This MD&A contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described throughout this filing and particularly in Part II of Form 10-Q "Item 1A: Risk Factors" and business outlook section of this MD&A. These statements relate to, among other things, sales, gross margins, operating expenses, capital expenditures, R&D efforts, asset dispositions, acquisition of and investments in other companies, and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "expect," "outlook," "foresee," "believe," "could," "intend," "will," and similar words or phrases. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events as we cannot assure you that the events or circumstances reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. For a discussion of some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, see the discussion on risk factors that appears in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q and other risks and uncertainties detailed in this and our other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after the date hereof and disclaim any obligation to do so.

This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 23, 2008 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008.

Strategy and Business

We design, develop, manufacture and market a wide range of semiconductor products, most of which are analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. Our goal is to be the premier provider of high-performance, energy-efficient analog and mixed-signal solutions. We are focused on the following:

• providing high-performance, analog-intensive solutions that enable customers to effectively differentiate their products;
• targeting our investments on high-growth and high-return markets, particularly by leveraging our strengths in creating energy-efficient circuits and solutions, many of which will fall under our PowerWise® brand;
• strengthening and deepening our relationships with customers;
• using our proprietary technologies to create and maintain our market-leading solutions; and
• consistently delivering superior returns on invested capital to our shareholders.

A large portion of our sales comes from analog products that are classified within the analog standard linear categories (as defined by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics or WSTS). Beyond the standard linear categories, we also sell analog systems and subsystems that can be more specifically targeted at various applications. We look to create analog-intensive solutions that provide more energy efficiency, greater portability, better audio, sharper images and higher performance in electronic systems. Energy-efficiency is our overarching theme and our PowerWise® products enable systems that consume less power, extend battery life and generate less heat. Our leading-edge products include power management circuits, audio and operational amplifiers, communication interface products and data conversion solutions. Approximately 98 percent of our net sales in the first six months of fiscal 2009 came from our Analog segment, which is comparable to 97 percent in the first six months of fiscal 2008. For more information on our business, see Part I, Item 1, Business, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We believe the following critical accounting policies are those policies that have a significant effect on the determination of our financial position and results of operations. These policies also require us to make our most difficult and subjective judgments:

a) Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue from the sale of semiconductor products upon shipment, provided we have persuasive evidence of an arrangement typically in the form of a purchase order, title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, the amount is fixed or determinable and collection of the revenue is reasonably assured. We record a provision for estimated future returns at the time of shipment. Approximately 52 percent of our semiconductor product sales were made to distributors in the first six months of fiscal 2009, compared to approximately 54 percent

in the first six months of fiscal 2008. We have agreements with our distributors that cover various programs, including pricing adjustments based on resale pricing and volume, price protection for inventory and scrap allowances. The revenue we record for these distribution sales is net of estimated provisions for these programs. When determining this net distribution revenue, we must make significant judgments and estimates. Our estimates are based upon historical experience rates by geography and product family, inventory levels in the distribution channel, current economic trends, and other related factors. Actual distributor claims activity has been materially consistent with the provisions we have made based on our estimates. However, because of the inherent nature of estimates, there is always a risk that there could be significant differences between actual amounts and our estimates. Our financial condition and operating results are dependent on our ability to make reliable estimates, and we believe that our estimates are reasonable. However, different judgments or estimates could result in variances that might be significant to our operating results.

Service revenues are recognized as the services are provided or as milestones are achieved, depending on the terms of the arrangement. These revenues are included in net sales and totaled $9.4 million in the first six months of fiscal 2009 and $13.6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2008.

Certain intellectual property income is classified as revenue if it meets specified criteria established by company policy that defines whether it is considered a source of income from our primary operations. These revenues are included in net sales and totaled $1.0 million in each of the first six months of fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008. All other intellectual property income that does not meet the specified criteria is not considered a source of income from primary operations and is therefore classified as a component of other operating income, net, in the consolidated statement of income. Intellectual property income is recognized when the license is delivered, the fee is fixed or determinable, collection of the fee is reasonably assured and remaining obligations are perfunctory or inconsequential to the other party.

b) Valuation of Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of standard cost, which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis, or market. The total carrying value of our inventory is reduced for any difference between cost and estimated market value of inventory that is determined to be obsolete or unmarketable, based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Reductions in carrying value are deemed to establish a new cost basis. Inventory is not written up if estimates of market value subsequently improve. We evaluate obsolescence by analyzing the inventory aging, order backlog and future customer demand on an individual product basis. If actual demand were to be substantially lower than what we have estimated, we may be required to write inventory down below the current carrying value. While our estimates require us to make significant judgments and assumptions about future events, we believe our relationships with our customers, combined with our understanding of the end-markets we serve, provide us with the ability to make reasonable estimates. The actual amount of obsolete or unmarketable inventory has been materially consistent with previously estimated write-downs we have recorded. We also evaluate the carrying value of inventory for lower-of-cost-or-market on an individual product basis, and these evaluations are intended to identify any difference between net realizable value and standard cost. Net realizable value is used as a measure of market for purposes of evaluating lower-of-cost-or-market and is determined as the selling price of the product less the estimated cost of disposal. When necessary, we reduce the carrying value of inventory to net realizable value. If actual market conditions and resulting product sales were to be less favorable than what we have projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

c) Impairment of Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Other Long-lived Assets

We assess the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from their use and eventual disposition. Our long-lived assets subject to this evaluation include property, plant and equipment and amortizable intangible assets. Amortizable intangible assets subject to this evaluation include developed technology we have acquired, patents and technology licenses. We assess the impairment of goodwill annually in our fourth fiscal quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that an impairment loss has been incurred. We are required to make judgments and assumptions in identifying those events or changes in circumstances that may trigger impairment. Some of the factors we consider include:

• significant decrease in the market value of an asset;
• significant changes in the extent or manner for which the asset is being used or in its physical condition;
• significant change, delay or departure in our business strategy related to the asset;
• significant negative changes in the business climate, industry or economic conditions; and

• current period operating losses or negative cash flow combined with a history of similar losses or a forecast that indicates continuing losses associated with the use of an asset.

Our impairment evaluation of long-lived assets includes an analysis of estimated future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets over their remaining estimated useful lives. If the estimated future undiscounted net cash flows are insufficient to recover the carrying value of the assets over the remaining estimated useful lives, we record an impairment loss in the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds the fair value. We determine fair value based on discounted cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model. Major factors that influence our cash flow analysis are our estimates for future revenue and expenses associated with the use of the asset. Different estimates could have a significant impact on the results of our evaluation. If, as a result of our analysis, we determine that our amortizable intangible assets or other long-lived assets have been impaired, we will recognize an impairment loss in the period in which the impairment is determined. Any such impairment charge could be significant and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

Our impairment evaluation of goodwill is based on comparing the fair value to the carrying value of our reporting units containing goodwill. Our reporting units are based on our operating segments as defined under SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." The fair value of a reporting unit is measured at the business unit level using a discounted cash flow approach that incorporates our estimates of future revenues and costs for those business units. As of November 23, 2008 our reporting units containing goodwill include our advanced power, ASIC & telecom, data conversion, infrastructure power products, interface, mobile devices power products, non-audio amplifier and performance power products business units, all of which are operating segments within our Analog reportable segment. The estimates we use in evaluating goodwill are consistent with the plans and estimates that we use to manage the underlying businesses. If we fail to deliver new products for these business units, if the products fail to gain expected market acceptance, or if market conditions for these business units fail to materialize as anticipated, our revenue and cost forecasts may not be achieved and we may incur charges for goodwill impairment, which could be significant and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

d) Income Taxes

We determine deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the future tax consequences that can be attributed to net operating loss and credit carryovers and differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, using the enacted tax rate expected to be applied when the taxes are actually paid or recovered. The recognition of deferred tax assets is reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the net operating loss and credit carryovers and differences between financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax bases become deductible. In determining a valuation allowance, we consider past performance, expected future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. We currently have a valuation allowance that has been established primarily against the reinvestment and investment tax credits related to our operation in Malaysia, as we have concluded that the deferred tax assets will not be realized due to a tax holiday granted by the Malaysian government that will be effective for a ten-year period beginning in our fiscal 2010 and the uncertainty of sufficient taxable income in Malaysia beyond the foreseeable future. Our forecast of expected future taxable income is based on historical taxable income and projections of future taxable income over the periods that the deferred tax assets are deductible. Changes in market conditions that differ materially from our current expectations and changes in future tax laws in the United States and international jurisdictions or changes in our tax structure may cause us to change our judgments of future taxable income. These changes, if any, may require us to adjust the existing tax valuation allowance higher or lower than the amount we currently have recorded; such an adjustment could have a material impact on the tax expense for the fiscal year.

The calculation of tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws. Although FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), which we adopted at the beginning of fiscal 2008, provides further clarification on the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements, the threshold and measurement attribute prescribed by FIN 48 will continue to require significant judgment by management. If the ultimate resolution of tax uncertainties is different from what we have currently estimated, the effect of such resolution on our income tax expense could be material.

e) Share-based Compensation

We measure and record compensation expense for all share-based payment awards based on estimated fair values in accordance with SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS No. 123 (R)). We provide share-based awards to our employees, executive officers and directors through various equity compensation plans including our employee equity, stock option, stock purchase and restricted stock plans. The fair value of stock option and stock purchase equity awards is measured at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and the fair value of restricted stock awards is based on the market price of our common stock on the date of grant. In determining fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, management is required to make certain estimates of the key assumptions such as expected life, expected volatility, dividend yields and risk free interest rates. The estimates of these key assumptions involve judgment regarding subjective future expectations of market price and trends. The assumptions used in determining expected life and expected volatility have the most significant effect on calculating the fair value of share-based awards. For all options granted after December 31, 2007, we determine expected life based on historical stock option exercise experience for the last four years, adjusted for our expectation of future exercise activity. For options granted prior to January 1, 2008, we use the simplified method specified by the SEC's Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to determine the expected life of stock options. Expected volatility is based on implied volatility, as management has determined that implied volatility better reflects the market's expectation of future volatility than historical volatility. If we were to determine that another method to estimate these assumptions was more reasonable than our current methods, or if another method for calculating these assumptions were to be prescribed by authoritative guidance, the fair value for our share-based awards could change significantly. If the expected volatility and/or expected life were increased under our assumptions, then the Black-Scholes computation of fair value would also increase, thereby resulting in higher compensation costs being recorded.

SFAS No. 123(R) also requires forfeitures to be estimated at the date of grant. Our estimate of forfeitures is based on our historical activity, which we believe is indicative of expected forfeitures. In subsequent periods if the actual rate of forfeitures differs from our estimate, the forfeiture rates may be revised, as necessary. Changes in the estimated forfeiture rates can have a significant effect on share-based compensation expense since the effect of adjusting the rate is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed.

We also grant performance share units to executive officers that require us to estimate expected achievement of performance targets over a two-year performance period. This estimate involves judgment regarding future expectations of various financial performance measures such as those described in the overview section below. If there are changes in our estimate of the level of financial performance measures expected to be achieved, the related share-based compensation expense may be significantly increased or reduced in the period that our estimate changes.

Overview

We focus on providing leading-edge analog solutions with a large portion of our sales classified within the analog standard linear categories, which the WSTS defines as amplifiers, data converters, regulators and references (power management products), and interface products. In the first six months of fiscal 2009, approximately 98 percent of our total sales came from our Analog segment, compared to 97 percent in the first six months of fiscal 2008. We believe that the success we have achieved in these markets has been driven by our understanding of the analog markets and our circuit design capabilities, especially as they pertain to energy efficiency that is enabled by our products. Our success has also been due to our innovative packaging and proprietary analog process technology, as well as our comprehensive manufacturing supply and logistics network.

Although net sales were lower in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2009 compared to sales in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008, we achieved a higher gross margin percentage in both the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2009 compared to the same periods in fiscal 2008. Our performance in gross margin percentage is attributable to ongoing improvement in our sales mix of higher-value analog products, as well as continued improvements in manufacturing efficiencies and execution relative to the level of factory utilization. We continue to direct our research and development investments on high-value growth areas in analog markets and applications, with particular focus on power management and energy efficiency where our PowerWise® products enable systems that consume less power, extend battery life and generate less heat.

In reviewing our performance, we consider several key financial measures. When reviewing our net sales performance, we look at sales growth rates, new order rates (including turns orders, which are orders received with delivery requested in the same quarter), blended-average selling prices, sales of new products and market share. We gauge our

operating income performance based on gross margin trends, product mix, blended-average selling prices, factory utilization rates and operating expenses relative to sales. We are focused on growing our earnings per share over time while generating a consistently high return on invested capital by concentrating on operating income, working capital management, capital expenditures and cash management. We determine return on invested capital based on net operating income after tax divided by invested capital, which generally consists of total assets reduced by goodwill and non-interest bearing liabilities.

We repurchased a total of 1.3 million shares of our common stock during the second quarter of fiscal 2009 for $23.3 million. Through the first six months of fiscal 2009, we repurchased a total of 6.2 million shares of our common stock for $128.4 million. These shares were repurchased in the open market in connection with the $500 million stock repurchase program announced in June 2007. The stock repurchase activity is one element of our overall program to deliver a consistently high return on invested capital, which we believe improves shareholder value over time.

We continued with the dividend program in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, during which time we paid cash dividends of $13.7 million ($0.06 per outstanding share of common stock). Through the first six months of fiscal 2009, we paid a total of $27.7 million in cash dividends. On September 24, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.08 per outstanding share of common stock, which will be paid on January 5, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2008. This dividend was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and is included in accrued expenses at November 23, 2008. We paid cash dividends of $10.5 million ($0.04 per outstanding share of common stock) in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and a total of $21.3 million in the first six months of fiscal 2008.

The following table and discussion provide an overview of our operating results for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2009 and 2008:

                            Three Months Ended                        Six Months Ended
                     Nov. 23,                 Nov. 25,        Nov. 23,                 Nov. 25,
(In Millions)          2008      % Change       2007            2008      % Change       2007

Net sales            $   421.6      (15.5 %)  $   499.0       $   887.2       (8.6 %)  $   970.5
Gross margin         $   277.4                $   321.2       $   584.6                $   618.1
As a % of net
sales                     65.8 %                   64.4 %          65.9 %                   63.7 %
Operating income     $    88.3                $   143.8       $   223.1                $   276.0
As a % of net
sales                     20.9 %                   28.8 %          25.1 %                   28.4 %
Net income           $    36.3                $    90.6       $   115.9                $   176.2
As a % of net
sales                      8.6 %                   18.2 %          13.1 %                   18.2 %

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 includes a charge of $28.1 million for severance and restructuring expenses related to the workforce reduction announced in November 2008 (See Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) and other operating income of $0.1 million (See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Statements). In addition to these amounts, net income for the first six months of fiscal 2009 includes an additional $1.1 million for severance and restructuring expenses related to the factory modernization effort and workforce reduction announced in fiscal 2008 (See Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) and an additional $0.1 million of other operating income (See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements). Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2008 included other operating expenses, net of $2.7 million (See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements). In addition to this amount, net income for the first six months of fiscal 2008 included a recovery of $1.5 million arising from the release of a restructuring-related accrual and other operating income of $3.1 million (See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements). All of the charges and credits described above are pretax amounts.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

Our operating results include the recognition of share-based compensation expense under SFAS No. 123R, which totaled $16.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to $27.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2008. In the first six months of fiscal 2009, share-based compensation expense was $35.5 million compared to $47.6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2008. Our overall share-based compensation decreased in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008 primarily due to the drop off of higher compensation expense from stock options granted prior to fiscal 2007 that was determined

based on using historical volatility. For further information and a description of our share-based compensation plans, see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008. See also Note 1 and Note 10 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q for discussion of and updates regarding our share-based compensation plans and the effect of share-based compensation expense for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2009 and 2008.

Net Sales

                            Three Months Ended                        Six Months Ended
                     Nov. 23,                 Nov. 25,        Nov. 23,                 Nov. 25,
(In Millions)          2008      % Change       2007            2008      % Change       2007

Analog segment       $   414.2      (14.7 %)  $   485.8       $   870.1       (8.0 %)  $   945.5
As a % of net
sales                     98.2 %                   97.4 %          98.1 %                   97.4 %
All others           $     7.4      (43.9 %)  $    13.2       $    17.1      (31.6 %)  $    25.0
As a % of net
. . .