have not failed the auction process are invested in municipal bonds that have no recent history of failed auctions.

Interruptions in information technology systems could affect our business.

We rely on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of complex information technology systems and networks to operate our business. Any significant system or network disruption, including but not limited to computer viruses, security breaches, or energy blackouts could have a material adverse impact on our operations, sales and operating results. We have implemented measures to manage our risks related to such disruptions, but such disruptions could negatively impact our operations and financial results. In addition, we may incur additional costs to remedy the damages caused by these disruptions or security breaches.

The occurrence of events for which we are self-insured, or which exceed our insurance limits may affect our profitability and liquidity.

We have insurance contracts with independent insurance companies related to many different types of risk; however, we self-insure for some risks and obligations. In these circumstances, we have determined that it is more cost effective to self-insure certain risks than to pay the increased premium costs in place since the disruption in the insurance market after the events of September 11, 2001. The risks and exposures that we self-insure include, but are not limited to, certain property, product defects, political risks, and patent infringement. Should there be a loss or adverse judgment or other decision in an area for which we are self-insured, then our financial condition, result of operations and liquidity may be adversely affected.

We are subject to stringent environmental regulations, which may force us to incur significant expenses.

We must comply with many different federal, state, local and foreign governmental regulations related to the use, storage, discharge and disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in our products and manufacturing process. Our failure to comply with present or future regulations could result in the imposition of fines, suspension of production or a cessation of operations. Such environmental regulations have required us in the past and could require us in the future to acquire costly equipment or to incur other significant expenses to comply with such regulations. Any failure by us to control the use of or adequately restrict the discharge of hazardous substances could subject us to future liabilities. Environmental problems may occur that could subject us to future costs or liabilities.

Over the past few years, there has been an expansion in environmental laws focusing on reducing or eliminating hazardous substances in electronic products. For example, the EU RoHS Directive provided that beginning July 1, 2006, electronic products sold into Europe were required to meet stringent chemical restrictions, including the absence of lead. China is adopting similar requirements. The first phase of the China legislation requires labeling and chemical content disclosure for all electronic products sold into or within China after February 28, 2007. While at this time our semiconductor products do not directly fall under the China legislation, we have complied with it in order to support our customers’ compliance efforts. As the Chinese legislation is further implemented or other similar laws are adopted in China or other countries, we may need to take additional compliance activities. These laws impact our products and may make it more expensive for us to manufacture and sell our products. It may be difficult to timely comply with these laws and we may not have sufficient quantities of compliant materials to meet customers' needs, thereby adversely impacting our sales and profitability. We may also have to write off inventory in the event that we hold inventory that is not saleable as a result of changes to regulations.

Regulatory authorities in jurisdictions into which we ship our products could levy fines or restrict our ability to export products.

A significant portion of our sales are made outside of the United States through exporting and re-exporting of products. In addition to local jurisdictions' export regulations, our U.S. manufactured products or products based on U.S. technology are subject to Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") when exported and re-exported to and from all international jurisdictions. Licenses or proper license exceptions may be required for the shipment of our products to certain countries. Non-compliance with the EAR or other export regulations can result in penalties including denial of export privileges, fines, criminal penalties, and seizure of products. Such penalties could have a material adverse effect on our business including our ability to meet our net sales and earnings targets.

The outcome of currently ongoing and future examinations of our income tax returns by the IRS could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

We are subject to continued examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these continuing examinations will not have an adverse effect on our future operating results.

In the event we make acquisitions, we may not be able to successfully integrate such acquisitions or attain the anticipated benefits.

While acquisitions do not represent a major part of our growth strategy, from time to time we may consider strategic acquisitions if such opportunities arise. Any transactions that we complete may involve a number of risks, including: the diversion of our management's attention from our existing business to integrate the operations and personnel of the acquired business, or possible adverse effects on our operating results during the integration process. In addition, we may not be able to successfully or profitably integrate, operate, maintain and manage any newly acquired operations or employees. We may not be able to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies, and this may lead to operational inefficiencies.

We have not historically maintained substantial levels of indebtedness, and our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected if we do not effectively manage our liabilities.

As a result of our sale of $1.15 billion of 2.125% convertible debentures in December 2007, we have a substantially greater amount of long-term debt than we have maintained in the past. Our maintenance of substantial levels of debt could adversely affect our flexibility to take advantage of corporate opportunities and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We may need or desire to refinance all or a portion of our debentures or any other future indebtedness that we incur on or before the maturity of the debentures. There can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

Conversion of our debentures will dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders, including holders who had previously converted their debentures.

The conversion of some or all of our outstanding debentures will dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders to the extent we deliver common stock upon conversion of the debentures. Any sales in the public market of any common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the debentures may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the debentures could be used to satisfy short positions, or anticipated conversion of the debentures into shares of our common stock could depress the price of our common stock.

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table sets forth our purchases of our common stock in the third quarter of fiscal 2008 and the footnote below the table designates the repurchase programs that the shares were purchased under:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period	(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased			(b) Average Price Paid per Share		(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs		(d) Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Programs (1)(2)
October 1 – October 31, 2007		1,597,200		$	32.08		1,597,200		5,896,235
November 1 – November 30, 2007		1,643,059		$	31.86		1,643,059		4,253,176
December 1 – December 31, 2007		23,763,145	(3)		29.92		23,763,145		11,990,031
Total		27,003,404		$	30.17		27,003,404

(1)

On October 26, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 10 million shares of our common stock in the open market or privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2007, 1,990,031 shares of this authorization remained available to be purchased under this program. There is no expiration date associated with this authorization.

(2)

On December 11, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 10 million shares of our common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions. As of December 31, 2007, 10,000,000 shares of this authorization remained available to be purchased under this program. There is no expiration date associated with this program.

(3)

Included in the total number of shares repurchased in December 2007 are 21.5 million shares that were authorized by our Board of Directors to be repurchased concurrently with our $1.15 billion convertible debenture transaction. No further shares are available to be repurchased under this authorization.

Item 5.

Other Information

In the current fiscal year, each of Steve Sanghi, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Mitch Little, our Vice President Worldwide Sales and Applications and Steve Drehobl, our Vice President, Security, Microcontroller and Technology Division, entered into trading plans as contemplated by Rule 10b-5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and periodic sales of our common stock are expected to occur under such plans.

The foregoing disclosure is being made on a voluntary basis and not pursuant to any specific requirement under Form 10-Q, Form 8-K or otherwise.

Item 6. Exhibits

4.1	Indenture, dated as of December 7, 2007, by and between Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, and Microchip Technology Incorporated [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 7, 2007.]

4.2	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 7, 2007, by and between J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Microchip Technology Incorporated [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 7, 2007.]

31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED


Date: February 7, 2008	By: /s/ Gordon W. Parnell
	Gordon W. Parnell
	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	(Duly Authorized Officer, and
	Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)