Solid State Lighting Revolution

1. Solid State Lighting Revolution January 2010 Jovani Torres

2. Disclosure: Forward-Looking Statements This presentation includes forward-looking statements about Cree’s business outlook, future financial results, product markets, plans and objectives for future operations, and product development programs and goals. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially, as discussed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include current uncertainty in global market conditions that could negatively affect product demand, collectability of receivables and other related matters; our ability to successfully develop new products; our ability to lower costs; increasing price competition; the complexity of our manufacturing processes and the risk of production delays and higher than expected costs; risks associated with the ramp-up of production for new and existing products; the rapid pace of technology development that could affect demand; and the difficulty of estimating future market demand for our products. The forward-looking statements in this presentation were based on management’s analysis of information available at the time the presentation was prepared and on assumptions deemed reasonable by management. Our industry and business are constantly evolving, and Cree assumes no duty to update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent developments.

3. Cree • Global Reach • 11 Major Locations • 3,200 Employees • Fiscal 2009 Revenues $567M • Founded in 1987 • Public since 1993 (Nasdaq: CREE) • Headquartered in Durham, NC

4. Cree LED Businesses Market Opportunity LED Lighting • Lead the market & accelerate adoption • Create demand/pull for LED lighting LED Components • Drive Revenue • Enable the market with “lighting-class” LEDs LED Chips • Technology to enable components LED Lighting LED Components LED Chips Materials pg. 4

5. Cree Mission Lead the LED Lighting Revolution and obsolete energy-inefficient light bulbs pg. 5

6. It’s Happening Faster Than You May Think… Global General Illumination Market** Revenue (Billions) Conventional Lighting LED Lighting ** Source: Philips Lighting

7. …A Brief History of Lighting 2000 White LED LampdemonstratesIncandescentEfficacy (17 lm/W) 1901 FluorescentTube 2009 Production WhiteLED LampExceeds 100 lm/W ~1990 “High Brightness”Red, Orange, Yellow, & Green LEDs 1879 Edison Light Bulb 1919 SodiumVapor Lamp 1970s First RedLED 2005 White LED LampdemonstratesFluorescentEfficacy (70 lm/W) 1995 “High Brightness”Blue, Green LEDs U.S. 223,898 Monochrome signs Calculators and Indicators Full Color Signs Solid State Lighting • Current lighting technology is over 120 years old • LEDs began as just indicators, but are now poised to become the most efficient light source ever created

8. Brief History of LEDs • 1955 – RCA reports IR emission using GaAs • 1961 – TI gets patent for IR LED • 1962 – GE develops first visible LED • 1968 – Monsanto develops first commercially available LEDs for HP35 calculator • 1970’s - GaP-based red, green and yellow • 1980’s – AlGaAs/AlInGaP red and amber LEDs • 1990’s – InGaN LEDs and YaG phosphor • 2000’s – White LEDs for SSL

9. Basic Advantages of LED Light • LEDs are…very energy efficient  >100LPW (near-term roadmap to >150LPW…) • Are directional No wasted light, any pattern possible • Have verylong lifetime >50,000 hours to 70% Lumen Maintenance (L70) • Are inherentlyrugged No filament to break • Start instantly nanoseconds vs. > 10 min re-strike (HID) • Are environmentally sound no Hg, Pb, heavy metals • Are infinitely dimmable, controllable New lighting features, power savings • Love cold temperatures No cold starting issues

10. Effects of Mercury on the Environment One teaspoon of mercury can contaminate a 20 acre lake. . Forever.* Each year, an estimated 600 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in U.S. landfills amounting to 30,000 pounds of mercury waste.* The mercury from one fluorescent bulb can pollute 6,000 gallons of water beyond safe drinking levels.* * www.lightbulbrecycling.com

11. LED Technology LED Chip • Determines raw brightness and efficacy Phosphor system • Determines color point and color point stability Package • Protects the chip and phosphor • Helps with light and heat extraction • Primary in determining LED lifetime

12. Current LED Lighting Applications • Lumens • LPW • Lumens/$

13. Why LED Lighting? • The widespread use of LEDs over the next 10 years can: • Save energy (Good) • Save money • Help protect the environment (Green) • LED lighting can reduce electricity needs for lighting by more than 60%

14. Why LED Lighting? Lighting22% US Electricity Consumption Commercial 59% Industrial 14% Residential 27% • LED lighting can reduce electricity needs for lighting by more than 60%

15. DOE Roadmap Cree cool white production Cree warm white production US Department of Energy 2009 Multi-Year Plan for SSL

16. Haitz’s Law

17. How the Roadmap Really Works: Chip Improvement • Major leaps forward on LF depends on major chip improvements • Incremental chip improvements, phosphor efficiency, and learning curve historically improves 1-2 LF bins as well 150 Next Generation LF @ 350mA (lumens) 100 Current Generation 50 Last Generation Time

18. LED Performance Continues To Increase Light Source Efficiency Trends ? yrs 186 LPW R&D Announcement 161 LPW ~2 yrs 131 LPW 3 yrs XP-G HID XP-E Linear Fluorescent High Volume Production XR-E CW Lumens/watt XR-E CFL LED Incandescent pg. 18