Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

 

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

For the fiscal year ended April 27, 2012

or

 

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

For the transition period from                    to                         

Commission File Number 000-27130

 

 

NetApp, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   77-0307520

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

495 East Java Drive,

Sunnyvale, California 94089

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(408) 822-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by a check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer þ      Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  þ

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, as of October 28, 2011, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $14,043,037,388 (based on the closing price for shares of the registrant’s common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market on that date). Shares of common stock held by each executive officer, director, and holder of 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

On June 11, 2012, 366,999,792 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, were outstanding.

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The information called for by Part III of this Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference from the definitive Proxy Statement for our annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after April 27, 2012.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I   

Item 1

  

Business

     3   

Item 1A

  

Risk Factors

     15   

Item 1B

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

     37   

Item 2

  

Properties

     37   

Item 3

  

Legal Proceedings

     38   

Item 4

  

Mine Safety Disclosures

     38   
PART II   

Item 5

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

     39   

Item 6

  

Selected Financial Data

     41   

Item 7

  

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

     42   

Item 7A

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     67   

Item 8

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     70   

Item 9

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     118   

Item 9A

  

Controls and Procedures

     118   

Item 9B

  

Other Information

     120   
PART III   

Item 10

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     120   

Item 11

  

Executive Compensation

     120   

Item 12

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     120   

Item 13

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

     120   

Item 14

  

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

     120   
PART IV   

Item 15

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

     121   

Signatures

     122   

Schedule II

     124   

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and is subject to the safe harbor provisions set forth in the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements usually contain the words “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” or similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words or expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements about:

 

   

our future financial and operating results;

 

   

our business strategies;

 

   

management’s plans, beliefs and objectives for future operations, research and development;

 

   

economic and industry trends or trend analysis;

 

   

product introductions, development, enhancements and acceptance;

 

   

acquisitions and joint ventures, growth opportunities, investments and legal proceedings;

 

   

competitive positions;

 

   

future cash flows and cash deployment strategies;

 

   

short-term and long-term cash requirements, including anticipated capital expenditures;

 

   

our anticipated tax rate;

 

   

the dilutive effect of our 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due June 2013 (the Notes) and associated warrants on our earnings per share;

 

   

the conversion, maturation or repurchase of the Notes;

 

   

compliance with laws, regulations and debt covenants;

 

   

the continuation of our stock repurchase program; and

 

   

the impact of completed acquisitions

are inherently uncertain as they are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions concerning future events, and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Therefore, our actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include, but are not limited to:

 

   

acceptance of, and demand for, our products, including our recent product introductions;

 

   

our ability to increase our customer base, market share and revenue;

 

   

general economic and market conditions, particularly the continuing fiscal challenges in the United States (U.S.) and Europe;

 

   

the effects of the flooding in Thailand;

 

   

the amount of orders received in future periods;

 

   

our ability to ship our products in a timely manner;

 

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our ability to achieve anticipated pricing, cost, and gross margins levels;

 

   

our ability to successfully manage our backlog and increase revenue;

 

   

our ability to successfully execute on our strategies;

 

   

our ability to effectively integrate acquired products and technologies;

 

   

our ability to successfully introduce new products and forecast demand for those products;

 

   

our ability to maintain the quality of our hardware, software and services offerings;

 

   

our ability to adapt to changes in market demand;

 

   

demand for our services and support and the growth of the storage markets generally;

 

   

our ability to identify and respond to significant market trends and emerging standards;

 

   

the impact of industry consolidation;

 

   

our ability to successfully manage our investment in people, process, and systems;

 

   

our ability to maintain our partner, supplier and contract manufacturer relationships;

 

   

the ability of our suppliers and contract manufacturers to meet our requirements;

 

   

the ability of our competitors to introduce new products that compete successfully with our products;

 

   

our ability to grow direct and indirect sales and to efficiently utilize global service and support;

 

   

variability in our gross margins;

 

   

our ability to sustain and/or improve our cash and overall financial position;

 

   

our cash requirements and terms and availability of financing;

 

   

valuation and liquidity of our investment portfolio;

 

   

our ability to finance business acquisitions, construction projects and capital expenditures through cash from operations and/or financing;

 

   

the results of our ongoing litigation, tax audits, government audits, inquiries and investigations; and

 

   

those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are based upon information available to us at this time. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to update information in any forward-looking statement. Actual results could vary from our forward-looking statements due to foregoing factors as well as other important factors, including those described in the Risk Factors included in Part I of Item 1A.

Overview

NetApp, Inc. (NetApp, we or us) is a leading provider of innovative storage systems and data management solutions that form the foundation for efficient and flexible IT infrastructures. Our storage systems help customers streamline operations and lower the cost associated with storing and managing their data. Our unified fabric-attached storage (FAS) platform offers the optimal storage platform for business applications, shared infrastructures, and cloud environments. Our E-Series systems, acquired from LSI Corporation, provide the cost-effective, high-performance storage building blocks for value-added customization and big data workloads. We are a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage provider with a 15-year track record of enabling OEMs to offer market-leading IT and storage solutions that serve specific markets and customer requirements.

 

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We were incorporated in 1992 and shipped the world’s first networked storage appliance one year later. Since then, we have brought to market many innovations in storage and data management. Our evolution can be attributed to our history of identifying and creating new markets and innovating around market transitions. These markets include:

 

   

Shared infrastructures. A market shift from traditional dedicated storage to shared storage in virtualized IT infrastructures is well under way. Virtualization allows organizations to separate applications and data from dedicated hardware so that the server, storage, and networking infrastructure can be shared and used more efficiently. Our unified FAS architecture is well suited for virtualized environments because it provides integrated data protection along with increased efficiency and flexibility.

 

   

Cloud. Cloud-based infrastructure has become a business priority. Clouds built on a NetApp® foundation have lower costs and provide operational efficiencies that allow IT to respond more rapidly. Our goal is to help organizations benefit from the efficiency and flexibility our products provide, whether they choose to deploy an on-premises (private) cloud solution or outsource to an external (public) cloud service provider. In order to meet customers’ needs for external cloud services, we have developed a global network of cloud service provider partners. Our solutions for service providers accelerate the development and delivery of cloud services such as Microsoft® Exchange as a Service, Microsoft® SharePoint as a Service, IT Infrastructure as a Service, Desktop as a Service, Storage as a Service, and Data Protection as a Service.

 

   

Business applications. Our products and services are designed to meet the expansive requirements and demanding service levels of large enterprises and their mission-critical business applications. In addition, we bring our affordable, enterprise-proven technology to midsize enterprise businesses. We also design our products to satisfy the demands of high-performance computing and technical data center applications. To better meet the needs of our customers, we develop integrated solutions that optimize the performance of customers’ applications and their infrastructure in partnership with key industry leaders such as Cisco Systems, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and VMware. We partner with industry leaders to create best-in-class solutions and to deliver and support them worldwide. We provide expert services and global support to maximize the value customers derive from our products and to maintain their systems.

 

   

Big data. We are now entering an era of big scale, in which the amount of data processed and stored by enterprises is stressing traditional storage architectures. Customers require storage products and solutions that are optimized for these workloads such as:

 

   

Analytics. This solution area focuses on providing efficient analytics for extremely large datasets and turning data into high-quality information to facilitate deeper insights about the business for better and quicker decision making.

 

   

Bandwidth. This solution area focuses on obtaining better performance for high-performance workloads.

 

   

Content. This solution area focuses on satisfying the need to store, find, and access almost unlimited amounts of data for an indefinite amount of time.

NetApp Product Overview

We offer two storage platforms, each engineered to serve different goals. Our unified FAS storage systems offer integrated protection and data management and built-in efficiency for virtualized, shared infrastructures and business applications. Our E-Series systems offer high-performance, reliable, scalable, and space-efficient storage — the optimal platform for big data workloads and value-added customization.

Both platforms reflect our commitment to the principles of simplicity, innovation, and a dedication to customer and partner success. Both platforms have a proven track record of reliability and performance, are highly cost efficient and provide flexibility for diverse workloads.

 

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We believe that by providing greater efficiency and flexibility, our solutions help improve business productivity, performance, and profitability, while providing investment protection and enhanced asset utilization. Our enterprise-class storage solutions are complemented by our services expertise to maximize the business benefits that customers gain from deploying our storage products.

FAS Storage Platform

We offer highly available, scalable, and cost-effective storage solutions that incorporate our unified FAS platform and the feature-rich functionality of our Data ONTAP® data and storage resource management software.

Data ONTAP Software

Our FAS and V-Series storage solutions are based on Data ONTAP, a highly scalable and flexible operating system (OS) that concurrently supports any mix of storage area network (SAN) and network-attached storage (NAS) environments. Our unified storage software platform is compatible with UNIX®, Linux®, Windows®, and Web environments. It enables scalable storage that is always on and that provides superior operational efficiency to help manage data, application, and infrastructure growth.

The Data ONTAP OS provides the foundation to build a shared storage infrastructure and an enterprise-wide data fabric for the full breadth of business applications and data storage and protection requirements. Data ONTAP features scalability, secure multi-tenancy, and unification across protocols and disks. Data ONTAP also unifies storage efficiency, data management, and data protection. We believe customers can benefit from these capabilities as they increasingly virtualize their application environments. Our deduplication for primary and secondary storage, thin provisioning, and highly efficient hardware help maximize utilization while reducing data center footprint and lowering storage-related power and cooling consumption. A few of the technology features we offer with Data ONTAP include:

 

   

FlexShare® technology, which directs how storage system resources are used to deliver an appropriate level of service for each application;

 

   

FlexCache® technology, which allows performance acceleration through the creation of read-only cached volumes on multiple storage controllers;

 

   

MultiStore® software, which allows partitioning of individual physical storage systems into multiple secure and separate logical partitions; and

 

   

RAID-DP®, a standard Data ONTAP feature that safeguards data from double disk failure. Integrated with our WAFL® (Write Anywhere File Layout) file system, RAID-DP gives customers data protection plus high performance.

Storage Efficiency

Our portfolio of efficiency technologies helps our customers reduce their storage spending and get more from the storage assets they already own. Some of the efficiency technologies we offer include:

 

   

FlexVol® technology, which provides for thin provisioning through virtual volumes, enabling storage architectures to be more efficient and achieve higher utilization using flexible volumes that do not require repartitioning of physical storage space;

 

   

FlexClone® technology, which enables true data cloning using logical copies that do not require additional physical storage space and allows for instant replication of data volumes and datasets; and

 

   

Deduplication technology, which provides the ability to eliminate duplicate data within primary and secondary disk storage environments, resulting in greater efficiency and higher utilization of storage capacity.

 

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Storage Management and Application Integration Software

NetApp OnCommand™ management software improves storage and service efficiency through functions that help customers control, automate, and analyze their shared storage infrastructures. Our management software family of products provides a broad range of storage and data management tools to simplify IT administration and enhance flexibility and productivity. We deliver differentiated products that support industry open standards and interfaces to deliver this value to customers. We tightly integrate our software with database and business application software from partners such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and VMware in order to optimize the performance of those applications on our storage systems.

Through data center automation tools, we give customers the ability to monitor service levels, manage performance, and support change management in complex enterprise SAN and NAS environments. We help customers optimize shared infrastructures by supporting individual application performance, service level, and security needs even while the storage is shared across multiple applications.

FAS Unified Storage Systems Family

Our family of modular, scalable, highly available, unified storage systems streamlines, simplifies, and consolidates the storage layer. The FAS6200, FAS3200, and FAS2000 series of fabric-attached storage systems are designed to consolidate all types of storage workloads, including primary and secondary data, as well as structured and unstructured data, across all key OS platforms and network infrastructures. Also, we unify storage access for all standard network protocols based on host bus adapter (HBA) technology and standard Internet Protocol (IP) networks. All our FAS systems are interoperable and provide common software services. We provide a data-in-place upgrade path that spans from entry-level platforms for smaller organizations all the way to high-end data center environments. Our FAS unified architecture supports both scale-up and scale-out growth strategies running the highly efficient Data ONTAP operating system.

Virtual Storage Tier

Customers can increase the performance of our storage controller using our virtual storage tiering, which is available with our Flash Cache modular cache expansion. Virtual storage tiering lowers response times and increases input/output (I/O) operations of disk drives without storing additional data on them. Using dynamic storage tiering also improves application performance for production workloads residing on any type of disk drive. Deduplication capabilities reduce the I/O load on storage controllers to provide extreme scaling, especially useful with virtual and cloud-based working sets.

V-Series Family

Our V-Series family is a network-based virtualization solution that consolidates storage from different suppliers behind our data management interface, providing SAN and NAS access to the data stored in heterogeneous storage arrays. With the V-Series solution, customers are able to:

 

   

Transform existing heterogeneous, multivendor storage systems into a single storage pool;

 

   

Simplify storage provisioning and management with Data ONTAP thin provisioning; and

 

   

Dramatically lower backup time, space, and cost with Data ONTAP Snapshot™ copies.

The V-Series family is compatible with the FAS family of storage systems.

Data Protection Software Products

The NetApp Integrated Data Protection portfolio offers a broad range of branded and partner-integrated solutions designed to increase the speed, simplicity, and efficiency of data protection operations in any environment from physical to shared IT to cloud. This portfolio includes:

 

   

Snapshot technology, which enables near-instantaneous, space-efficient online backups of large datasets without affecting system performance;

 

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SnapRestore® technology, which uses stored Snapshot backups to recover entire file systems or data volumes in seconds, regardless of capacity or number of files;

 

   

SnapVault® and Open Systems SnapVault technologies, which provide network- and storage-optimized data movement for disk-to-disk backup;

 

   

MetroCluster™, which uniquely combines array-based clustering with synchronous mirroring to deliver continuous availability and zero data loss;

 

   

SnapMirror® data replication solution, which provides disaster recovery protection for business-critical data matched to the recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives of customer environments;

 

   

NetApp SnapProtect®, which manages NetApp Snapshot copies, replication, and tape from a single console to enable high-speed, modern backup solutions that solve longstanding data protection challenges; and

 

   

NetApp integrated backup solutions, which bring the speed and efficiency of NetApp Snapshot and replication to customers using our alliance partners’ backup solutions. Symantec™ NetBackup™, CommVault Simpana, and Syncsort data protection software can manage our data protection stack to accelerate operations without complicating management.

Data Retention and Archive Products

To meet growing regulatory compliance demands faced by most enterprises, we offer a broad suite of products to help enable data permanence, accessibility, and privacy to satisfy a variety of different regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, FDA Title 21 CFR Part 11, SEC Rule 17a-4, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Cost-effective, resilient, and reliable storage architectures can be created utilizing NetApp SnapLock® products.

Flash Cache

NetApp Flash Cache modules optimize the performance of random read–intensive workloads such as file services and messaging. These intelligent read caches speed access to user data, reducing latency by a factor of 10 or more compared to disk drives. Faster response times can translate into higher throughput for random I/O workloads. NetApp Flash Cache gives users performance that is comparable to that of solid state disks (SSDs) without the complexity of another storage tier.

Storage Security Products

Partnering with SafeNet, Inc. enables us to provide a unified platform for data security and key management across IP SAN, NAS, and tape backup environments. The platform combines wire-speed encryption, access controls, authentication, and automated key management to provide strong security for data at rest, while still allowing the capability to search compliant data for legal discovery purposes if the need arises. We also partner with Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. to provide advanced fabric services for SANs. These high-speed, highly reliable hardware devices deliver fabric-based encryption services to secure data assets either selectively or comprehensively.

Big Content Solutions: StorageGRID

NetApp StorageGRID® is a proven object storage software solution designed to manage petabyte-scale, globally distributed repositories of images, video, and records for enterprises and service providers. NetApp StorageGRID provides tremendous scalability by eliminating the typical constraints of data containers in blocks and files. It supports billions of files or objects and petabytes of capacity in hybrid cloud storage architectures with a single global namespace.

 

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NetApp StorageGRID enables intelligent data management and secure content retention. Data placement and secure content retention are optimized by aligning system and business process management metadata with a global policy engine that manages how data is stored, placed, governed, protected, and retrieved. Content is protected from tampering using technologies such as digital fingerprints and encryption.

Other big content offerings include the NetApp Solution for Archive as a Service and NetApp StorageGRID Healthcare Solution.

E-Series Storage Platform

E-Series systems offer OEMs a high-performance, modular storage platform with flexible scalability, space-efficient density, and high reliability for their purpose-built solutions and value-added customizations. This combination makes E-Series systems ideal for high-performance environments that are characterized by massive amounts of critical data and computing demands that require enterprise-class scalability and reliability. Our server OEMs also take advantage of E-Series attributes to deliver entry storage systems to their diverse customers.

We also leverage the E-Series platform to simplify the deployment of a Hadoop big data infrastructure. We accelerate the time to value for a Hadoop infrastructure and enable customers to scale their deployments more practically and predictably. Working with an ecosystem of partners, we continue our commitment to industry standards and open sources, including the Apache distribution of Hadoop.

We also leverage the E-Series platform in the development of big bandwidth solutions for full-motion video, seismic processing, medical content management, and high-performance Lustre solutions.

NetApp Services

Our customers demand high availability and reliability of their storage infrastructure to ensure the successful ongoing operation of their businesses. Our services are designed with this in mind. We provide professional services, global support solutions, and customer education and training to help customers most effectively manage their data. The professional services and support solutions we offer help our customers to resolve business problems, reduce costs, keep businesses up and running continuously, comply with regulations and policies, and improve overall operational results. We utilize a global, integrated model to provide consistent service delivery and global support during every phase of the customer engagement, including assessment and analysis, planning, design, installation, implementation, integration, optimization, ongoing support, and remote management and monitoring. Services and support often involve phased rollouts, technology transitions and migrations, and other long-term engagements.

Sales, Principal Markets, and Distribution Channels

We market and sell our products in numerous countries throughout the world, and we continue to make investments in our multiyear branding and awareness campaign to increase visibility of NetApp in the broader IT segment.

Our diversified customer base spans a number of customer segments and vertical markets, including energy, financial services, government, high technology, Internet, life sciences and healthcare services, major manufacturing, media, entertainment, animation and video postproduction, and telecommunications. We focus primarily on the data management and storage markets, offering an array of solutions from our high-end products designed for large enterprise customers to entry-level products designed for midsized enterprise customers.

To increase market share, we are focused on diversifying our multichannel distribution strategy. We are strengthening existing partnerships and investing in new partnerships with system integrators and cloud service providers.

 

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As of the end of fiscal 2012, our worldwide sales and marketing function consisted of approximately 5,600 managers, sales representatives, and technical support personnel. We have field sales offices in more than 40 countries. We employ a multichannel distribution strategy, selling products and services to end users and service providers through a direct sales force and through channel partners, including value-added resellers, system integrators, OEMs, and distributors. During fiscal year 2012, sales through our indirect channels represented 78% of our total net revenues. Sales to customers Arrow Electronics, Inc. and Avnet, Inc., who are distributors, accounted for approximately 17% and 12% of our net revenues, respectively, in fiscal 2012; approximately 18% and 12% of our net revenues, respectively, for fiscal 2011; and approximately 14% and 11% of our net revenues, respectively, for fiscal 2010. Information about our segment disclosures, foreign operations, and net sales attributable to our geographic regions is included in Note 15 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Seasonality

We have historically experienced a decline in revenues in the first quarter of our fiscal year, as the sales organization spends time developing new business after higher close rates in the fourth quarter, and because sales to European customers are historically weaker during the summer months. During the second quarter of our fiscal year, we have historically experienced increased sales, driven by the government sector, concurrent with the end of the U.S. federal government’s fiscal year in September, as well as an increase in business from European markets. We derive a majority of our revenue in any given quarter from orders booked in the same quarter. Bookings and revenues typically follow intraquarter seasonality patterns weighted toward the back end of the quarter.

Backlog

We manufacture products based on a combination of specific order requirements and forecasts of our customers’ demand. Orders are generally placed by customers on an as-needed basis. A substantial portion of our products is sold on the basis of standard purchase orders that are cancellable prior to shipment without penalty. In certain circumstances, purchase orders are subject to change with respect to quantity of product or timing of delivery resulting from changes in customer requirements. Our business is characterized by seasonal and intraquarter variability in demand, as well as short lead times and product delivery schedules. Accordingly, backlog at any given time might not be a meaningful indicator of future revenue.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain

We have outsourced manufacturing operations to third parties located in Memphis, Tennessee; Olive Branch, Mississippi; Livingston, Scotland; Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands; Szekesfehervar, Hungary; Shanghai and Longhua, China; Taoyuan City, Taiwan; Singapore; and Guadalajara, Mexico. These operations include materials procurement, commodity management, component engineering, test engineering, manufacturing engineering, product assembly, product assurance, quality control, final test, and global logistics. We rely on a limited number of suppliers for materials, as well as several key subcontractors for the production of certain subassemblies and finished systems. We use multiple vendors and have our products manufactured in a number of locations wherever possible to mitigate our supply chain risk. Our strategy has been to develop close relationships with our suppliers, exchanging critical information and implementing joint quality programs. We also use contract manufacturers for the production of major subassemblies to improve our manufacturing continuity of business. This manufacturing strategy minimizes capital investments and overhead expenditures while creating flexibility for rapid expansion.

We were awarded ISO 9001 certification on May 29, 1997, and continue to be ISO 9001 certified. We were awarded ISO 14001 certification on December 8, 2004, and continue to be ISO 14001 certified.

 

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Research and Development

We conduct research and development activities in various locations throughout the world. In fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010, research and development expenses represented 13%, 13%, and 14% of our net revenues, respectively. These costs relate primarily to personnel and related costs incurred to conduct product development activities. Although we develop many of our products internally, we might acquire technology through business combinations or through licensing from third parties when appropriate. We believe that technical leadership is essential to our success, and we expect to continue to commit substantial resources to research and development.

Competition

We compete with many companies in the markets we serve, including companies that offer a broad spectrum of IT products and services (full-stack vendors) and others that offer a more limited set of storage and data management products or services. In the primary storage market, our system products and associated software portfolio mainly compete with storage system products and data management software from Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, and Oracle Corporation. We compete against these same companies in the secondary storage market, which includes the disk-to-disk backup, archival and compliance, and business continuity segments. In markets such as cloud, big data, and converged infrastructure, our primary competitors include EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, and IBM. In the healthcare, financial services, life sciences, and service provider markets, we compete primarily with EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, and IBM. Some of our competitors in the primary and secondary storage markets also offer their systems to OEM customers. In addition, we compete in the OEM market against products from DotHill and Xyratex.

Most full-stack vendors that sell storage started as server companies. Their ability to monetize their storage investment is limited by their server market share because their primary sales strategy is to attach storage to their server sales. With such a cap on market opportunity, we expect that over time the server companies will have difficulty sustaining investment in storage and data management. However, most storage companies have multiple overlapping architectures. Many of our competitors have multiple products that serve similar needs, resulting in multiple code bases that have to replicate the same functionality, diluting product development and management, current product engineering, and support costs and slowing their ability to innovate.

We consider innovation and our technological partnerships to be our key differentiators. We are committed to being the best-in-class storage vendor and partnering with other industry leaders in delivering what we call the “innovation stack.” An innovation stack from best-in-class vendors gives customers the best applications and technologies available. To support our solutions for converged architectures, we offer a cooperative support model with our partners.

In the OEM market, we compete based on the total offering we provide our partners, which is focused on a commitment to their success. They choose us for our products, technology, training, and support through the sales and product lifecycles.

We believe the advantages of our products include functionality, scalability, performance, flexibility, quality, and operational efficiency. We believe our advantage also includes the nature of the relationships we form with our customers and partners worldwide. We strive to deliver an outstanding experience in every interaction we have with our customers and partners through our product, service, and support offerings, which enable us to provide our customers with a full range of expertise before, during, and after their purchase.

An increase in industry consolidation might result in stronger competitors that are better able to compete as sole-source vendors for customers. In addition, current and potential competitors have established or might establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties, including some of our partners. It is possible that new competitors or alliances among competitors might emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share.

 

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Proprietary Rights

We currently rely on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures, contractual provisions, and patents to protect our proprietary rights. We seek to protect our software, documentation, and other written materials under trade secret, copyright, and patent laws, which afford only limited protection. We have registered our NetApp name and logo, Network Appliance® name and logo, Data ONTAP, DataFabric®, FlexVol, FlexPod™, FilerView®, NearStore®, OnCommand, SecureShare®, SnapDrive®, SnapLock, SnapManager®, SnapMirror, SnapRestore, SnapVault, WAFL, and others as trademarks in the United States. Other U.S. trademarks and U.S. registered trademarks are registered internationally as well. We will continue to evaluate the registration of additional trademarks as appropriate. We generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, resellers, customers, and suppliers. We currently have multiple U.S. and international patent applications pending and multiple U.S. patents issued.

In addition, through various licensing arrangements, we receive certain rights to intellectual property of others. We expect to maintain current licensing arrangements and to secure licensing arrangements in the future, as needed and to the extent available on reasonable terms and conditions, to support continued development and sales of our products and services. Some of these licensing arrangements require or might require royalty payments and other licensing fees. The amount of these payments and fees might depend on various factors, including but not limited to the structure of royalty payments; offsetting considerations, if any; and the degree of use of the licensed technology.

The industry in which we compete is characterized by rapidly changing technology, a large number of patents, and frequent claims and related litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights, and we are exposed to various risks related to legal proceedings or claims and protection of intellectual property rights. Also, if we are unable to protect our intellectual property, we might be subject to increased competition that could materially and adversely affect our operating results.

Environmental Disclosure

We are committed to the success of our customers and partners, to delivering value to our shareholders, and to positively affecting the communities where our employees work and live. We firmly believe that we can accomplish these objectives concurrently with our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. We are committed to the prevention of pollution; efficient use of natural resources; and minimizing, relative to the growth of the company, the environmental impacts from our operations, products, and services, as well as to comply with laws and regulations related to these areas. Our environmental management system provides the framework for setting, monitoring, and continuously improving our environmental goals and objectives.

We are voluntarily measuring, monitoring, and publicly reporting our Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions. We have established employee commuter programs and education and awareness campaigns, and we continuously seek to optimize the energy efficiency of our buildings, labs, and data centers. At both the global and regional/state levels, various laws and regulations have been implemented or are under consideration to mitigate the effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental laws are complex, change frequently, and have tended to become more stringent over time. It is often difficult to estimate the future impact of environmental matters. Based on current information and subject to the finalization of the proposed regulations, we believe that our primary risk related to climate change is the risk of increased energy costs. However, we do not anticipate being subject to a cap and trade system or any other mitigation measures that would be material to our operations in the near future. Additionally, we have implemented disaster recovery and business resiliency measures to mitigate the physical risks our facilities, business, and supply chain might face as a consequence of severe weather/climate-related phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, and other such natural occurrences.

 

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We are also subject to other federal, state, and local regulations regarding workplace safety and protection of the environment. Various international, federal, state, and local provisions regulate the use and discharge of certain hazardous materials used in the manufacture of our products. Failure to comply with environmental regulations in the future could cause us to incur substantial costs or subject us to business interruptions. We believe we are substantially compliant with all applicable environmental laws. All of our products meet the requirements for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH); Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE); Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS); and China RoHS directives compliance. We have maintained an environmental management system since December 2004 as well as ISO 14001 certification at our corporate headquarters, which represents approximately 25% of our employee population and is one of the largest components of our corporate carbon footprint. As part of ISO 14001 requirements, we set environmental performance goals around reducing energy use per square foot as well as waste generated on site (per employee). We also conduct an annual review and third-party verified audits of our operations, and we monitor environmental legislation and requirements to help make sure we are taking necessary measures to remain in compliance with applicable laws, not only in our operations but also for our products.

Working Capital Practices

Information about our working capital practices is included in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation,” under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Employees

As of April 27, 2012, we had 12,149 employees, of which 5,569 were in sales and marketing, 3,957 were in research and development, 1,524 were in services and manufacturing operations, and 1,099 were in finance and administration. We have never had a work stoppage and consider relations with our employees to be good. Competition for technical personnel in the industry in which we compete is intense. We believe that our future success depends in part on our continued ability to hire, assimilate, and retain qualified personnel. To date, we believe that we have been successful in recruiting qualified employees, but there is no assurance that we will continue to be successful in the future.

Executive Officers

Our executive officers and their ages as of May 22, 2012, are as follows:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Thomas Georgens

     52       President and Chief Executive Officer

Nicholas R. Noviello

     43      

Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer

Robert E. Salmon

     51       Executive Vice President, Field Operations

Manish Goel

     47       Executive Vice President, Product Operations

Matthew K. Fawcett

     44       Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Thomas Georgens has been the Company’s president and chief executive officer since August 2009. From February 2008 to August 2009, Mr. Georgens served as our president and chief operating officer and was responsible for all product operations and field operations worldwide. Mr. Georgens has also been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2008. Mr. Georgens joined NetApp in October 2005 as executive vice president and general manager of enterprise storage systems and served as our executive vice president of product operations from January 2007 to February 2008. Before joining the Company, Mr. Georgens spent nine years in various roles at LSI Corporation, an electronics design company, and its subsidiaries, including chief

 

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executive officer of Engenio, president of LSI Logic Storage Systems and executive vice president of LSI Logic. Prior to Engenio, Mr. Georgens spent 11 years at EMC Corporation, a computer storage and data management company, in a variety of engineering and marketing positions. Mr. Georgens holds a B.S. degree and an M.E. degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as well as an M.B.A. degree from Babson College.

Nicholas R. Noviello was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer in January 2012, overseeing the company’s finance, customer leasing, workplace resources, and investor relations functions. Mr. Noviello joined NetApp in January 2008 as vice president, finance and controller. He was named senior vice president finance and corporate controller in April 2008, and senior vice president finance and global controller in November 2010. Before joining NetApp, Mr. Noviello spent eight years at Honeywell International, where he was chief financial officer of two global business units, managed investor relations, and was a leader on the corporate mergers and acquisitions team. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Noviello led mergers and acquisitions for Monarch Dental Corporation for two years and spent seven years at PricewaterhouseCoopers in mergers and acquisitions transaction services, tax, and audit. Mr. Noviello holds a BS degree in business administration from Boston University and an MS degree in taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and he is a certified public accountant.

Robert E. Salmon joined NetApp in January 1994 and was appointed executive vice president, field operations in December 2005. Mr. Salmon has served as the company’s executive vice president of worldwide sales since September 2004. From August 2003 to September 2004, Mr. Salmon served as our senior vice president of worldwide sales, and from May 2000 to August 2003, Mr. Salmon served as our vice president of North American sales. Prior to his tenure at NetApp, Mr. Salmon spent nearly 10 years with Sun Microsystems, a supplier of network computing systems, and Data General Corporation, a manufacturer of multi-user computer systems. Mr. Salmon graduated from California State University, Chico with a BS degree in computer science.

Manish Goel was appointed the executive vice president, of product operations in June 2009, overseeing all aspects of technology strategy and product engineering across our product portfolio. Mr. Goel has held a variety of leadership roles in corporate development, sales, and business unit general management since he joined NetApp in 2002. Prior to NetApp, Mr. Goel led corporate and business development activities for Cadence Design Systems, an electronic design automation company, from February 1998 to May 1999, and Copper Mountain Networks, a developer of digital subscriber line (DSL) products, from May 1999 to October 2001. Prior to that, he spent four years as a strategy consultant for McKinsey and Co. and six years in sales operations and software engineering roles. Mr. Goel holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from IIT Chennai and an MBA degree in finance from the Wharton School of Business.

Matthew K. Fawcett joined the company in September 2010 as senior vice president and general counsel. Prior to joining NetApp, from 1999 to August 2010, Mr. Fawcett served in various legal positions at JDS Uniphase Corporation, an optical components company, including as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Prior to joining JDSU, Mr. Fawcett was counsel at Fujitsu and worked in private practice at Morrison & Foerster LLP. Fawcett holds a BA degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a JD degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Additional Information

Our Internet address is www.netapp.com. We make available through our Internet Web site our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC.

The SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The public also may read and copy these filings at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information about this Public Reference Room is available by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we presently deem less significant may also impair our business operations. Please see Item 1. Business — Forward Looking Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the forward-looking statements that are qualified by these risk factors. If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risk factors actually occurs, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Our operating results may be adversely affected by uncertain economic and market conditions.

We are subject to the effects of general global economic and market conditions. Challenging economic conditions worldwide or in certain geographic regions, such as the continuing fiscal challenges in the United States and Europe, have from time to time contributed to slowdowns in the computer, storage, and networking industries at large, as well as the information technology (IT) market, resulting in:

 

   

Reduced demand for our products as a result of constraints on IT-related spending by our customers;

 

   

Risk of supply constraints, such as the risks related to the flooding in Thailand;

 

   

Increased price competition for our products from competitors;

 

   

Deferment of purchases and orders by customers due to budgetary constraints or changes in current or planned utilization of our systems;

 

   

Risk of excess and obsolete inventories;

 

   

Excess facilities costs;

 

   

Higher overhead costs as a percentage of revenues;

 

   

Negative impacts from increased financial pressures on customers, distributors and resellers;

 

   

Negative impacts from increased financial pressures on key suppliers or contract manufacturers; and

 

   

Potential discontinuance of product lines and related asset impairments.

Any of the above-mentioned factors could have a material and adverse effect on our business and financial performance.

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate, which could adversely impact our common stock price.

We believe that period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as indicators of future performance. Our operating results have been in the past, and will continue to be, subject to quarterly fluctuations as a result of numerous factors, some of which may contribute to more pronounced fluctuations during times of economic volatility. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

Fluctuations in demand for our products and services, in part due to changes in general economic conditions and specific economic conditions in the storage and data management market;

 

   

A shift in government spending patterns, particularly in light of continued worries about government debt levels and spending;

 

   

Changes in sales and implementation cycles for our products and reduced visibility into our customers’ spending plans and associated revenues;

 

   

The level of price and product competition in our target markets;

 

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The impact of economic uncertainty on our customers’ budgets and IT spending capacity;

 

   

Our ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels and purchase commitments;

 

   

Our reliance on a limited number of suppliers, and industry consolidation in our supply base, which could subject us to periodic supply-and-demand, price rigidity, and quality issues with our components;

 

   

Our ability to maintain product quality generally;

 

   

The timing and type of bookings, the cancellation of significant orders and the management of, or fluctuations in, our backlog;

 

   

Product configuration and mix;

 

   

The extent to which our customers renew their service and maintenance contracts with us;

 

   

Seasonality, such as our historical seasonal decline in revenues in the first quarter of our fiscal year and seasonal increase in revenues in the second quarter of our fiscal year, with the latter due in part to the impact of the U.S. federal government’s September 30 fiscal year end on the timing of its orders;

 

   

Linearity, such as our historical intra-quarter bookings and revenue pattern in which a disproportionate percentage of each quarter’s total bookings and related revenue occur in the last month of the quarter;

 

   

Announcements and introductions of, and transitions to, new products by us or our competitors;

 

   

Deferrals of customer orders in anticipation of new products or product enhancements introduced by us or our competitors;

 

   

Our ability to develop, introduce, and market new products and enhancements in a timely manner;

 

   

Our ability to effectively integrate acquired products and technologies;

 

   

Our levels of expenditure on research and development and sales and marketing programs;

 

   

Our ability to effectively manage our operating expenses;

 

   

Adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates in the countries in which we do business;

 

   

The dilutive impact of our $1.265 billion of 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due June 2013 (the “Notes”) and related warrants on our earnings per share;

 

   

Excess or inadequate facilities;

 

   

Actual events, circumstances, outcomes and amounts differing from judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in determining the values of certain assets (including the amounts of valuation allowances), liabilities, and other items reflected in our consolidated financial statements;

 

   

Disruptions resulting from new systems and processes as we continue to enhance and scale our system infrastructure;

 

   

Disruptions resulting from reliance on third-party systems and processes during the transition period following the completion of mergers or other acquisitions; and

 

   

Future accounting pronouncements and changes in accounting rules, such as the increased use of fair value measures, changes in accounting standards related to revenue recognition, lease accounting, and financial instruments and the potential requirement that U.S. registrants prepare financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Due to such factors, operating results for future periods are difficult to predict, and, therefore, prior results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Any of the foregoing factors, or any other factors discussed elsewhere herein, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. It is possible that in one or more quarters our results may fall below our forecasts and the expectations of public market analysts and investors. In such event, the trading price of our common stock would likely decrease.

 

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Our revenues for a particular period are difficult to forecast, and a shortfall in revenues may harm our business and our operating results.

Our revenues for a particular period are difficult to forecast, especially in times of economic uncertainty. Because the storage and data management market is rapidly evolving, our sales cycle varies substantially from customer to customer, and we rely increasingly on sales through our indirect channel partners, including value-added resellers, systems integrators, distributors, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and strategic business partners. New product introductions and the transition from old to new products also increase the complexities of forecasting revenues.

In addition, we derive a majority of our revenues in any given quarter from orders booked in the same quarter. Bookings typically follow intra-quarter seasonality patterns weighted toward the back end of the quarter. If we do not achieve bookings in the latter part of a quarter consistent with our quarterly targets, our financial results will be adversely impacted. Additionally, due to the complexities associated with revenue recognition, we may not accurately forecast our non-deferred and deferred revenues, which could adversely impact our results of operations.

We use a “pipeline” system, a common industry practice, to forecast bookings and trends in our business. Sales personnel monitor the status of potential business and estimate when a customer will make a purchase decision, the dollar amount of the sale and the products or services to be sold. These estimates are aggregated periodically to generate a bookings pipeline. Our pipeline estimates may prove to be unreliable either in a particular quarter or over a longer period of time, in part because the “conversion rate” of the pipeline into revenues varies from customer to customer, can be difficult to estimate, and requires management judgment, and also because customers’ purchasing decisions are subject to delay, reduction or cancellation. Small deviations from our forecasted conversion rate may result in inaccurate plans and budgets and could materially and adversely impact our business or our planned results of operations. In addition, the risks inherent in using a pipeline system are magnified with respect to indirect sales made through our channel partners because we have less control over, and visibility into, the sales process of our channel partners.

Economic uncertainties have caused, and may in the future again cause, consumers, businesses and governments to defer purchases in response to tighter budgets, credit, decreased cash availability and declining customer confidence. Accordingly, future demand for our products could differ from our current expectations.

Supply chain and logistics issues, including financial problems of contract manufacturers or component suppliers, or a shortage of adequate component supply or manufacturing capacity that increases our costs or causes a delay in our ability to fulfill orders, could have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results, and our failure to estimate customer demand properly may result in excess or obsolete component supply, which could adversely affect our gross margins.

The fact that we do not own or operate our manufacturing facilities, supply chain and logistics exposes us to risks, including reduced control over quality assurance, production costs and product supply, which could have a material adverse impact on the supply of our products and on our business and operating results. We rely on a limited number of suppliers for components utilized in the assembly of our products, including certain single source suppliers, which has and could subject us to future price rigidity, periodic supply constraints, and the inability to produce our products. If our third-party manufacturers or suppliers experience strikes, protests or other labor unrest, or are subject to lawsuits, injunctions or other legal challenges, there may be delays, interruptions or permanent impairment in the ability of such manufacturers and suppliers to ship products to us, or such manufacturers and suppliers may incur increased costs, any of which could impact our business and harm our operating results, liquidity and financial condition.

For instance, several of our disk drive suppliers with operations in Thailand were impacted by the October 2011 flooding, which affected those suppliers’ ability to manufacture a sufficient number of drives in order to meet the demands of their customers, including us. In addition, certain suppliers also increased prices for

 

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available drives. Drive supply shortages and pricing complexities could materially and adversely affect our supply chain, customer relationships and results of operations. Qualifying new contract manufacturers and commencing volume production is expensive and time-consuming, and disruption or termination of manufacturing capacity with respect to any contract manufacturer could negatively impact our ability to manufacture, sell and ship our products.

We intend to regularly introduce new products and product enhancements, which will require us to rapidly achieve volume production by coordinating with our contract manufacturers and suppliers. A reduction or interruption in supply; a significant increase in the price of one or more components; a failure to adequately procure inventory by our contract manufacturers; a failure to timely cancel, reschedule, or adjust our requirements based on our business needs; perceived or real problems with product quality control; or a decrease in demand for our products could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition and could materially damage customer relationships. Furthermore, as a result of binding price or purchase commitments with suppliers, we may be obligated to purchase components at prices that are higher than those available in the current market. In the event that we become committed to purchase components at prices in excess of the current market price when the components are actually used, our gross margins could decrease. As the demand for our products has increased, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, tightening of supply of some components leading to longer lead times and component supply constraints, which has resulted in and in the future could continue to result in the delay of shipments.

Our business operations are subject to business interruptions and other events beyond our control. Such events could make it difficult or impossible for us to receive components from our suppliers and create delays and inefficiencies in our supply chain.

We have experienced periods of alternating growth and decline in revenues and operating expenses. If we are not able to successfully manage these fluctuations, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be significantly impacted.

Changing market conditions and economic uncertainty create a challenging operating environment for our business. It is critical that we maintain appropriate alignment between our cost structure and our expected growth and revenues, while at the same time, continuing to make strategic investments for future growth.

Our expense levels are based in part on our expectations as to future revenues, and a significant percentage of our expenses are fixed. We have a limited ability to quickly or significantly reduce our fixed costs, and if revenue levels are below our expectations, operating results will be adversely impacted. During periods of uneven growth, we may incur costs before we realize the anticipated related benefits, which could harm our operating results. We have made, and will continue to make, significant investments in engineering, sales, service and support, marketing programs and other functions to support and grow our business. We are likely to recognize the costs associated with these investments earlier than some of the related anticipated benefits, such as revenue growth, and the return on these investments may be lower, or may develop more slowly, than we expect, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Conversely, if we are unable to effectively manage our resources and capacity during periods of increasing demand for our products, we could also experience an adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition and our customer relationships may be adversely impacted. If the storage and data management market fails to grow, or grows slower than we expect, our revenues will be adversely affected.

Our gross margins have varied over time and may continue to vary, and such variation makes it more difficult to forecast our earnings.

Our total gross margins are impacted by the mix of our product, software entitlements and maintenance and services revenues.

 

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Our product gross margins have been and may continue to be affected by a variety of factors, including:

 

   

Demand for storage and data management products;

 

   

Pricing actions, rebates, sales initiatives, discount levels, and price competition;

 

   

Changes in the mix between direct versus indirect and OEM sales, each of which has a different gross margin structure;

 

   

Changes in customer, geographic, or product mix, including mix of configurations within products;

 

   

The timing and amount of revenue recognized and deferred;

 

   

New product introductions and enhancements;

 

   

Licensing and royalty arrangements;

 

   

Excess inventory levels or purchase commitments as a result of changes in demand forecasts or last time buy purchases;

 

   

Possible product and software defects as we transition our products; and

 

   

The cost of components, contract manufacturing costs, quality, warranty, and freight.

Changes in software entitlements and maintenance gross margins may result from various factors, such as:

 

   

The size of the installed base of products under support contracts;

 

   

The timing of technical support service contract renewals; and

 

   

Demand for and the timing of delivery of upgrades.

Changes in service gross margins may result from various factors, such as:

 

   

The mix of customers;

 

   

The size and timing of service contract renewals;

 

   

Spares stocking requirements to support new product introductions;

 

   

The level of spending on our customer support infrastructure;

 

   

The volume, cost and use of outside partners to deliver support services on our behalf; and

 

   

Product quality and serviceability issues.

Due to such factors, gross margins are subject to variation from period-to-period and are difficult to predict.

An increase in competition and industry consolidation could materially and adversely affect our operating results.

The storage and data management markets are intensely competitive and are characterized by rapidly changing technology. We compete with many companies in the markets we serve, including companies that offer a broad spectrum of IT products and services (full-stack vendors) and others that offer a more limited set of storage and data management products or services. In the primary storage market, our system products and associated software portfolio mainly compete with storage system products and data management software from Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, and Oracle Corporation. We compete against these same companies in the secondary storage market, which includes the disk-to-disk backup, archival and compliance, and business continuity segments. In markets such as cloud, big data, and converged infrastructure, our primary competitors include EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, and IBM. In the healthcare, financial services, life sciences, and service provider markets, we compete primarily with EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, and IBM. Some of our competitors in the primary and secondary storage markets also offer their systems to OEM customers. In addition, we compete in the OEM market against products from DotHill and Xyratex.

 

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There has been a trend toward industry consolidation in our markets for several years. We expect this trend to continue as companies attempt to strengthen or hold their market positions in an evolving industry, as companies become unable to maintain their competitive positions or continue operations and as customers demand more flexible business models and terms. We believe that industry consolidation may result in stronger competitors that are better able to compete for customers as sole-source vendors. In addition, current and potential competitors have established or may establish strategic alliances among themselves or with third parties, including some of our partners. It is possible that new competitors or alliances among competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share. We may not be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors. Competitive pressures we face could materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.

Disruption of, or changes in, our distribution model could harm our sales.

If we fail to develop and maintain strong relationships with our channel partners, or if our channel partners fail to effectively manage the sale of our products or services on our behalf, our revenues and gross margins could be adversely affected.

We market and sell our storage data management solutions directly through our worldwide sales force and indirectly through channel partners such as value-added resellers, systems integrators, distributors, OEMs and strategic business partners, and we derive a significant portion of our revenues from these indirect channels. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated from sales through our indirect channel accounted for 78% of net revenues. In order for us to maintain or increase our revenues, we must effectively manage our relationships with channel partners.

Several factors could result in disruption of or changes in our indirect channel distribution model, which could materially harm our revenues and gross margins, including the following:

 

   

Our indirect channel partners may compete directly with other channel partners or with our direct sales force. Due to these conflicts, our indirect channel partners could stop or reduce their efforts in marketing our products.

 

   

Our indirect channel partners may demand that we absorb a greater share of the risks that their customers may ask them to bear;

 

   

Our indirect channel partners may have insufficient financial resources and may not be able to withstand changes and challenges in business conditions; and

 

   

Our indirect channel partners’ financial condition or operations may weaken.

The loss of one or more of our key indirect channel partners in a given geographic area could harm our operating results within that area, as qualifying and developing new indirect channel partners typically requires a significant investment of time and resources before acceptable levels of productivity are met. There is no assurance that we will be able to attract new indirect channel partners, retain these indirect channel partners or that we will be able to secure additional or replacement indirect channel partners in the future, especially in light of continued changes in end customer demand patterns and changes in available and competing technologies from competitors. Our inability to effectively establish, train, retain and manage our indirect channel partners could harm our sales.

In addition, we depend on our indirect channel partners to comply with applicable regulatory requirements in the jurisdictions in which they operate. Their failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results.

 

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Our OEM relationships may not continue to generate significant revenues.

We have OEM relationships with IBM, Teradata, Fujitsu Technology Solutions (Fujitsu), Oracle and Dell, which enable these OEMs to market and sell their branded solutions based on our unified solutions, as well as associated software offerings, or in the case of Fujitsu, enables Fujitsu to lease, sell, market and resell our products to end users and Fujitsu sales partners worldwide, to integrate our products into Fujitsu bundled offerings, and to market our support services. While these arrangements are part of our general strategy to expand our reach to more customers and into more countries, we do not have exclusive relationships with our OEMs, and there is no minimum commitment for any given period of time. Therefore, our relationships with these OEMs may not continue to generate significant revenues. In addition, we have no control over the products that the OEMs select to sell, or their release schedule and timing of those products; nor do we control their pricing.

As our OEM relationships increase, we may experience distribution channel conflicts between our direct sales force and the OEMs or among our channel partners. If we fail to minimize channel conflicts, or if our OEM relationships do not continue to generate significant revenues, our operating results and financial condition could be harmed.

A portion of our revenues is generated by large, recurring purchases from various customers, resellers and distributors. A loss, cancellation or delay in purchases by any of these parties has and in the future could negatively affect our revenues.

During fiscal 2012, sales to distributors Arrow Electronics, Inc. and Avnet, Inc. accounted for approximately 17% and 12%, respectively, of our net revenues. We also have significant OEM agreements, as discussed above. The loss of orders from these, or any of our more significant customers, strategic partners, distributors or resellers could cause our revenues and profitability to suffer.

We generally do not enter into binding purchase commitments with our customers for extended periods of time, and thus we may not be able to continue to receive large, recurring orders from these customers, resellers or distributors. For example, our reseller agreements generally do not require minimum purchases and our customers, resellers and distributors can stop purchasing and marketing our products at any time.

Unfavorable economic conditions may negatively impact our operations by affecting the solvency of our customers, resellers and distributors, or the ability of our customers to obtain credit to finance purchases of our products. If the uncertainty in the economy continues, or conditions deteriorate, and our sales decline, our financial condition and operating results could be adversely impacted.

Because our expenses are based on our revenue forecasts, a substantial reduction or delay in sales of our products to, or unexpected returns from customers and resellers, or the loss of any significant customer or reseller, could harm our business. We expect that our largest customers in the future could be different from our largest customers today. End users could stop purchasing and indirect channel partners could stop marketing our products at any time. The loss of one or more of our key indirect channel partners or the failure to obtain and ship a number of large orders each quarter could harm our operating results. In addition, a change in the pricing practices of one or more of our large indirect channel partners could adversely affect our revenues and gross margins.

 

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The U.S. government has contributed to our revenue growth and has become an important customer for us. Future revenues from the U.S. government are subject to shifts in government spending patterns. A decrease in government demand for our products could materially and adversely affect our revenues. In addition, our business could be adversely affected by claims that we or a channel partner have failed to comply with regulatory and contractual requirements applicable to sales to the U.S. government.

The U.S. government has become an important customer for the storage and data management market generally and for us in particular; however, government demand is unpredictable, and there can be no assurance that we will maintain or grow our revenues from the U.S. government. Government agencies are subject to budgetary processes and expenditure constraints that could lead to delays or decreased capital expenditures in IT spending, particularly in light of recent and continued uncertainties about U.S. spending levels. If the government or individual agencies within the government reduce or shift their capital spending patterns, our revenues and operating results may be harmed.

Selling our products to the U.S. government, whether directly or through channel partners, also subjects us to certain regulatory and contractual requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements by either us or our channel partners could subject us to investigations, fines, and other penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, operating results and financial position. As an example, the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the General Services Administration (“GSA”) have in the past pursued claims against and financial settlements with IT vendors, including us and several of our competitors and channel partners, under the False Claims Act and other statutes related to pricing and discount practices and compliance with certain provisions of GSA contracts for sales to the federal government. The DOJ and GSA continue to pursue actively such claims. We are currently discussing contract compliance matters regarding sales made through a channel partner with the DOJ and GSA, and have produced documents and met with the DOJ and GSA on several occasions. If the DOJ determines to initiate an action against a channel partner and/or us, we would be subject to litigation, could be subjected to fines and penalties. We could also decide to pay the DOJ a settlement, either to avoid a potential action or in termination of an action. Violations of certain regulatory and contractual requirements could also result in us being suspended or debarred from future government contracting. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, operating results and financial position.

Certain of our products are subject to U.S. export control laws and other laws affecting the countries in which our products and services may be sold, distributed, or delivered; if we were found to have violated these laws, the consequences of such a determination could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Due to the global nature of our business, we are subject to import and export restrictions and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the trade and economic sanctions regulations administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The U.S., through the BIS and OFAC, places restrictions on the sale or export of certain products and services to certain countries and persons. Violators of these export control and sanctions laws may be subject to significant penalties, which may include significant monetary fines, criminal proceedings against us and our officers and employees, a denial of export privileges, and suspension or debarment from selling products to the federal government. We take a variety of precautions to prevent our products from being shipped to U.S.-sanctioned targets, however, our products could be shipped to those targets by third parties, including potentially our channel partners, despite such precautions. For instance, media reports starting in November 2011 have asserted that certain of our products were delivered to Syria through a third-party possibly in violation of U.S. export-control laws. We have publicly stated that we condemn any use of our products or technologies in Syria, we have notified the U.S. government that we are conducting a review of these allegations, and intend to cooperate fully with any government inquiry. We have met with U.S. government officials, provided information at their request, and expressed our willingness to continue cooperating with any further inquiry or investigation. If we become the subject of an investigation and are found to have violated U.S. export control laws, we may be subject to various penalties available under the laws, any of

 

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which could have a material and adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial position. Even if we are not found to have violated such laws, the political and media scrutiny surrounding any governmental investigation of us could cause us significant financial and reputational harm and distract senior executives from managing our normal day-to-day operations, which could have a material and adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial position.

If we are unable to maintain our existing relationships and develop new relationships with major strategic partners, our revenues may be impacted negatively.

An element of our strategy to increase revenues is to strategically partner with major third-party software and hardware vendors to integrate our products into their products and also co-market our products with them. We have significant partner relationships with database, business application, backup management and server virtualization companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, SAP, Symantec and VMware. A number of these strategic partners are industry leaders that offer us expanded access to segments of the storage and data management market. There is intense competition for attractive strategic partners, and even if we can establish relationships with these or other partners, these partnerships may not generate significant revenues or may not continue to be in effect for any specific period of time. If these relationships are not maintained or fail to materialize as expected, we could experience lower than expected revenue growth, suffer delays in product development, or experience other operational difficulties.

In addition, some of our partners, including Oracle, Cisco and VMware, are also partnering with other storage vendors, which may increase the availability of competing solutions, harm our ability to continue as the vendor of choice for those partners and harm our ability to grow our business with those partners.

We intend to continue to establish and maintain business relationships with technology companies to expand our marketing reach and accelerate the development of our storage and data management solutions. To the extent that we are unsuccessful in developing new relationships or maintaining our existing relationships, our future revenues and operating results could be negatively impacted. In addition, the loss of a strategic partner could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results.

Our future financial performance depends on growth in the storage and data management markets. If the performance of these markets do not meet the expectations upon which we calculate and forecast our revenues or if we are unable to develop product offerings that meet the future demands of these markets, our operating results will be materially and adversely impacted.

All of our products address the storage and data management markets. Accordingly, our future financial performance will depend in large part on continued growth in the storage and data management markets and on our ability to adapt to emerging standards in these markets. The markets for storage and data management have been recently adversely impacted by the global economic uncertainty, and as a result of continued uncertainty, the markets may not grow as anticipated or may decline. Also, even if spending in the IT market increases, our revenues may not grow at the same pace.

Additionally, emerging standards in these markets may adversely affect the UNIX®, Windows® and the World Wide Web server markets upon which we depend. For example, we provide our open access data retention solutions to customers within the financial services, healthcare, pharmaceutical and government market segments, industries that are subject to various evolving governmental regulations with respect to data access, reliability and permanence (such as Rule 17(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in the U.S. and in the other countries in which we operate. If our products do not meet and continue to comply with these evolving governmental regulations in this regard, customers in these market and geographical segments will not purchase our products, and we will not be able to expand our product offerings in these market and geographical segments at the rates which we have forecasted.

 

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The market price for our common stock has fluctuated significantly in the past and will likely continue to do so in the future.

The market price for our common stock has experienced substantial volatility in the past, and several factors could cause substantial fluctuation in the future. These factors include but are not limited to:

 

   

Fluctuations in our operating results compared to prior periods and forecasts;

 

   

Variations between our operating results and either the guidance we have furnished to the public or the published expectations of securities analysts;

 

   

Industry consolidation and the resulting perception of increased competition;

 

   

Economic developments in the storage and data management market as a whole;

 

   

Fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;

 

   

Changes in analysts’ recommendations or projections;

 

   

Changes in our relationships with our suppliers, customers, channel and strategic partners;

 

   

Announcements of the completion or dissolution of strategic alliances within the industry;

 

   

Dilutive impacts of our convertible Notes and related warrants;

 

   

International conflicts and acts of terrorism;

 

   

Announcements of new products, applications, or product enhancements by us or our competitors;

 

   

Announcements related to planned or completed mergers or other acquisitions by us or our competitors;

 

   

Inquiries by the SEC, NASDAQ, law enforcement, or other regulatory bodies; and

 

   

General market conditions, including recent global or regional economic uncertainties.

In addition, the stock market has experienced volatility that has particularly affected the market prices of the equity securities of many technology companies. Certain macroeconomic factors such as the market climate for the technology sector, changes in interest rates, and levels of corporate spending on IT, could continue to have an impact on the trading price of our stock, and the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in the future.

If we are unable to develop and introduce new products and respond to technological change, if our new products do not achieve market acceptance, if we fail to manage the interoperability and transition between our new and old products, or if we cannot provide the expected level of quality, service and support for our new products, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Our future growth depends upon the successful development and introduction of new hardware and software products. Due to the complexity of storage subsystems and storage security appliances and the difficulty in gauging the engineering effort required to produce new products, such products are subject to significant technical and quality control risks. In addition, our new products must respond to technological changes and evolving industry standards. If we are unable, for technological or other reasons, to develop and introduce new products in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, or if such products do not achieve market acceptance, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected. New or additional product introductions increase the complexities of forecasting revenues, and subject us to additional financial and operational risks. If they are not managed effectively, we could experience material risks to our operations, financial condition and business model.

As new or enhanced products are introduced, we must attempt to successfully manage the interoperability and transition from older products in order to minimize disruption in customers’ ordering patterns, avoid excessive levels of older product inventories, and ensure that enough supplies of new products can be delivered to meet customers’ demands.

 

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As we enter new or emerging markets, we will likely increase demands on our service and support operations and may be exposed to additional competition. We may not be able to provide products, service and support to effectively compete for these market opportunities.

Undetected software errors, hardware errors, or failures found in new products may result in loss of or delay in market acceptance of our products, which could increase our costs and reduce our revenues. Product quality problems could lead to reduced revenues, gross margins and operating results.

Our products may contain undetected software errors, hardware errors or failures when first introduced or as new versions are released. Despite testing by us and by current and potential customers, errors may not be found in new products until after commencement of commercial shipments, resulting in loss of or delay in market acceptance, which could materially and adversely affect our operating results.

In addition, if we fail to remedy a product defect, we may experience a failure of a product line, temporary or permanent withdrawal from a product or market, damage to our reputation, inventory costs or product reengineering expenses and higher ongoing warranty and service costs, and these occurrences could have a material impact on our revenues, gross margins and operating results. We may be subject to losses that may result from or are alleged to result from defects in our products, which could subject us to claims for damages, including consequential damages.

Due to the global nature of our business, risks inherent in our international operations could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Although a substantial portion of our business is located and conducted in the U.S., a significant portion of our operations are located, and a significant portion of our revenues are derived, outside of the U.S. During fiscal 2012, our international revenues accounted for 51% of our total revenues. A substantial portion of our products are manufactured outside of the U.S., and we have research and development and service centers overseas. Accordingly, our business and our future operating results could be adversely affected by a variety of factors affecting our international operations, some of which are beyond our control, including regulatory, political, or economic conditions in a specific country or region, trade protection measures and other regulatory requirements, government spending patterns, and acts of terrorism and international conflicts. In addition, we may not be able to maintain or increase international market demand for our products.

We face exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates as a result of our international operations. These exposures may change over time as business practices evolve, and they could have a material adverse impact on our financial results and cash flows. We utilize forward and option contracts in an attempt to reduce the adverse earnings impact from the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on certain assets and liabilities as well as certain anticipated foreign currency cash flows on a short-term basis. These hedging contracts attempt to reduce, but do not always entirely eliminate, the impact of currency exchange movements. Factors that could have a negative impact on the effectiveness of our hedging program include inaccuracies in forecasting, widening interest rate differentials, and volatility in the foreign exchange market. Our hedging strategies may not be successful and currency exchange rate fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, our foreign currency exposure on assets and liabilities for which we do not hedge could have a material impact on our results of operations in periods when the U.S. dollar significantly fluctuates in relation to unhedged non-U.S. currencies in which we transact business.

As a result of entering into these hedging contracts with major financial institutions, we may be subject to counterparty nonperformance risk. Should there be a counterparty default, we could be exposed to the net losses on the hedged arrangements or be unable to recover anticipated net gains from the transactions.

Additional risks inherent in our international business activities generally include, among others, longer accounts receivable payment cycles and difficulties in managing international operations.

 

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In addition, due to the global nature of our business, we are subject to complex legal and regulatory requirements in the U.S. and the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate and sell our products, including antitrust and anti-competition laws, rules and regulations, and regulations related to data privacy. We are also subject to the potential loss of proprietary information due to piracy, misappropriation or laws that may be less protective of our intellectual property rights than U.S. laws. Such factors could have an adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial position.

Moreover, in many foreign countries, particularly in those with developing economies, it is common to engage in business practices that are prohibited by our internal policies and procedures, or U.S. laws and regulations applicable to us, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. There can be no assurance that all of our employees, contractors and agents, as well as those companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations, will comply with these policies, procedures, laws and/or regulations. Any such violation could subject us to fines and other penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Changes in our effective tax rate or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income tax returns could adversely affect our results.

Our effective tax rate could be adversely affected by several factors, many of which are outside of our control, including:

 

   

Earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we are taxed at lower rates as compared to the U.S. statutory tax rate;

 

   

Material differences between forecasted and actual tax rates as a result of a shift in the mix of pretax profits and losses by tax jurisdiction, our ability to use tax credits or effective tax rates by tax jurisdiction that differ from our estimates;

 

   

Changing tax laws or related interpretations, accounting standards, regulations, and interpretations in multiple tax jurisdictions in which we operate, as well as the requirements of certain tax rulings;

 

   

An increase in expenses not deductible for tax purposes, including certain stock-based compensation, write-offs of acquired in-process research and development, and impairment of goodwill;

 

   

The tax effects of purchase accounting for acquisitions and restructuring charges that may cause fluctuations between reporting periods;

 

   

Changes related to our ability to ultimately realize future benefits attributed to our deferred tax assets, including those related to other-than-temporary impairments;

 

   

Tax assessments resulting from income tax audits or any related tax interest or penalties could significantly affect our income tax provision for the period in which the settlements take place;

 

   

Adverse tax consequences, including imposition of withholding or other taxes on payments by subsidiaries or customers; and

 

   

A change in our decision to indefinitely reinvest foreign earnings.

We receive significant tax benefits from sales to our non-U.S. customers. These benefits are contingent upon existing tax laws and regulations in the U.S. and in the countries in which our international operations are located. Future changes in domestic or international tax laws and regulations could adversely affect our ability to continue to realize these tax benefits. We have not provided for U.S. federal and state income taxes or foreign withholding taxes that may result from future remittances of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The President’s administration and Congress have announced several proposals to reform U.S. tax rules, including proposals that may result in a reduction or elimination of the deferral of U.S. income tax on our future unrepatriated earnings. Should such anti-deferral provisions be enacted, our effective tax rate could be adversely affected.

 

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We are currently undergoing income tax audits in the U.S. and several foreign tax jurisdictions. The rights to some of our intellectual property (IP) are owned by certain of our foreign subsidiaries, and payments are made between U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions relating to the use of this IP in a qualified cost sharing arrangement. In recent years, several other U.S. companies have had their foreign IP arrangements challenged as part of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examinations, which have resulted in material proposed assessments and/or litigation with respect to those companies.

On March 26, 2012, we received a Revenue Agent’s Report from the IRS for our fiscal 2005 through 2007 tax returns. On April 25, 2012, we filed a protest related to transfer pricing matters. Our fiscal 2008 through 2010 tax returns are currently under audit by the IRS.

On September 17, 2010, the Danish Tax Authorities issued a decision concluding that distributions declared in 2005 and 2006 from our Danish subsidiary were subject to Danish at-source dividend withholding tax. We do not believe that our Danish subsidiary is liable for withholding tax and filed an appeal with the Danish Tax Tribunal to that effect. On December 19, 2011, the Danish Tax Tribunal issued a ruling that our Danish subsidiary was not liable for Danish withholding tax. The Danish tax examination agency appealed to the Danish High Court in March 2012.

We are in various stages of the examination and appeals process in connection with tax audits worldwide and it is difficult to determine when these examinations will be settled. It is reasonably possible that over the next twelve-month period, we may experience an increase or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits. It is not possible to determine either the magnitude or the range of any increase or decrease at this time.

If the ultimate determination of income taxes or at-source withholding taxes assessed under the current IRS audits or under audits being conducted in any of the other tax jurisdictions in which we operate results in an amount in excess of the tax provision we have recorded or reserved for, our operating results, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Our international operations currently benefit from a tax ruling concluded in the Netherlands which expires on April 30, 2015 and results in a lower level of earnings subject to tax in the Netherlands. If we are unable to negotiate a similar tax ruling upon expiration of the current ruling, our effective tax rate could increase and our operating results could be adversely affected. Our effective tax rate could also be adversely affected by different and evolving interpretations of existing law or regulations, which in turn would negatively impact our operating and financial results as a whole. Our effective tax rate could also be adversely affected if there is a change in international operations and how the operations are managed and structured. The price of our common stock could decline to the extent that our financial results are materially affected by an adverse change in our effective tax rate.

Our leverage and debt service obligations and Note conversion may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and earnings per share.

As a result of the sale of our Notes, we have a greater amount of debt than we have maintained in the past. In addition, we have various synthetic lease arrangements related to some of our facilities at our corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, and, subject to the restrictions in our existing and any future financing agreements, we may incur additional debt.

Our ability to meet our expenses and debt obligations will depend on our future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic, regulatory and other factors. We will not be able to control many of these factors, such as economic conditions and governmental regulations. Furthermore, our operations may not generate sufficient cash flows to enable us to meet our expenses and service our debt. If we determine it is necessary to seek additional funding for any reason, we may not be able to obtain such funding or, if funding is available, obtain it on acceptable terms.

 

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Any conversion of the Notes may cause dilution to our shareholders and to our earnings per share. If the average trading price of our common stock in any fiscal quarter exceeds the conversion price of $31.85 per share, the Notes will cause an increase in diluted share count and result in lower reported earnings per share. Based on the trading price of our common stock as of April 27, 2012, we had approximately 7 million shares of common stock potentially issuable on conversion of our Notes. The Note hedge transactions discussed below, if exercised upon conversion of the Notes, are expected to reduce approximately 80% of the common stock potentially issuable on conversion of the Notes. Upon conversion of any Notes, we would be required to deliver cash up to the principal amount of the Notes and, with respect to any excess conversion value greater than the principal amount of the Notes, shares of our common stock, which would result in dilution to our shareholders.

The Note hedges and warrant transactions that we entered into in connection with the sale of the Notes may affect the trading price of our common stock.

In connection with the issuance of the Notes, we entered into privately negotiated convertible Note hedge transactions with certain option counterparties (the Counterparties), which are expected to offset the potential dilution to our common stock upon any conversion of the Notes. At the same time, we also entered into warrant transactions with the Counterparties pursuant to which we may issue shares of our common stock above a certain strike price. In connection with these hedging transactions, the Counterparties may have entered into various over-the-counter derivative transactions with respect to our common stock or purchased shares of our common stock in secondary market transactions at or following the pricing of the Notes. Such activities may have had the effect of increasing the price of our common stock. The Counterparties are likely to modify their hedge positions from time to time prior to conversion or maturity of the Notes by purchasing and selling shares of our common stock or entering into other derivative transactions. Additionally, these transactions may expose us to counterparty credit risk for nonperformance. The effect, if any, of any of these transactions and activities on the market price of our common stock or the Notes will depend, in part, on market conditions and cannot be ascertained at this time, but any of these activities could adversely affect the value of our common stock. In addition, if our stock price exceeds the strike price for the warrants, there could be additional dilution to our shareholders, which could adversely affect the value of our common stock.

In April 2010, we terminated our Note hedge transaction with Lehman Brothers OTC Derivatives, Inc. (Lehman OTC), which was a counterparty to 20% of our Note hedges, as a result of the bankruptcy filing by Lehman OTC, which constituted an event of default under the Note hedge. Because we have decided not to replace this Note hedge, we are subject to potential dilution on the unhedged portion of our Notes upon conversion if on the date of conversion the per-share market price of our common stock exceeds the conversion price of $31.85. The terms of the Notes, the rights of the holders of the Notes and other counterparties to Note hedges and warrants were not affected by the termination of this Note hedge.

The price of our common stock could also be affected by sales of our common stock by investors who view the Notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in our Company and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity that we expect to develop involving our common stock by holders of the Notes. The hedging or arbitrage could, in turn, affect the trading price of the Notes and warrants.

Future issuances of common stock related to our Notes, warrants, stock options, restricted stock units, and our Employee Stock Purchase Plan may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and the Notes.

The conversion of some or all of our outstanding Notes will dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders to the extent we deliver common stock upon conversion of the Notes. Our common stock price exceeded the conversion threshold for the Notes for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ended March 31, 2012. Accordingly, as of April 27, 2012, the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder. The determination of whether or not the Notes are convertible must continue to be performed quarterly. Upon conversion of any Notes, we would be required to deliver cash for the principal amount of the Notes and

 

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shares of common stock, if any, to the extent the conversion value exceeds the principal amount. Any new issuance of equity securities, including the issuance of shares upon conversion of the Notes or the exercise of related warrants which are not offset by our Note hedges, could dilute the interests of our then-existing stockholders, including holders who receive shares upon conversion of their Notes, and could substantially decrease the trading price of our common stock and the Notes. In addition, any sales in the public market of any common stock issuable upon such conversion or the exercise of warrants could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock.

As of April 27, 2012, eligible individuals under our stock option and restricted stock unit plans held options to purchase approximately 21 million shares of our common stock and a total of approximately 12 million restricted stock units. If all the outstanding options were exercised, the proceeds to the Company would average approximately $30 per share. We also had 15 million shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our stock plans with respect to equity awards that have not been granted. The exercise of all of the outstanding options and/or the vesting of all outstanding restricted shares and restricted stock units would dilute the interests of our then-existing stockholders, and any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such exercise could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

As of April 27, 2012, we had approximately 5 million shares of our common stock available for future issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The issuance of shares under the ESPP would dilute the interests of our then-existing stockholders, and any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such exercise could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In addition, the ESPP includes a purchase price adjustment provision such that employees who elect to participate are granted options to purchase common stock at a 15% discount from the market value of the common stock at certain specified dates within a two-year offering period. If the adjustment is triggered due to a decline in the market value of our common stock, we could incur a significant non-cash charge in our statement of operations. For example, in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 we recorded an expense related to the purchase price adjustment provision of $10.9 million.

We may issue equity securities in the future for a number of reasons, including to finance our operations related to business strategy (including in connection with acquisitions, strategic alliances or other transactions), to increase our capital, to adjust our ratio of debt to equity, to satisfy our obligations upon the exercise of outstanding warrants or options upon conversion of the Notes, or for other reasons.

Our acquisitions may disrupt our existing business and harm our results of operations.

As part of our strategy, we are continuously evaluating opportunities to buy other businesses or technologies that would complement our current products, expand the breadth of our markets, or enhance our technical capabilities. In fiscal year 2011, we completed acquisitions of two technology companies, and in fiscal 2012, we completed the acquisition of certain assets related to Engenio. The acquisition and ongoing integration of new businesses into our business may adversely affect our operations and profitability. We may not achieve the anticipated cost savings and synergies or realize our estimated revenue, gross margin, profit or other financial projections or business objectives in a timely manner or at all due to a number of factors, including the following:

 

   

The inability to successfully integrate the operations, technologies, products, personnel and business systems of the acquired companies;

 

   

In the case of an asset purchase, the failure to acquire all of the assets necessary to operate the acquired business;

 

   

The diversion of management’s attention from daily operations of the existing business;

 

   

The loss of key employees of the acquired businesses could adversely impact our ability to manage the business and our ability to realize our financial forecasts;

 

   

The inability to retain the customers and partners of acquired businesses following the acquisition;

 

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Substantial transaction costs and accounting charges; and

 

   

Exposure to litigation related to acquisitions.

Acquisitions may also result in risks to our existing business, including:

 

   

Deterioration of our internal control over financial reporting as a result of inconsistencies between our standards, procedures and policies and those of acquired businesses;

 

   

Reliance on the selling party’s processes, data, supply chain management and reporting during the transition period following the completion of acquisitions;

 

   

Dilution of our current stockholders’ percentage ownership to the extent we issue new equity;

 

   

Assumption of additional liabilities;

 

   

Incurrence of additional debt or a decline in available cash;

 

   

Adverse effects on our financial statements, such as the need to incur restructuring charges;

 

   

Liability for intellectual property infringement and other litigation claims, which we may or may not be aware of at the time of acquisition; and

 

   

Creation of goodwill or other intangible assets that could result in significant future amortization expense or impairment charges.

The failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of an acquisition may also result in impairment charges for goodwill and purchased intangible assets. For example, we have in the past discontinued certain products which were originally acquired through business acquisitions. Additional or realized risks of this nature could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are exposed to fluctuations in the market values of our portfolio investments and in interest rates; impairment of our investments could harm our financial results.

As of April 27, 2012, we had $5.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, investments and restricted cash. We invest our cash in a variety of financial instruments, consisting principally of investments in corporate bonds, money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities. These investments are subject to general credit, liquidity, market and interest rate risks, which have been exacerbated by unusual events such as the financial and credit crisis, the downgrade in the U.S.’s credit rating, and bankruptcy filings in the U.S., which have affected various sectors of the financial markets and led to global credit and liquidity issues. The fair value of these financial investments may change significantly due to events and conditions in the credit and capital markets. Any investment securities that we hold or the issues comprising such securities could be subject to review for possible downgrade. Any downgrade in credit ratings may result in an additional decline in the estimated fair value of our investments. Changes in the various assumptions used to value these securities and any increase in the markets’ perceived risk associated with such investments may also result in a decline in estimated fair value.

Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate debt securities may have their market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates. Currently, we do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio. We may suffer losses if forced to sell securities that have experienced a decline in market value because of changes in interest rates. Currently, we do not use financial derivatives to hedge our interest rate exposure.

In addition, we hold investments in auction rate securities (ARSs) with a par value of $55.6 million which are securities with long-term nominal maturities. All of our ARSs are backed by pools of student loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education, and we believe the credit quality of these securities is high,

 

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based on this guarantee. However, liquidity issues in the global credit markets resulted in the failure of auctions for our ARS investments. For each failed auction, the interest rate resets to a maximum rate defined for each security, and the ARS continues to pay interest in accordance with its terms, although the principal associated with the ARS will not be accessible until there is a successful auction or such time as other markets for ARS investments develop or the final maturity of the individual securities.

As of April 27, 2012, we determined there was a total decline in the fair value of our ARS investments of approximately $4.5 million, of which we recorded cumulative net temporary impairment charges of $3.1 million and $1.4 million of an other-than-temporary impairment charge. We have classified all of our ARSs as other non-current assets in our consolidated balance sheet as of April 27, 2012 as our ability to liquidate such securities in the next 12 months is uncertain. Although we currently have the ability and intent to hold these ARS investments until recovery in market value or until maturity, if current market conditions deteriorate, or the anticipated recovery in market values does not occur, we may be required to record additional impairment charges in future periods.

On occasion, we make strategic investments in other companies which may decline in value and/or not meet desired objectives. The success of these investments depends on various factors over which we may have limited or no control.

In the event of adverse conditions in the credit and capital markets, our investment portfolio may be impacted and we could determine that some or all of our investments have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in fair value, requiring impairment, which could adversely impact our financial position and operating results.

We are exposed to the credit and non-payment risk of our customers, resellers, and distributors, especially during times of economic uncertainty and tight credit markets, which could result in material losses.

Most of our sales to customers are on an open credit basis, with typical payment terms of 30 days. While we monitor individual customer payment capability in granting such open credit arrangements, and seek to limit such open credit to amounts we believe are reasonable, we may experience losses due to a customer’s inability to pay.

Beyond our open credit arrangements, some of our customers have entered into recourse and nonrecourse financing leasing arrangements using third-party leasing companies. Under the terms of recourse leases, which are generally three years or less, we remain liable for the aggregate unpaid remaining lease payments to the third-party leasing companies in the event of end-user customer default.

We offer arrangements whereby the end-user customer pays a fixed monthly amount plus a variable amount based on actual storage capacity used. These arrangements subject us to additional risk with respect to revenue recognition and profitability due to the uncertainties associated with the variable portion of the arrangements. In addition, from time to time we provide guarantees for a portion of other financing arrangements under which we could be called upon to make payments to our funding parties in the event of nonpayment by end-user customers.

We expect demand for customer financing to continue. During periods of economic uncertainty, our exposure to credit risks from our customers increases. In addition, our exposure to credit risks of our customers may increase further if our customers and their customers or their lease financing sources are adversely affected by global economic conditions.

In the past, there have been bankruptcies by our customers to whom we had extended open credit, provided lease financing arrangements or guaranteed lease payments under full recourse lease arrangements. Such events have caused us to incur bad debt charges, in the case of financing arrangements have caused a loss of revenues, and in the case of recourse lease arrangements have caused us to make payments to third party financers. We

 

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may be subject to similar losses in future periods. Any future losses could harm our business and have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Additionally, to the extent that the recent turmoil in the credit markets makes it more difficult for customers to obtain open credit or lease financing, those customers’ ability to purchase our products could be adversely impacted, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and operating results.

A significant portion of our cash and cash equivalents are held overseas. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash domestically in order to fund our U.S. operations and strategic opportunities, and to service our debt and synthetic leases, we may incur a significant tax liability in order to repatriate the overseas cash balances, or we may need to raise additional capital in the future.

As of April 27, 2012, $2.7 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were held in foreign countries. These amounts are not freely available for dividend repatriation to the U.S. without triggering significant adverse tax consequences in the U.S. As a result, if the cash generated by our domestic operations is not sufficient to fund our domestic operations, our broader corporate initiatives such as stock repurchases, acquisitions, and other strategic opportunities, and to service our outstanding indebtedness, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financings, or we may need to obtain new credit facilities to the extent we choose not to repatriate our overseas cash. Such additional financing may not be available on terms favorable to us, or at all, and any new equity financings or offerings would dilute our current stockholders’ ownership. Furthermore, lenders, particularly in light of the current challenges in the credit markets, may not agree to extend us new, additional or continuing credit. If adequate funds are not available, or are not available on acceptable terms, we may be forced to repatriate our foreign sources of liquidity and incur a significant tax expense or we may not be able to take advantage of strategic opportunities, develop new products, respond to competitive pressures or repay our outstanding indebtedness. In any such case, our business, operating results or financial condition could be adversely impacted.

Our synthetic leases are off-balance sheet arrangements that could negatively affect our financial condition and operating results. We have invested substantial resources in new facilities and physical infrastructure, which will increase our fixed costs. Our operating results could be harmed if our business does not grow proportionately to our increase in fixed costs.

We have various synthetic leasing arrangements with BNP Paribas Leasing Corporation as lessor (BNPPLC) for our headquarters office buildings and land in Sunnyvale, California. These synthetic leases qualify for operating lease accounting treatment.

Our future minimum lease payments under these synthetic leases limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business by restricting the funds available for use in addressing such changes. If we are unable to grow our business and revenues proportionately to our increase in fixed costs, our operating results will be harmed. If we elect not to purchase the properties at the end of the lease term, we have guaranteed a minimum residual value to BNPPLC. If the fair value of the properties declines below their cost, our residual value guarantee would require us to pay the difference to BNPPLC, up to the residual guarantee. As of April 27, 2012, the estimated fair value of certain properties was approximately $5.4 million below the cost of the properties, for which we have accrued $4.9 million as of April 27, 2012. Any further decline in the fair value of the properties could adversely impact our financial condition and operating results.

We are subject to restrictive and financial covenants in our synthetic lease arrangements. The restrictive covenants may restrict our ability to operate our business.

Our ongoing extension of credit under our synthetic lease arrangements are subject to continued compliance with financial covenants. If we do not comply with these restrictive and financial covenants or otherwise default under the arrangements, we may be required to repay any outstanding amounts or repurchase the properties which are subject to the synthetic lease arrangements. If we lose access to the synthetic lease arrangements, we may not be able to obtain alternative financing on acceptable terms, which could limit our operating flexibility.

 

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Changes in market conditions have led, and in the future could lead, to charges related to the discontinuance of certain of our products and asset impairments.

In response to changes in economic conditions and market demands, we may decide to strategically realign our resources and consider cost containment measures including restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise discontinuing certain products. Any decision to limit investment in, dispose of, or otherwise exit products may result in the recording of charges to earnings, including inventory and technology-related or other intangible asset write-offs, workforce reduction costs, charges relating to consolidation of excess facilities, cancellation penalties or claims from third parties who were resellers or users of discontinued products, which would harm our operating results. Our estimates with respect to the useful life or ultimate recoverability of our carrying basis of assets, including purchased intangible assets, could change as a result of such assessments and decisions. Additionally, we are required to perform goodwill impairment tests on an annual basis, and between annual tests in certain circumstances when impairment indicators exist or if certain events or changes in circumstances have occurred. Future goodwill impairment tests may result in charges to earnings, which could materially harm our operating results.

We may need to undertake cost-reduction initiatives and restructuring initiatives in the future.

We have previously recognized restructuring and other charges related to initiatives to realign our business strategies and resize our business in response to economic and market conditions, including those announced in February 2009 and December 2008. We may undertake future cost-reduction initiatives and restructuring plans that may adversely impact our operations, and we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of our prior or any future restructurings.

Our business and operations are experiencing rapid growth and organizational change. If we fail to effectively manage such growth and change in a manner that preserves our reputation and the key aspects of our corporate culture, our business and operating results could be harmed.

Due to recent organic growth and acquisitions, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, rapid growth and organizational change, which has placed, and may continue to place, significant demands on our management, operational and financial resources. Our headcount has grown from approximately 10,200 employees as of April 29, 2011 to approximately 12,100 employees as of April 27, 2012. We will incur significant expenditures and the allocation of valuable management resources to assimilate our additional human resources in a manner that preserves the key aspects of our corporate culture and enables us to maintain our reputation in the marketplace. If we do not effectively manage our growth and train, retain and manage our employee base, our corporate culture could be undermined, the quality of our products and customer service could suffer, and our reputation could be harmed, each of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, as our headcount increases, our costs will also increase. Our business will be harmed if our efforts to expand our organization and headcount are not accompanied by a corresponding increase in revenues.

We are continually seeking ways to make our cost structure, business processes and systems more efficient, including moving activities from higher-cost to lower-cost owned locations, outsourcing certain business process functions and implementing new business information systems. Problems with the execution of these activities could have an adverse effect on our business or results of operations.

We continuously seek to make our cost structure and business processes more efficient. We are focused on increasing workforce flexibility and scalability, and improving overall competitiveness by leveraging our global capabilities, as well as external talent and skills worldwide. For example, certain engineering activities and projects that were formerly performed in the U.S. have been moved to lower cost international locations and we rely on partners or third-party service providers for the provision of certain customer support and service, business process functions and activities in IT, human resources and accounting.

 

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The challenges involved with moving or outsourcing activities include executing business functions in accordance with local laws and other obligations while maintaining adequate standards, controls and procedures. We are also subject to increased business continuity risks as we increase our reliance on outsource providers. For example, we may no longer be able to exercise control over some aspects of the future development, support or maintenance of outsourced operations and processes, including the management and internal controls associated with those outsourced business operations and processes, which could adversely affect our business. If we are unable to effectively utilize or integrate and interoperate with external resources or if our partners or third-party service providers experience business difficulties or are unable to provide business services as anticipated, we may need to seek alternative service providers or resume providing these business processes internally, which could be costly and time-consuming and have a material adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, we may not achieve the expected benefits of our business process improvement initiatives.

We are currently implementing changes to our business information systems and processes and other IT initiatives. These initiatives involve a large investment of capital and resources and significant changes to our current operating processes. Failure to properly implement one or more of these initiatives, or an interruption in service or unavailability of our systems, could result in lost business and increased costs which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and cash flows.

We are subject to risks related to the provision of employee health care benefits and recent health care reform legislation.

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance for workers’ compensation coverage and health care plans. We record expenses under these plans based on estimates of the number and costs of expected claims, administrative costs and stop-loss premiums. These estimates are then adjusted each year to reflect actual costs incurred. Actual costs under these plans are subject to variability depending primarily upon participant enrollment and demographics, the actual number and costs of claims made and whether and how much the stop-loss insurance we purchase covers the cost of these claims. In the event that our cost estimates differ from actual costs, we could incur additional unplanned health care costs which could adversely impact our financial condition.

In March 2010, comprehensive health care reform legislation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) and the Health Care Education and Affordability Reconciliation Act (HR 4872) was passed and signed into law. Among other things, the health reform legislation includes guaranteed coverage requirements, eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions and annual and lifetime maximum limits, restricts the extent to which policies can be rescinded, and imposes new and significant taxes on health insurers and health care benefits. Provisions of the health reform legislation become effective at various dates over the next several years. The Department of Health and Human Services, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Department of Labor and the Treasury Department have yet to issue necessary enabling regulations and guidance with respect to the health care reform legislation.

Due to the breadth and complexity of the health reform legislation, the lack of implementing regulations and interpretive guidance, and the phased-in nature of the implementation, it is difficult to predict the overall impact of the health reform legislation on our business over the coming years. Other possible adverse affects of the health reform legislation include reduced revenues, increases in costs, exposure to expanded liability and requirements for us to revise the ways in which we conduct business or risk of loss of business. If any of these adverse effects occur, our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

We depend on attracting and retaining qualified personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain such personnel, our operating results could be materially and adversely impacted.

Our continued success depends, in part, on our ability to identify, attract, motivate and retain qualified personnel. Because our future success is dependent on our ability to continue to enhance and introduce new

 

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products, we are particularly dependent on our ability to identify, attract, motivate and retain qualified engineers with the requisite education, background and industry experience. Competition for qualified employees, particularly in Silicon Valley, can be intense. The loss of the services of a significant number of our employees, particularly our engineers, salespeople and key managers, could be disruptive to our development efforts or business relationships and could materially and adversely affect our operating results.

A component of our strategy to hire and retain personnel consists of long-term compensation in the form of equity-based grants. We face increased risk of the inability to continue to offer equity if we are unable to obtain shareholder approval in light of increased shareholder activism, heightened focus on corporate compensation practices, and increased scrutiny of the dilutive effects of such equity compensation programs. Such inability could adversely impact our ability to continue to attract and retain employees.

In addition, because of the structure of our incentive compensation plans, we may be at increased risk of losing employees and other service providers at certain points in time. For example, the retention value of our compensation plans decreases after the payment of bonuses or the vesting of equity awards or other equity compensation. As a result, employees may be more likely to leave us during periods following such payments or the vesting of such awards. The loss of services of a significant number of our key employees during a short period of time could be disruptive to our product development and sales efforts and adversely impact our business relationships and operating results.

Our business could be materially and adversely affected as a result of a natural disaster, terrorist acts or other catastrophic events.

We depend on the ability of our personnel, raw materials, equipment and products to move reasonably unimpeded around the world. Any political, military, terrorism, global trade, world health or other issue that hinders this movement or restricts the import or export of materials could lead to significant business disruptions. Furthermore, any economic failure or other material disruption caused by fire, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, power loss, power shortages, environmental disasters, telecommunications or business information systems failures, break-ins and similar events could also adversely affect our ability to conduct business. If such disruptions result in cancellations of customer orders or contribute to a general decrease in economic activity or corporate spending on information technology, or directly impact our marketing, manufacturing, financial and logistics functions, or impair our ability to meet our customer demands, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, our headquarters and one of our major data centers are located in Northern California, an area susceptible to earthquakes. If any significant disaster were to occur, our ability to operate our business could be impaired.

We are exposed to various risks related to legal proceedings or claims and protection of intellectual property rights, which could adversely affect our operating results.

We may be a party to lawsuits and other claims in the normal course of our business from time to time, including intellectual property, commercial, product liability, employment, class action, whistleblower and other litigation and claims, and governmental and other regulatory investigations and proceedings. Litigation can be expensive, lengthy and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. An unfavorable resolution of a particular lawsuit could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial condition.

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, we may be subject to increased competition that could materially and adversely affect our operating results. Our success depends significantly upon our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures, contractual provisions with employees, resellers, strategic partners and customers, and patents to protect our proprietary rights. We seek to protect our software, documentation and other written materials under trade secret, copyright and patent laws, which afford only limited protection. Some of our U.S. trademarks are registered internationally as well. We will continue to evaluate the registration of additional trademarks as appropriate. We currently have multiple U.S. and international patent applications pending and multiple U.S. patents issued. The

 

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pending applications may not be approved, and our existing and future patents may be challenged. If such challenges are brought, the patents may be invalidated. We may not be able to develop proprietary products or technologies that are patentable, and patents issued to us may not provide us with any competitive advantages and may be challenged by third parties. Further, the patents of others may materially and adversely affect our ability to do business. In addition, a failure to obtain and defend our trademark registrations may impede our marketing and branding efforts and competitive position.

Litigation may be necessary to protect our proprietary technology. Any such litigation may be time-consuming and costly. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to as great an extent as do the laws of the U.S. Our means of protecting our proprietary rights may not be adequate or our competitors may independently develop similar technology, duplicate our products, or design around patents issued to us or other intellectual property rights of ours.

We are subject to intellectual property infringement claims. We may, from time to time, receive claims that we are infringing third parties’ intellectual property rights. Third parties may in the future, claim infringement by us with respect to current or future products, patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights. We expect that companies in the network storage and data management market will increasingly be subject to infringement claims as the number of products and competitors in our industry segment grows and the functionality of products in different industry segments overlaps. Any such claims could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, cause product shipment delays, require us to redesign our products or enter into royalty or licensing agreements, any of which could materially and adversely affect our operating results. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Our business could be materially adversely affected by changes in regulations or standards regarding energy efficiency of our products and climate change issues and environmental disclosures.

We are subject to a variety of environmental and safety regulations governing materials usage, packaging, climate control and other environmental impacts in the various countries in which we do business. For example, various international, federal, state, and local provisions regulate the use and discharge of certain hazardous materials used in the manufacture of our products. Environmental laws are complex, change frequently, and have tended to become more stringent over time. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations in the future could cause us to incur substantial costs or subject us to business interruptions.

Recently, governmental and non-governmental organizations have turned their attention to development of regulations and standards to drive technological improvements to reduce carbon emissions. While we continuously seek to optimize the energy efficiency of our products, there is a risk that the development of these standards will not fully address the complexity of the technology developed by the IT industry or will favor certain technological approaches. Depending on the regulations or standards that are ultimately adopted, the cost of compliance could adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.

In addition, we are subject to provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act intended to improve transparency and accountability concerning the supply of minerals originating from the conflict zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo or adjoining countries. We may incur costs to comply with the new disclosure requirements of this law and may realize other costs relating to the sourcing and availability of minerals used in our products. Further, since our supply chain is complex, we may face reputational harm if our customers or other stakeholders conclude that we are unable to verify sufficiently the origins of the minerals used in the products we sell.

Our business is subject to increasingly complex corporate governance, public disclosure, and accounting and tax requirements that have increased both our costs and the risk of noncompliance.

Because our common stock is publicly traded, we are subject to certain rules and regulations of federal, state and financial market exchange entities charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies

 

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whose securities are publicly traded. For example, in July 2010, the President signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act. Because new and modified laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices.

If a data center or other third-party who relies on our products experiences a disruption in service or a loss of data, such disruption or loss could be attributed to the quality of our products, thereby causing financial or reputational harm to our business.

Third-party vendors, including data centers, Software as a Service (SaaS), cloud computing and Internet infrastructure and bandwidth providers rely on our products for their data storage needs. We exercise little control over how these third-party vendors use or maintain our products, and in some cases improper usage or maintenance could impair the performance of our products. A disruption in the services provided by these third-party vendors, or the loss of data stored by such vendors, could result in financial or reputational harm to our business to the extent that such disruption or loss is caused by, or perceived by our customers to have been caused by, defects in our products. Moreover, the risk of reputational harm may be magnified and/or distorted through the rapid dissemination of information over the Internet, including through news articles, blogs, chat rooms, and social media sites.

Security and privacy breaches may expose us to liability, and our reputation and business could suffer.

We obtain and store sensitive data related to our employees, customers and partners, including intellectual property, books of record and personally identifiable information. It is critical to our business strategy that our infrastructure remains secure and is perceived by our employees, customers and partners to be secure. If our security measures are breached as a result of technical problems, third-party actions, employee error, or malfeasance, our reputation could be damaged and our business could suffer.

Changes in financial accounting standards may cause adverse unexpected fluctuations and affect our reported results of operations.

A change in accounting standards or practices and varying interpretations of existing accounting pronouncements, such as the changes to revenue recognition standards that we recently adopted, the increased use of fair value measures, additional proposed changes to revenue recognition, lease accounting, financial instruments and other accounting standards, and the potential requirement that U.S. registrants prepare financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), could have a significant effect on our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.

Implementation of accounting regulations and related interpretations and policies, particularly those related to revenue recognition, could cause us to defer recognition of revenue or recognize lower revenue, which may affect our results of operations.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Properties

We own approximately 1.4 million square feet of facilities at our Sunnyvale, California headquarters, of which we occupy approximately 1.1 million square feet. In addition, we have commitments related to various

 

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lease arrangements with BNP Paribas LLC (BNPPLC) for approximately 0.3 million square feet of additional facilities, of which we occupy approximately 0.2 million square feet (as described under “Contractual Obligations” in Item 7 and Note 17 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements under Item 8). The Sunnyvale site supports research and development, corporate general administration, sales and marketing, global services and operations.

We own approximately 0.6 million square feet of facilities in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, of which we occupy approximately 0.5 million square feet. In addition, we own 98 acres of undeveloped land. The RTP site supports research and development, global services and sales and marketing.

We own forty acres of land and approximately 0.3 million square feet of facilities in Wichita, Kansas. This site supports sales and marketing, research and development, and global services.

We lease and occupy approximately 0.4 million square feet of facilities in Bangalore, India. In addition, we own 15 acres of undeveloped land. The Bangalore site supports research and development, sales and marketing and global services.

We lease other sales offices and research and development facilities throughout the U.S. and internationally. We expect that our existing facilities and those being developed worldwide are suitable and adequate for our requirements over at least the next two years and that additional space will be available as needed.

See additional discussion regarding our lease obligations related to our properties in Note 17 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in Item 8 and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” under Item 7.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

On October 13, 2010, Amalgamated Bank (as trustee of the Longview Largecap 500 Index Fund and the Longview Largecap 500 Index Veba Fund) filed a derivative lawsuit on behalf of NetApp, Inc. and NetApp U.S. Public Sector, Inc. in the Superior Court of the State of California, Santa Clara County. The lawsuit named certain of our current and former directors as defendants. On February 3, 2011, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint in response to motions to dismiss that we and the individual defendants had filed. Like the original complaint, the amended complaint included claims of breach of fiduciary duty and waste of corporate assets and alleges that the defendants failed to monitor internal controls to ensure that we complied with legal requirements in our General Services Administration (GSA) contracting activities, resulting in us incurring defense and settlement costs. The amended complaint sought disgorgement of salaries and other compensation from the defendants and additional unspecified damages. We and the individual defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint in early March 2011. Following a hearing on July 15, 2011, the Court granted the motions to dismiss, but permitted plaintiff leave to amend its complaint on or before September 16, 2011.

On August 9, 2011, Amalgamated Bank filed a complaint in Delaware Chancery Court against us for the purpose of obtaining, in a summary proceeding, books and records to help Amalgamated Bank amend its complaint in the California lawsuit. Each of the parties filed cross motions for summary judgment, and a hearing was held before the Delaware Chancery Court on November 16, 2011. Following that hearing, the Court directed Amalgamated Bank to more narrowly tailor its requests. On December 5, 2011, the court allowed plaintiff to conduct a very limited document inspection. On February 6, 2012, the court denied plaintiff’s motion to compel further document production.

The plaintiff filed an amended complaint for a third time on September 15, 2011. This complaint alleged the same claims and requests for relief as the previous complaints. At a hearing held on March 23, 2012, the court granted our motion to dismiss with prejudice. The court’s judgment was entered on March 26, 2012. The plaintiff had until May 25, 2012 to file an appeal of the dismissal of its lawsuit and failed to do so by such deadline.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (and its predecessor, the Nasdaq National Market) on November 21, 1995, and is traded under the symbol “NTAP.” The closing price for our common stock on June 11, 2012 was $29.65. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices for our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

     Fiscal 2012      Fiscal 2011  
     High      Low      High      Low  

First Quarter

   $ 56.49       $ 46.90       $ 44.03       $ 31.47   

Second Quarter

     48.24         33.00         53.25         37.58   

Third Quarter

     44.49         33.50         59.48         49.25   

Fourth Quarter

     46.80         36.20         60.60         45.70   

Holders

As of June 11, 2012 there were 713 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently anticipate retaining all available funds, if any, to finance internal growth and product development as well as other possible management initiatives, including stock repurchases and acquisitions. Payment of dividends in the future will depend upon our earnings and financial condition and such other factors as the Board of Directors may consider or deem appropriate at the time.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

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Performance Graph

The following graph shows a five-year comparison of the cumulative total return on our common stock, the NASDAQ Composite Index, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Information Technology Index from April 27, 2007 through April 27, 2012. The past performance of our common stock is not indicative of the future performance of our common stock.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Among NetApp, Inc., the NASDAQ Composite Index,

the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Information Technology Index

 

LOGO

 

* $100 invested on 4/30/07 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

 

     4/07      4/08      4/09      4/10      4/11      4/12  

NetApp, Inc.

   $ 100.00       $ 65.03       $ 49.18       $ 93.18       $ 140.04       $ 104.35   

NASDAQ Composite

     100.00         96.20         68.30         98.73         116.48         124.83   

S&P 500

     100.00         95.32         61.68         85.62         100.38         105.13   

S&P 500 Information Technology

     100.00         101.00         74.04         106.24         120.22         137.77   

We believe that a number of factors may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Unregistered Securities Sold in Fiscal 2012

We did not sell any unregistered securities during fiscal 2012.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On May 13, 2003, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a stock repurchase program. As of April 27, 2012, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $4.0 billion of our common stock

 

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under this stock repurchase program. As of April 27, 2012, we had repurchased 119.0 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $29.65 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 billion. As of April 27, 2012, the remaining authorized amount for stock repurchases under this program was $0.5 billion with no termination date. The stock repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. We did not have any stock repurchases during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial data set forth below was derived from our historical audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and other financial data included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our historical results of operations are not indicative of our future results of operations.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     April 27,
2012
     April 29,
2011
     April 30,
2010
     April 24,
2009
     April 25,
2008
 
     (In millions, except per-share amounts)  

Net revenues(1)

   $ 6,233.2       $ 5,122.6       $ 3,931.4       $ 3,406.4       $ 3,303.2   

Total cost of revenue

     2,519.8         1,793.9         1,412.2         1,416.5         1,289.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     3,713.4         3,328.7         2,519.2         1,989.9         2,013.4   

Total operating expenses

     2,966.9         2,504.4         2,030.8         1,942.7         1,699.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations

     746.5         824.3         488.4         47.2         313.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income(1)

   $ 605.4       $ 673.1       $ 400.4       $ 64.6       $ 309.7   

Net income per share, basic

   $ 1.66       $ 1.87       $ 1.18       $ 0.20       $ 0.88   

Net income per share, diluted

   $ 1.58       $ 1.71       $ 1.13       $ 0.19       $ 0.86   

Shares used in basic computation

     363.9         360.9         339.6         330.3         351.7   

Shares used in diluted computation

     384.3         393.7         353.2         334.6         361.1   

 

     April 27,
2012 (1)
     April 29,
2011
     April 30,
2010
     April 24,
2009
     April 25,
2008
 
     (In millions)  

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

   $ 5,398.5       $ 5,174.7       $ 3,724.0       $ 2,604.3       $ 1,164.4   

Working capital

     3,306.7         2,992.4         2,626.1         1,759.5         653.3   

Total assets

     9,532.3         8,498.8         6,494.4         5,384.4         4,071.0   

Short-term debt(2)

     1,202.3         1,150.4                           

Long-term debt and other

     206.9         192.9         1,273.4         1,219.3         318.7   

Total stockholders’ equity(2)

     4,293.6         3,730.2         2,530.5         1,784.2         1,700.3   

 

(1) In fiscal 2011, we adopted new accounting standards related to revenue recognition. Net revenues and net income were higher by $129.2 million and $53.0 million, respectively, as a result of the adoption of these new standards. Net revenues for fiscal 2009 were negatively affected by a GSA settlement of $128.7 million.
(2) Our common stock price exceeded the conversion threshold for the Notes for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Accordingly, as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011, the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder and, therefore, the carrying value of the Notes was classified as short-term debt. Since the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder and the principal amount would have been required to be paid in cash, the difference between the principal amount and the carrying value of the Notes was reflected as convertible debt in mezzanine on our consolidated balance sheets as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the financial statements and the accompanying notes set forth under “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”. The following discussion also contains trend information and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Risk Factors set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” are hereby incorporated into the discussion by reference.

Executive Overview

Our Company

We are a leading provider of innovative storage systems and data management solutions that form the foundation for efficient and flexible IT infrastructures. Our storage systems help customers streamline operations and lower the cost associated with storing and managing their data. Our unified fabric-attached storage (FAS) platform offers a storage platform for business applications, shared infrastructures, and cloud environments. We are a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage provider enabling OEMs to offer market-leading IT and storage solutions that serve specific markets and customer requirements. Our E-Series platform, provides a storage platform for value-added customization and big data workloads. In addition, we provide professional services, global support solutions, and customer education and training to help customers most effectively manage their data. We employ a multichannel distribution strategy, selling products and services to end users and service providers through a direct sales force and through channel partners, including value-added resellers, system integrators, OEMs and distributors.

Acquisition

On May 6, 2011, we completed the acquisition of certain assets related to the Engenio external storage systems business (Engenio) of LSI Corporation (LSI). We paid LSI $480.0 million in cash and also assumed certain liabilities related to Engenio. This acquisition enabled us to address growing customer requirements in the areas of high bandwidth and intensive analytics workloads such as video, including full-motion video capture and digital video surveillance, as well as high-performance computing applications, such as genomics sequencing and scientific research. Our consolidated net revenues for fiscal 2012 include $665.9 million attributable to Engenio since the acquisition.

Financial Results and Key Performance Metrics Overview

The following table provides an overview of some of our key financial metrics for each of the last three fiscal years (in millions, except per share amounts, percentages and days sales outstanding):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27,
2012
    April 29,
2011
    April 30,
2010
 

Net revenues

   $ 6,233.2      $ 5,122.6      $ 3,931.4   

Gross profit

   $ 3,713.4      $ 3,328.7      $ 2,519.2   

Gross profit margin percentage

     59.6     65.0     64.1

Income from operations

   $ 746.5      $ 824.3      $ 488.4   

Income from operations as a percentage of net revenues

     12.0     16.1     12.4

Net income

   $ 605.4      $ 673.1      $ 400.4   

Diluted income per share

   $ 1.58      $ 1.71      $ 1.13   

Operating cash flows

   $ 1,462.6      $ 1,346.3      $ 975.0   

Deferred revenue

   $ 2,815.9      $ 2,314.9      $ 1,914.6   

Days sales outstanding (DSO)

     44        47        37   

 

   

Net revenues: Our net revenues increased across all three geographic regions in fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year. This increase was primarily due to the increase in product sales, reflecting continued

 

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demand for our storage efficiency and data management solutions and $656.6 million of E-Series OEM sales attributable to our acquisition of Engenio.

 

   

Gross profit: Our gross profit margin percentage of net revenues decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year primarily due to the inclusion of lower gross margin E-Series OEM products in the revenue mix.

 

   

Income from operations: Our income from operations as a percentage of sales decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year primarily due to the decrease in our gross profit margin as discussed above, as well as increases in our headcount and the average cost per headcount.

 

   

Net Income and Diluted Income Per Share: The decrease in net income in fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year reflects the lower operating income as discussed above.

 

   

Operating cash flows: Operating cash flows increased 9% in fiscal 2012, reflecting our focus on managing our working capital and cash-based operating expenses.

 

   

Deferred revenue: Total deferred revenue increased $501.0 million in fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year primarily due to an increase in deferred software entitlements and maintenance (SEM) and service revenue driven by service contract sales and renewals.

 

   

DSO: Our DSO decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year primarily due to higher accounts receivables collections, despite a decrease in shipment linearity.

Stock Repurchase Program Activity

During fiscal 2012, we repurchased approximately 14.6 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $40.97 per share.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of such statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements. Our estimates are based on historical experience and other assumptions that we consider to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, actual future results may vary from our estimates.

We believe that the following accounting policies are significantly affected by critical accounting estimates and that they are both highly important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results and require difficult management judgments and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Note 2 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements describes the significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. Certain of these significant accounting policies are considered to be critical accounting policies.

We believe the accounting policies described below are those that most frequently require us to make estimates and judgments and therefore are critical to the understanding of our results of operations.

Revenue Recognition, Reserves and Allowances

Revenue Recognition — We recognize revenue when:

 

   

Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists: It is our customary practice to have a purchase order and/or contract prior to recognizing revenue on an arrangement from our end users, customers, value-added resellers or distributors.

 

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Delivery has occurred: Our product is physically delivered to our customers, generally with standard transfer terms such as FOB origin. We typically do not allow for restocking rights with any of our value-added resellers or distributors. Products shipped with acceptance criteria or return rights are not recognized as revenue until all criteria are achieved. If undelivered products or services exist that are essential to the functionality of the delivered product in an arrangement, delivery is not considered to have occurred.

 

   

The fee is fixed or determinable: Arrangements with payment terms extending beyond our standard terms, conditions and practices are not considered to be fixed or determinable. Revenue from such arrangements is recognized at the earlier of customer payment or when the fees become due and payable. We typically do not allow for price-protection rights with any of our value-added resellers or distributors.

 

   

Collection is reasonably assured: If there is considerable doubt surrounding the credit worthiness of a customer at the outset of an arrangement, the associated revenue is deferred and recognized upon cash receipt.

Our multiple element arrangements include our systems and one or more of the following undelivered elements: SEM and premium hardware maintenance. Our SEM entitle our customers to receive unspecified product upgrades and enhancements on a when-and-if-available basis, bug fixes, and patch releases. Premium hardware maintenance services include contracts for technical support and minimum response times. Revenues from SEM and premium hardware maintenance services are recognized ratably over the contractual term, generally from one to five years. We also offer extended service contracts (which extend our standard parts warranty and may include premium hardware maintenance) at the end of the warranty term; revenues from these contracts are recognized ratably over the contract term. We also sell professional services either on a time and materials basis or under fixed price standard projects; we recognize revenue for these services as they are performed. Revenue from hardware installation services is recognized in the period the services are delivered.

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the accounting standards for revenue recognition to exclude tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality from the scope of the software revenue recognition guidance. Concurrently, the FASB also amended the accounting standards for multiple deliverable revenue arrangements to:

 

   

provide updated guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the deliverables in an arrangement should be separated, and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated among its elements;

 

   

require an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement that has separate units of accounting using best estimated selling prices (BESP) of deliverables if a vendor does not have vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair value or third-party evidence of selling price (TPE); and

 

   

eliminate the use of the residual method and require an entity to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method to the separate units of accounting.

We adopted these standards in fiscal 2011 for new and materially modified revenue arrangements originating after April 30, 2010.

The majority of our products are hardware systems containing software components that function together to provide the essential functionality of the product. Therefore, our hardware systems and software components essential to the functionality of the hardware systems are considered non-software deliverables and therefore are not subject to industry-specific software revenue recognition guidance.

Our product revenues also include revenues from the sale of non-essential software products. Non-essential software products may operate on our hardware systems, but are not considered essential to the functionality of the hardware. Non-essential software sales generally include a perpetual license to our software. Non-essential

 

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software sales continue to be subject to the industry-specific software revenue recognition guidance. For arrangements within the scope of the guidance, a delivered item is accounted for as a separate unit if the delivered item has standalone value and if the customer (i) has a general right of return relative to the delivered item and (ii) delivery or performance of the undelivered item is probable and substantially within our control. Both of the separation criteria must be met in order for a delivered item to be accounted for as a separate unit.

For transactions entered into or materially modified after April 30, 2010, we recognize revenue in accordance with the current accounting standards when applicable. Certain arrangements with multiple deliverables may continue to have software deliverables that are subject to the existing software revenue recognition guidance along with non-software deliverables that are subject to the standards. The revenue for these multiple element arrangements is allocated to the software deliverables and the non-software deliverables as a group based on the relative selling prices of all of the deliverables in the arrangement using the selling price hierarchy set forth in the standards.

For our non-software deliverables, we allocate the arrangement consideration based on the relative selling price of the deliverables. For our non-software deliverables, we use BESP as our selling price. For our software entitlements and support services, we generally use VSOE as our selling price. When we are unable to establish selling prices using VSOE for our software entitlements and support services, we use BESP in our allocation of arrangement consideration.

VSOE of fair value for elements of an arrangement is based upon the normal pricing and discounting practices for those services when sold separately. In determining VSOE, we require that a substantial majority of the selling prices for an element fall within a reasonably narrow pricing range, generally evidenced by a substantial majority of such historical stand-alone transactions falling within a reasonably narrow range. In addition, we consider major service type, customer classifications, and other variables in determining VSOE.

When VSOE cannot be established, we attempt to establish the selling price of each element based on TPE. TPE is determined based on competitor prices for similar deliverables when sold separately. Generally, our go-to-market strategy differs from that of our peers and our offerings contain a significant level of differentiation such that the comparable pricing of products with similar functionality cannot be obtained. Furthermore, we are unable to reliably determine what similar competitor products’ selling prices are on a stand-alone basis. Therefore, we typically are not able to determine TPE for our products or services.

When we are unable to establish the selling price of our non-software deliverables using VSOE or TPE, we use BESP in our allocation of arrangement consideration. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which we would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP is determined for a product or service by considering multiple factors, including, but not limited to, cost of products, gross margin objectives, historical pricing practices, customer classes and distribution channels. In determining BESP, we require that the majority of the selling prices fall within a reasonable pricing range, generally evidenced by a majority of such historical transactions falling within a reasonable range.

We regularly review VSOE, TPE, and BESP and maintain internal controls over the establishment and updates of these estimates.

For sales of software deliverables after April 30, 2010 and for all transactions entered into prior to the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, we recognize revenue based on software revenue recognition guidance. Under the software revenue recognition guidance, we use the residual method to recognize revenue when a multiple element arrangement includes one or more elements to be delivered at a future date and VSOE of fair value of all undelivered elements exists. In the majority of our contracts, the only element that remains undelivered at the time of delivery of the product is SEM and/or service. Under the residual method, the fair value of the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the contract fee is recognized as product revenues. If evidence of the fair value of one or more undelivered elements does not exist, all revenue is generally deferred

 

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until the earlier of when delivery of those elements occurs or when fair value can be established. In instances where the only undelivered element without fair value is SEM, the entire arrangement is recognized ratably over the maintenance period.

We record reductions to revenue for estimated sales returns at the time of shipment. Sales returns are estimated based on historical sales returns, current trends, and our expectations regarding future experience. We monitor and analyze the accuracy of sales returns estimates by reviewing actual returns and adjust them for future expectations to determine the adequacy of our current and future reserve needs. If actual future returns and allowances differ from past experience, additional allowances may be required.

We also maintain a separate allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses based on our assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and the aging of the accounts receivable. We analyze accounts receivable and historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer solvency, current economic and geographic trends, and changes in customer payment terms and practices when evaluating the adequacy of our current and future allowance. Our reserve levels have generally been sufficient to cover credit losses. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

Inventory Valuation and Purchase Order Accruals

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. We perform an excess and obsolete analysis of our inventory based upon assumptions about future demand forecasts and market conditions. We adjust the inventory value based on estimated excess and obsolete inventories determined primarily by future demand forecasts. Although we use our best estimates in our forecasts of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand or technological developments could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory commitments and on our reported results. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected, additional write-downs and other charges against earnings may be required. If actual market conditions are more favorable, we may realize higher gross profits in the period when the written-down inventory is sold. Historically, our inventory valuation adjustments have been sufficient to cover any excess and obsolete exposure and have not required material adjustments in subsequent periods.

In the normal course of business we make commitments to our third-party contract manufacturers to manage lead times and meet product forecasts, and to other parties to purchase various key components used in the manufacture of our products. We establish accruals for estimated losses on purchased commitments when we believe it is probable that the components will not be utilized in future operations. To the extent that such forecasts are not achieved, our commitments and associated accruals may change.

We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local, and foreign environmental regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge, and disposal of hazardous chemicals used in the manufacture of our products, which may require design changes or recycling of products we manufacture. We will continue to monitor our compliance with these regulations, which may require us to incur higher costs, and adversely impact our operating results.

Business Combinations

We allocate the purchase price of acquired companies to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Significant management judgments and assumptions are required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, particularly acquired intangible assets which typically comprise developed technology, trademarks and trade names, customer contracts/relationships and covenants not to compete.

 

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The valuation of purchased intangible assets is principally based upon estimates of the future performance and cash flows from the acquired business. If different assumptions are used, it could materially impact the purchase price allocation and our financial position and results of operations. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill to the extent that we identify adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation.

Valuation of Goodwill and Intangibles

Purchased intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives unless these lives are determined to be indefinite. In-process research and development is capitalized at fair value and classified as an indefinite-lived asset until completion or abandonment and is subject to periodic review for impairment. Accordingly, the allocation of acquisition cost to identifiable intangible assets has a significant impact on our future operating results. The allocation process requires extensive use of estimates and assumptions, including estimates of future cash flows expected to be generated by the acquired assets. Should conditions be different than management’s assessment, material impairments of the fair value of intangible assets may be required. We periodically review the estimated remaining useful lives of our intangible assets. A reduction in the estimated remaining useful life could result in accelerated amortization expense or an impairment in future periods. As such, any future impairments of these assets would adversely affect our operating results.

We perform an annual review of the valuation of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more often if indicators of impairment exist. Triggering events for impairment reviews may be indicators such as adverse industry or economic trends, restructuring actions, lower projections of profitability, or a sustained decline in our market capitalization. Evaluations of possible impairment and, if applicable, adjustments to carrying values require us to estimate, among other factors, future cash flows, useful lives, and fair market values of our reporting units and assets. When we conduct our evaluation of goodwill, the fair value of goodwill is assessed using valuation techniques that require significant management estimates and judgment. Should conditions be different from management’s last assessment, significant impairments of goodwill may be required, which would adversely affect our operating results. In fiscal 2012, we performed such evaluation and determined the fair value substantially exceeded the carrying value and therefore, found no impairment of goodwill.

Product Warranties

Estimated future hardware and software warranty costs are recorded as a cost of product revenues when the related revenue is recognized, based on historical and projected warranty claim rates, historical and projected cost-per-claim and knowledge of specific project failures that are outside our typical experience. Factors that affect our warranty liability include the number of installed units subject to warranty protections, product failure rates, estimated material costs, estimated distribution costs and estimated labor costs. We assess the adequacy of our warranty accrual each quarter and adjust the amount as considered necessary. If actual product failure rates or repair costs differ from estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required and could materially affect our results of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation using the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of each award grant on the date of grant. Our option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected term of awards and the expected stock price volatility of the stock underlying such awards. In addition, we estimate the number of stock-based awards that will be forfeited due to employee turnover based on historical experience. Any changes in these highly subjective estimates and assumptions may significantly impact stock-based compensation expense.

 

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Loss Contingencies

We are subject to the possibility of various loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business. We consider the likelihood of the loss or impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability as well as our ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss in determining loss contingencies. An estimated loss contingency is accrued when it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset has been impaired and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We regularly evaluate current information available to us to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted.

Fair Value Measurements and Impairments of Marketable Securities

All of our available-for-sale investments are reported at fair value and are subject to periodic impairment review. Unrealized gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of securities are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale securities impact our net income only when such securities are sold or an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized. We actively review current investment ratings, company-specific events, and general economic conditions in managing our investments and determining whether there is a significant decline in fair value that is other-than-temporary.

Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary. This determination requires significant judgment. For publicly traded investments, impairment is determined based upon the specific facts and circumstances present at the time, including factors such as current economic and market conditions, the credit rating of the security’s issuer, the length of time an investment’s fair value has been below its carrying value, the extent to which fair value is below cost, and our ability and intent to hold investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in value. If an investment’s decline in fair value, caused by factors other than changes in interest rates, is deemed to be other-than-temporary, we reduce its carrying value to its estimated fair value, as determined based on quoted market prices, liquidation values or other metrics. For investments in publicly held companies, we recognize an impairment charge when the decline in the fair value of our investment is below its cost basis and is judged to be other-than-temporary. The ultimate value realized on these investments is subject to market price volatility until they are sold.

We are also exposed to market risk relating to our available-for-sale investments due to uncertainties in the credit and capital markets. The fair value of our investments may change significantly due to events and conditions in the credit and capital markets. These securities/issuers could be subject to review for possible downgrade. Any downgrade in these credit ratings may result in a decline in the estimated fair value of our investments. We monitor our investment portfolio on a quarterly basis for other-than-temporary impairment charges.

We hold investments in Auction Rate Securities (ARS), which we classify as long-term investments as we believe our ability to liquidate these investments in the next twelve months is uncertain. The valuation models used to estimate the fair value of our ARS included numerous assumptions such as assessments of the underlying structure of each security, expected cash flows, discount rates, trading activity in the secondary market for similar securities, credit ratings, workout periods, and overall capital market liquidity. These assumptions, assessments and the interpretations of relevant market data are subject to uncertainties, are difficult to predict and require significant judgment. The use of different assumptions, or applying different judgments to inherently subjective matters and changes in future market conditions could result in significantly different estimates of fair value. The fair value of our ARS could change significantly based on market conditions and continued uncertainties in the credit markets. If these uncertainties continue or if these securities experience credit rating downgrades, we may incur additional temporary impairment related to our auction rate securities portfolio. We actively monitor the fair value of our ARS and relevant market conditions and will record additional temporary or other-than-temporary impairments if future circumstances warrant such charges.

 

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Income Taxes

The determination of our tax provision is subject to judgments and estimates due to the complexity of the tax law that we are subject to in several tax jurisdictions. Earnings derived from our international business are generally taxed at rates that are lower than U.S. rates, resulting in a lower effective tax rate than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35.0%. The ability to maintain our current effective tax rate is contingent on existing tax laws in both the United States and the respective countries in which our international subsidiaries are located. Future changes in domestic or international tax laws could affect the continued realization of the tax benefits we are currently receiving. In addition, a decrease in the percentage of our total earnings from international business or a change in the mix of international business among particular tax jurisdictions could increase our overall effective tax rate.

We account for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. We reduce deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Tax attributes related to the exercise of employee stock options are not realized until they result in a reduction of taxes payable. We do not include unrealized stock option attributes as components of our gross deferred tax assets and corresponding valuation allowance disclosures.

Deferred income taxes have not been provided on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries because these earnings have been indefinitely reinvested and we do not plan to initiate any action that would precipitate the payment of income taxes thereon. We consider the following matters, among others, in evaluating our plans for indefinite reinvestment: the forecasts, budgets and financial requirements of the parent and subsidiaries for both the long and short term; the tax consequences of a decision to reinvest; and any U.S. and foreign government programs designed to influence remittances. If factors change and as a result we are unable to indefinitely reinvest the foreign earnings, the income tax expense and payments may differ significantly from the current period and could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

We recognize tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions by applying a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We recognize the tax liability for uncertain income tax positions on income tax returns based on a two-step process. The first step is to determine whether it is more likely than not that each income tax position would be sustained upon audit. The second step is to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. Estimating these amounts requires us to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We evaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on the consideration of several factors, including changes in facts or circumstances, changes in applicable tax law, settlement of issues under audit and new exposures. If we later determine that our exposure is lower or that the liability is not sufficient to cover our revised expectations, we adjust the liability and effect a related change in our tax provision during the period in which we make such determination.

New Accounting Standards

See Note 4 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a full description of new accounting pronouncements, including the respective expected dates of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain consolidated statements of operations data as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27,
2012
    April 29,
2011
    April 30,
2010
 

Revenues:

      

Product

     67.6     65.7     60.6

Software entitlements and maintenance

     13.0        14.1        17.3   

Service

     19.4        20.2        22.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net revenues

     100.0        100.0        100.0   

Cost of revenues:

      

Cost of product

     31.7        26.2        24.8   

Cost of software entitlements and maintenance

     0.4        0.3        0.3   

Cost of service

     8.3        8.5        10.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     59.6        65.0        64.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

      

Sales and marketing

     29.9        31.2        32.9   

Research and development

     13.3        12.7        13.6   

General and administrative

     4.2        4.9        6.1   

Restructuring and other charges

                   0.1   

Acquisition-related expense (income), net

     0.2        0.1        (1.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     47.6        48.9        51.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     12.0        16.1        12.4   

Other expense, net

     (0.6     (0.6     (1.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     11.4        15.5        11.4   

Provision for income taxes

     1.7        2.4        1.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     9.7     13.1     10.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended April 27, 2012

Overview — Net revenues for fiscal 2012 were $6,233.2 million, up $1,110.6 million, or 22%, from fiscal 2011. The revenue growth was primarily due to $656.6 million of E-Series OEM revenues, continued demand for our storage efficiency and data management solutions, and an increase in hardware maintenance contract revenues. Net revenues for fiscal 2011 were $5,122.6 million, up $1,191.2 million, or 30%, from fiscal 2010. The revenue growth in fiscal 2011 was primarily due to strong demand for our storage efficiency and data management solutions, including new products launched in November 2010. Additionally, net revenues for fiscal 2011 include a favorable impact of $129.2 million, or 3% of fiscal 2011 revenues, from the adoption of new accounting standards related to revenue recognition.

Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to the inclusion of lower gross margin E-Series OEM products in the revenue mix and the impact of higher discounting. These decreases were partially offset by manufacturing cost reductions. Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues increased in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to higher product and service revenues at improved margins.

Sales and marketing, research and development and general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2012 totaled $2,957.1 million, up 18% from fiscal 2011. These increases were primarily due to a 26% increase in average headcount in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011. The May 2011 acquisition of Engenio represented approximately 10% of the average headcount for fiscal 2012. Sales and marketing, research and development and

 

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general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2011 totaled $2,496.9 million, up 21% from fiscal 2010. This increase is primarily due to a 17% increase in average headcount in fiscal 2011 and higher levels of incentive compensation and commission expense due to higher revenues and operating profits. Salary and related expenses during fiscal 2011 were favorably impacted by having 52 weeks in fiscal 2011 compared to 53 weeks in fiscal 2010.

Net Revenues — Net revenues were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
   April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Net revenues

   $ 6,233.2       $ 5,122.6         22   $ 3,931.4         30

Net revenues increased by $1,110.6 million, or 22% in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011. The increase in net revenues for fiscal 2012 was primarily due to an increase in product revenues, which comprised 68% of net revenues in fiscal 2012 compared to 66% of net revenues in fiscal 2011.

Net revenues increased by $1,191.2 million, or 30%, in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. The increase in net revenues for fiscal 2011 was primarily due to an increase in product revenues, which comprised 66% of net revenues in fiscal 2011 compared to 61% of net revenues in fiscal 2010. Additionally, net revenues in fiscal 2011 include a favorable impact of $129.2 million, or 3% from the adoption of new accounting standards related to revenue recognition.

Sales through our indirect channels represented 78%, 73% and 69% of net revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following customers, each of which is a distributor, accounted for 10% or more of net revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27,
2012
     % of Net
Revenues
    April 29,
2011
     % of Net
Revenues
    April 30,
2010
     % of Net
Revenues
 

Arrow Electronics, Inc.

   $ 1,035.7         17   $ 903.0         18   $ 550.7         14

Avnet, Inc.

     753.6         12     639.0         12     444.0         11

The increase in our indirect channels in fiscal 2012 reflects $656.6 million of E-Series OEM revenue.

Product Revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Product revenues

   $ 4,209.7       $ 3,367.1         25   $ 2,381.1         41

Product revenues increased by $842.6 million, or 25% in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, and by $986.0 million, or 41%, in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. Product revenues for fiscal 2011 included a 4% favorable impact from the adoption of new revenue recognition standards. Product revenues consist of configured systems, which are comprised of bundled hardware and software products, and non-configured products, which consist primarily of add-on hardware, storage, and software products, as well as OEM products.

Total configured system revenues of $2,219.7 million increased by $163.2 million, or 8%, in fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011, with the largest increase in the 6000 series systems, partially offset by decreases in the 2000 series systems. Configured systems unit volume increased by 6% for fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011, with increases in both the 6000 and 3000 series systems, offset by a decrease in the 2000 series systems. The

 

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increases in the unit volume of the 6000 and 3000 series were due to customer demand for newer products within these series. The decrease in the 2000 series unit volume was primarily due to a decrease in demand for the older products within this series, as well as a shift in demand to the newer 3000 series systems. The average selling prices (ASPs) of total configured systems slightly increased during fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011 due to a shift in system revenue mix from the lower ASP 2000 series to the higher ASP 3000 and 6000 series. However, ASP’s across each series decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to higher discounting. Non-configured product revenues of $1,990.0 million increased $679.4 million, or 52%, during fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011. This increase was primarily due to E-Series OEM product revenues of $650.7 million during fiscal 2012.

Total configured system revenues of $2,056.5 million increased by $687.9 million, or 50%, for fiscal 2011, compared to fiscal 2010, with the largest increase in the 3000 series systems. Configured systems revenues increased primarily from a unit volume increase of 46% for fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, with the largest increases occurring in the 2000 and 3000 series systems. The increases in the unit volumes of the 2000 and 3000 series were due to customer demand for storage efficiency and data management solutions as well as new products within these series. In fiscal 2011, ASPs of the 3000 and 2000 series systems increased, while the ASP decreased on the 6000 series systems. Non-configured product revenues of $1,310.6 million increased $298.0 million, or 29%, during fiscal 2011, compared to fiscal 2010. This increase was primarily due to a 32% increase in sales of our add-on storage products during fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 due to customers increasing the capacity and/or functionality of their storage systems.

Our systems are highly configurable to respond to customer requirements in the open systems storage markets that we serve. This can cause a wide variation in product configurations that can significantly impact revenues, cost of revenues and gross profit performance. Pricing changes, discounting practices, product competition, foreign currency, unit volumes, customer mix, natural disasters and product material costs can also impact revenues, cost of revenues and/or gross profit performance. Disks are a significant component of our storage systems. Industry disk pricing has fallen every year; however, when supplies are constrained as they recently were due to the flooding in Thailand, disk prices have increased and may continue to do so. To the extent that disk prices increase or decrease, we intend to pass along those price increases or decreases to our customers while working to maintain relatively constant profit margins on our disk drives. As our sales price per terabyte continues to decline, improved system performance, increased capacity and software to manage this increased capacity have an offsetting impact on product revenues.

Software Entitlements and Maintenance Revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Software entitlements and maintenance revenues

   $ 812.2       $ 720.6         13   $ 679.8         6

Software entitlements and maintenance (SEM) revenues increased by $91.6 million, or 13%, in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 and increased $40.8 million, or 6%, in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. These increases were due to an increase in the aggregate contract value of the installed base under SEM contracts, which is recognized as revenue ratably over the terms of the underlying contracts.

Service Revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Service revenues

   $ 1,211.3       $ 1,034.9         17   $ 870.5         19

 

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Service revenues include hardware maintenance, professional services and educational and training services. Service revenues increased by $176.4 million, or 17%, in fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011 and by $164.4 million, or 19%, in fiscal 2011, compared to fiscal 2010.

Hardware maintenance contract revenues constituted approximately 70%, 66% and 64%, of our service revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Such revenues increased $166.5 million, or 24% in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 and increased $128.9 million, or 23% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. The increases in each year are a result of increases in the installed base under service contracts. Professional services and educational and training services constituted approximately 30%, 34% and 36% of our service revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Revenues by Geographic Area (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Americas (United States, Canada and Latin America)

   $ 3,529.7       $ 2,899.0         22   $ 2,208.1         31

Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

     1,936.5         1,719.1         13     1,329.1         29

Asia Pacific and Japan (APAC)

     767.0         504.5         52     394.2         28
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

Net revenues

   $ 6,233.2       $ 5,122.6         $ 3,931.4      

Americas revenues consist of Americas commercial and U.S. public sector markets. Sales to customers inside the United States comprised 86%, 89% and 89% of America’s net revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Sales to Germany accounted for 10%, 12% and 11% of net revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. No other single foreign country accounted for 10% or more of net revenues in any of the periods presented.

Cost of Revenues

Our cost of revenues consists of three elements: (1) cost of product revenues, which includes the costs of manufacturing and shipping of our storage products, amortization of purchased intangible assets, inventory write-downs, and warranty costs, (2) cost of SEM, which includes the costs of providing SEM and third-party royalty costs and (3) cost of service revenues, which reflects costs associated with providing support activities for hardware, global support partnership programs, professional services and educational and training services.

Our gross profit is impacted by a variety of factors, including pricing changes, discounting practices, foreign currency, product configuration, unit volumes, customer mix, revenue mix, natural disasters and product material costs. Service gross profit is typically impacted by factors such as changes in the size of our installed base of products, as well as the timing of support service initiations and renewals, and incremental investments in our customer support infrastructure. If any of these factors that impact our gross profit are adversely affected, whether by economic uncertainties or for other reasons, our gross profit could decline.

Cost of Product Revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Cost of product revenues

   $ 1,979.9       $ 1,342.0         48   $ 976.4         37

 

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Cost of product revenues increased by $637.9 million, or 48% in fiscal 2012 compared to 2011 and by $365.6 million, or 37%, in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. The changes were comprised of the following elements (in percentage points of the total change):

 

     Year Ended
Fiscal 2012  to
Fiscal 2011

Percentage
Change
Points
     Year Ended
Fiscal 2011  to
Fiscal 2010

Percentage
Change
Points
 

Materials costs

     37         34   

Amortization expense

     3           

Excess and obsolete inventory

     1           

Warranty

     3         1   

Manufacturing overhead

     2         1   

Other

     2         1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total change

     48         37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Material costs increased $503.0 million in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, primarily as a result of a $368.6 million in materials cost relating to the sales of E-Series OEM products. Materials costs increased on configured products due to a 6% volume increase, partially offset by average unit materials cost reductions. In addition, cost of product revenues in fiscal 2012 also included an increase in the amortization expense of $42.5 million related to the amortization of developed technology identified intangible assets related to the Engenio acquisition, a $36.1 million increase in warranty expense, primarily due to E-Series OEM products, and a $29.9 million increase in manufacturing overhead.

Material costs increased $222.7 million during fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, primarily as a result of a 46% unit volume increase in configured systems, a $127.1 million increase in costs of hardware add-ons and other product costs and a $31.8 million increase in costs resulting from the adoption of the new accounting standard in fiscal 2011. The average cost per unit of configured systems did not change significantly in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. In addition, cost of product revenues increased in fiscal 2011 as a result of a $15.8 million increase in warranty expense.

Cost of product revenues represented 47% of product revenue for fiscal 2012 compared to 40% for fiscal 2011 and 41% for fiscal 2010. The overall increase in costs as a percentage of revenues for fiscal 2012, as compared to fiscal 2011, was primarily the result of E-Series OEM products, which have lower material margins than configured systems and add-on products as well as lower materials margins on configured systems. The overall decrease in costs as a percentage of revenues for fiscal 2011, as compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily the result of decreases in materials cost per unit.

Cost of Software Entitlements and Maintenance Revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Cost of software entitlements and maintenance revenues

   $ 23.9       $ 15.7         52   $ 12.3         28

Cost of SEM revenues increased by $8.2 million, or 52% in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 and by $3.4 million, or 28% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 primarily due to an increase in volume-related software support costs. Cost of SEM revenues represented 3% of SEM revenues in fiscal 2012 and 2% of SEM revenues for both fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010.

 

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Cost of Service Revenues (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Cost of service revenues

   $ 516.0       $ 436.2         18   $ 423.5         3

Cost of service revenues increased $79.8 million, or 18%, in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 and increased $12.7 million, or 3%, in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to the costs associated with servicing a larger installed base and an increase in logistics and materials costs. Costs represented 43%, 42% and 49% of service revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decrease in cost of service revenues as a percentage of service revenue in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to improved productivity.

Operating Expenses

Sales and Marketing, Research and Development, and General and Administrative Expenses

Compensation costs comprise the largest component of operating expenses. Included in compensation costs are salaries, benefits, other compensation-related costs, stock-based compensation costs and employee incentive compensation plan costs. Compensation costs included in operating expenses increased approximately $273.6 million, or 21%, during fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to:

(i) an increase in salaries, benefits and other compensation-related costs of $273.1 million due to an increase in average headcount, which included the impact of the Engenio acquisition;

(ii) an increase in stock-based compensation of $77.2 million, which includes $10.9 million of expense related to the reset of the employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) offering triggered by the decline in our stock price below the grant date prices of the offerings that vested in December 2011;

(iii) partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation expense of $76.6 million due to lower performance against plan operating targets in fiscal 2012.

In addition, despite the increase in revenues, sales and marketing expenses reflected a decrease in commissions expense of $12.2 million during fiscal 2012 due to lower individual attainment and commission rates.

Compensation costs included in operating expenses increased approximately $202.3 million, or 18%, during fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to:

(i) an increase in salaries, benefits and other compensation-related costs of $169.9 million due to an increase in average headcount, primarily in sales, marketing and engineering functions;

(ii) an increase in incentive compensation expense of $16.7 million reflecting stronger operating performance and increased headcount; and

(iii) an increase in stock-based compensation of $15.7 million.

In addition, sales and marketing expenses reflected an increase in commissions expense of $30.2 million during fiscal 2011, reflecting stronger sales performance compared to fiscal 2010.

 

 

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Sales and Marketing (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Sales and marketing expenses

   $ 1,864.0       $ 1,597.0         17   $ 1,293.7         23

Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of compensation costs, commissions, outside services, allocated facilities and IT costs, advertising and marketing promotional expense, and travel and entertainment expense. Sales and marketing expenses increased due to the following:

 

     Year Ended
Fiscal 2012 to
Fiscal 2011

Percentage
Change

Points
    Year Ended
Fiscal  2011 to
Fiscal 2010

Percentage
Change

Points
 

Salaries

     8        6   

Incentive plan compensation

     (2     1   

Stock-based compensation

     3        1   

Other compensation and benefit costs

     2        3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation costs

     11        11   

Commissions

     (1     2   

Amortization expense

     2          

Advertising and marketing promotional expense

     1        1   

Outside services

     1        5   

Facilities and IT support costs

     2        2   

Travel and entertainment expense

            1   

Other

     1        1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change

     17        23   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The increase in total compensation costs in fiscal 2012 reflects a 20% increase in average sales and marketing headcount compared to fiscal 2011. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation expense. Amortization expense in fiscal 2012 increased due to the addition of intangible assets as a result of the Engenio acquisition. The increase in facilities and IT support costs in fiscal 2012 reflects our investment in sales systems and infrastructure.

The increase in total compensation costs in fiscal 2011 reflects a 20% increase in average sales and marketing headcount compared to fiscal 2010. Outside services increased in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 primarily to support sales and marketing initiatives. The increase in facilities and IT support costs in fiscal 2011 reflects our investment in sales systems and infrastructure.

 

 

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Research and Development (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Research and development expenses

   $ 828.2       $ 648.6         28   $ 535.7         21

Research and development expense consists primarily of compensation costs, allocated facilities and IT costs, depreciation and amortization, equipment and software related costs, prototypes, non-recurring engineering (NRE) charges and other outside services costs. Research and development expenses increased due to the following:

 

     Year Ended
Fiscal 2012 to
Fiscal 2011

Percentage
Change

Points
    Year Ended
Fiscal 2011 to
Fiscal 2010

Percentage
Change

Points
 

Salaries

     12        8   

Incentive plan compensation

     (4     1   

Stock-based compensation

     5        1   

Other compensation and benefit costs

     4        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation costs

     17        12   

Facilities and IT support costs

     5        4   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     3        1   

NRE charges

     1        (1

Outside services

     1        1   

Travel and entertainment expense

            1   

Equipment and software related costs

            1   

Other

     1        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change

     28        21   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The increase in total compensation costs in fiscal 2012 reflects a 36% increase in average engineering headcount. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation expense. The increase in facilities and IT support costs in fiscal 2012 reflects the Engenio acquisition. Depreciation and amortization expense in fiscal 2012 increased due to higher levels of investment in engineering equipment. The increase in total compensation costs in fiscal 2011 reflects a 28% increase in average engineering headcount.

We believe that our future performance will depend in large part on our ability to maintain and enhance our current product line, develop new products that achieve market acceptance, maintain technological competitiveness and meet an expanding range of customer requirements. We expect to continue to spend on current and future product development efforts, broaden our existing product offerings and introduce new products that expand our solutions portfolio.

 

 

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General and Administrative (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

General and administrative expenses

   $ 264.9       $ 251.3         5   $ 238.8         5

General and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation costs, professional and corporate legal fees, outside services and allocated facilities and IT support costs. General and administrative expenses increased due to the following:

 

     Year Ended
Fiscal 2012 to
Fiscal 2011

Percentage
Change

Points
    Year Ended
Fiscal 2011 to
Fiscal 2010

Percentage
Change

Points
 

Salaries

     4        3   

Incentive plan compensation

     (7     1   

Stock-based compensation

     1        1   

Other compensation and benefit costs

            (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation costs

     (2     4   

Outside services

     2        3   

Professional and corporate legal fees

     3        (5

IT support costs

     1        1   

Other

     1        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change

     5        5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The decrease in total compensation costs in fiscal 2012 was driven by a decrease in incentive plan compensation expense. This decrease was partially offset by the impact of a 13% increase in average general and administrative headcount during fiscal 2012. Professional and corporate legal fees were higher in fiscal 2012 as a result of a legal fee settlement during fiscal 2011 associated with the resolution of the Sun Microsystems litigation. The increase in outside services in fiscal 2012 reflects additional spending on contractors and costs associated with the Engenio integration activities and various on-going operational projects.

The increase in total compensation costs in fiscal 2011 reflects a 10% increase in average general and administrative headcount. The increase in outside services in fiscal 2011 reflects additional spending on contractors. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease in professional and corporate legal fees as a result of a legal fee settlement during fiscal 2011 associated with the resolution of the Sun Microsystems litigation.

Restructuring and Other Charges:

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change      April 30, 2010      % Change  

Restructuring and other charges

   $       $ 1.8         NM       $ 2.5         (28 )% 

 

NM — Not meaningful.

In fiscal 2011, we recorded severance-related restructuring charges of $2.4 million relating to the acquisition of Akorri Networks, Inc. (Akorri), partially offset by a reversal of $0.6 million related to certain of our restructuring plans.

In fiscal 2010, we incurred $2.5 million of charges primarily from facilities and severance-related activities in certain of our restructuring plans.

 

 

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Acquisition-related Expense (Income), Net (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010     % Change  

Acquisition-related expense (income), net

   $ 9.8       $ 5.7         72   $ (39.9     NM   

 

NM — Not meaningful.

During fiscal 2012, we incurred $9.8 million of due diligence, legal and other integration charges associated with our acquisition of Engenio. During fiscal 2011, we incurred $5.7 million of due diligence, legal and other integration charges associated with our acquisitions of Bycast Inc. (Bycast), Akorri and Engenio.

On May 20, 2009, we announced that we had entered into a merger agreement with Data Domain, Inc. (Data Domain) under which we would acquire Data Domain in a stock and cash transaction. On July 8, 2009, Data Domain’s Board of Directors terminated the merger agreement and pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Data Domain paid us a $57.0 million termination fee. We incurred $15.9 million of incremental third-party costs relating to the terminated merger transaction during the same period, resulting in net proceeds of $41.1 million recorded in the consolidated statement of operations during fiscal 2010. In addition, during fiscal 2010, we paid $1.2 million of acquisition-related expenses related to the acquisition of Bycast.

Other Expense, Net

Interest Income (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Interest income

   $ 38.2       $ 39.9         (4 )%    $ 31.2         28

The decrease in interest income for fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 was primarily due to lower yields on new investments. The increase in interest income for fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to higher levels of cash equivalent and investment balances in fiscal 2011.

Interest Expense (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012     April 29, 2011     % Change     April 30, 2010     % Change  

Interest expense

   $ (74.7   $ (75.9     (2 )%    $ (74.1     2

Interest expense was relatively flat for fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 and for fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.

During fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, we recognized incremental non-cash interest expense from the amortization of debt discount and issuance costs relating to our Notes, net of capitalized interest, of $52.9 million, $53.1 million and $50.8 million, respectively. The coupon interest expense related to the Notes, net of capitalized interest, was $20.6 million, $22.1 million and $22.5 million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. During fiscal 2012, we capitalized interest of $5.0 million on facility assets under construction and on significant software development projects. We did not capitalize interest in either fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2010.

 

 

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Other Income, net (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Other income, net

   $ 2.4       $ 5.8         (59 )%    $ 1.5         287

The decrease in other income, net was due to lower gains on investments in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 and higher gains on investments in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.

Provision for Income Taxes (in millions, except percentages):

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011      % Change     April 30, 2010      % Change  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 107.0       $ 121.0         (12 )%    $ 46.6         160

Our effective tax rate for fiscal 2012 was 15.0% compared to an effective tax rate of 15.2% for fiscal 2011, and an effective tax rate of 10.4% for fiscal 2010. Our effective tax rate reflects our corporate legal entity structure and the global nature of our business with a significant amount of our profits generated and taxed in foreign jurisdictions at rates below the U.S. statutory tax rate. The effective tax rates for fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2012 were favorably impacted by the geographic mix of profits.

The effective tax rate of 15.0% in fiscal 2012 included a benefit of $162.2 million, or 22.8 percentage points, from foreign profits taxed at effective tax rates lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35%. Other key components of our effective tax rate for the year include a benefit of $10.9 million, or 1.5 percentage points, related to research and development credits, an expense of $14.4 million, or 2.0 percentage points, attributable to stock-based compensation, an expense of $6.4 million, or 0.9 percentage points, on state tax expense and an expense of $7.3 million, or 1.0 percentage point, in connection with income tax audits.

The effective tax rate of 15.2% in fiscal 2011 included a benefit of $146.9 million, or 18.5 percentage points, related to foreign income tax rates that are lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35%. Other key components of our effective tax rate for the year include a benefit of $17.8 million, or 2.2 percentage points, related to research and development tax credits, a benefit of $1.3 million, or 0.2 percentage points, related to stock-based compensation and an IRS audit settlement benefit of $21.1 million, or 2.7 percentage points, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of $31.1 million, or 3.9 percentage points, related to state income taxes.

The effective tax rate of 10.4% in fiscal 2010 included a benefit of $105.2 million, or 23.5 percentage points, related to foreign income tax rates that are lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35%. Other key components of our effective tax rate for the year include a benefit of $7.8 million, or 1.7 percentage points, related to research and development tax credits, a benefit of $2.6 million, or 0.6 percentages points, related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of $2.6 million, or 0.6 percentage points, related to state income taxes.

On March 26, 2012, we received a Revenue Agent’s Report from the IRS for our fiscal 2005 through 2007 tax returns. On April 25, 2012, we filed a protest related to transfer pricing matters comparable to the one that was resolved in our favor in our last audit cycle. Our fiscal 2008 through 2010 returns are currently under audit by the IRS.

On September 17, 2010, the Danish Tax Authorities issued a decision concluding that distributions declared in 2005 and 2006 from our Danish subsidiary were subject to Danish at-source dividend withholding tax. We do not believe that our Danish subsidiary is liable for withholding tax and filed an appeal with the Danish Tax Tribunal to that effect. On December 19, 2011, the Danish Tax Tribunal issued a ruling that our Danish

 

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subsidiary was not liable for Danish withholding tax. The Danish tax examination agency appealed the ruling to the Danish High Court in March 2012.

We continue to monitor the progress of ongoing tax controversies and the impact, if any, of the expected tolling of the statute of limitations in various taxing jurisdictions.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following sections discuss our principal liquidity requirements, as well as our sources and uses of cash flows on our liquidity and capital resources. The principal objectives of our investment policy are the preservation of principal and maintenance of liquidity. We attempt to mitigate default risk by investing in high-quality investment grade securities, limiting the time to maturity and monitoring the counter-parties and underlying obligors closely. We believe our cash equivalents and short-term investments are liquid and accessible. We are not aware of any significant deterioration in the fair value of our cash equivalents or investments from the values reported as of April 27, 2012.

Liquidity Sources and Cash Requirements

Our principal sources of liquidity as of April 27, 2012 consisted of approximately $5.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, as well as cash we expect to generate from operations.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following (in millions):

 

     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,549.8       $ 2,757.3   

Short-term investments

     3,848.7         2,417.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 5,398.5       $ 5,174.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of April 27, 2012, $2.7 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were held in the United States, while $2.7 billion were held in foreign countries. Most of the amounts held outside the United States can be repatriated to the United States but, under current law, would be subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. If we were to repatriate foreign earnings for cash requirements in the United States, we would incur U.S. federal and state income taxes reduced by the current amount of our U.S. federal and state net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. However, our intent is to keep these funds permanently reinvested outside of the U.S., and our current plans do not contemplate a need to repatriate them to fund our U.S. operations. Our principal liquidity requirements are primarily to meet our working capital needs, support ongoing business activities, fund research and development, meet capital expenditure needs, invest in critical or complementary technologies, and service our debt and synthetic leases. Our contractual obligations as of April 27, 2012 are summarized below in the Contractual Obligations table.

Key factors that could affect our cash flows include changes in our revenue mix and profitability, our ability to effectively manage our working capital, in particular, accounts receivable and inventories, our ability to effectively integrate acquired products, businesses and technologies and conversions of our Notes by holders. Based on our current business outlook, we believe that our sources of cash will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements, stock repurchases, contractual obligations, commitments, interest payments on our Notes and other liquidity requirements associated with operations and meet our cash requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, in the event our liquidity is insufficient, we may be required to curtail spending and implement additional cost saving measures and restructuring actions. We cannot be certain that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels or that we will be able to obtain additional financing, if necessary, on satisfactory terms, if at all.

Our investment portfolio, including auction rate securities, has been and will continue to be exposed to market risk due to trends in the credit and capital markets. We continue to closely monitor current economic and

 

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market events to minimize our market risk on our investment portfolio. Based on our ability to access our cash and short-term investments, our expected operating cash flows, and our other potential sources of cash, we do not anticipate that the lack of liquidity of these investments will impact our ability to fund working capital needs, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other cash requirements. We intend to and believe that we have the ability to hold these investments until the market recovers. If current market conditions deteriorate, we may be required to record additional charges to earnings in future periods. We routinely monitor our financial exposure to both sovereign and non-sovereign borrowers and counterparties. Our gross exposures to our investments in Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are individually and collectively not material.

Capital Expenditure Requirements

We expect to fund our capital expenditures, including our commitments related to facilities, equipment, operating leases and internal-use software development projects over the next few years through existing cash, cash equivalents, investments and cash generated from operations. The timing and amount of our capital requirements cannot be precisely determined and will depend on a number of factors, including future demand for products, changes in the network storage industry, hiring plans and our decisions related to the financing of our facilities and equipment requirements. We expect that our existing facilities and those being developed in Sunnyvale, California; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and other locations worldwide are adequate for our requirements over at least the next two years and that additional space will be available as needed. Our capital expenditures were $407.1 million during fiscal 2012. We anticipate capital expenditures for fiscal 2013 to be between $250.0 million and $300.0 million.

Cash Flows

As of April 27, 2012, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments increased by $208.9 million from April 29, 2011, to $5.5 billion. The increase was primarily a result of $1.5 billion of cash provided by operating activities and $142.1 million from issuances of common stock related to employee stock option exercises and purchases under the ESPP, partially offset by $600.0 million in cash paid for the repurchase of common stock, $480.0 million, net cash paid in connection with the acquisition of Engenio and $407.1 million in capital expenditures. We derive our liquidity and capital resources primarily from our operating cash flows and from working capital. Accounts receivable days sales outstanding as of April 27, 2012 decreased to 44 days, compared to 47 days as of April 29, 2011, primarily due to higher collections. Working capital increased by $314.3 million to $3.3 billion as of April 27, 2012, primarily due to a net increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $223.8 million and accounts receivable of $88.3 million and a decrease in accrued compensation and related benefits of $96.9 million, partially offset by an increase in short-term deferred revenue of $139.9 million.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

During fiscal 2012 and 2011, we generated cash from operating activities of $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. The primary sources of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2012 consisted of net income of $605.4 million, adjusted by depreciation and amortization of $293.1 million, stock-based compensation of $257.6 million and deferred income taxes of $60.9 million. Significant changes in assets and liabilities impacting operating cash flows in fiscal 2012 included an increase in deferred revenue of $506.4 million and a decrease in accounts receivable of $90.4 million. The primary sources of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2011 consisted of net income of $673.1 million, adjusted by stock-based compensation of $175.2 million and depreciation and amortization of $165.6 million. Significant changes in assets and liabilities impacting operating cash flows in fiscal 2011 included an increase in accounts receivable of $262.7 million, an increase in deferred revenue of $382.9 million and an increase in accrued compensation and other current liabilities of $118.8 million.

We expect that cash provided by operating activities may fluctuate in future periods as a result of a number of factors, including fluctuations in our operating results, shipment linearity, accounts receivable collections

 

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performance, inventory and supply chain management, tax benefits from stock-based compensation, and the timing and amount of compensation and other payments.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

During fiscal 2012, we completed our acquisition of Engenio for a total net cash payment of $480.0 million, paid $1.4 billion, net for investments and purchased $407.1 million of capital expenditures, including $44.3 million of buildings and land associated with the buyout of one of our synthetic leases. During fiscal 2011, we purchased $222.7 million of capital expenditures, paid $418.5 million, net for investments and made net cash payments of $136.5 million for acquisitions.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

During fiscal 2012, we used $343.6 million in financing activities, which primarily consisted of $600.0 million for the repurchase of common stock, partially offset by $113.3 million of excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation and $142.1 million of proceeds from employee equity award plans, net of shares withheld for taxes. During fiscal 2011, we generated $450.9 million from financing activities, which primarily consisted of $324.2 million of proceeds from employee equity award plans, net of shares withheld for taxes and $127.7 million of excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation.

Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock related to employee participation in employee equity award programs have historically been a significant component of our liquidity. The extent to which our employees exercise stock options generally increases or decreases based upon changes in the market price of our common stock. As a result, our cash flow resulting from the issuance of common stock in connection with these programs and related tax benefits will vary.

Stock Repurchase Program

Since the May 13, 2003 inception of our stock repurchase program through April 27, 2012, we have repurchased a total of 119.0 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $29.65 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 billion. As of April 27, 2012, our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $4.0 billion of our common stock under this stock repurchase program. As of April 27, 2012, the remaining authorized amount for stock repurchases under this program was $0.5 billion with no termination date. The stock repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

Convertible Notes

As of April 27, 2012, we had $1.265 billion principal amount of 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (See Note 10 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements). The Notes will mature on June 1, 2013, unless earlier repurchased or converted. Our common stock price exceeded the conversion threshold for the Notes for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ended March 31, 2012. Accordingly, as of April 27, 2012, the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder and, therefore, the carrying value of the Notes was classified as short-term debt. Since the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder and the principal amount would have been required to be paid in cash, the difference between the principal amount and the carrying value of the Notes was reflected as convertible debt in mezzanine on our consolidated balance sheet as of April 27, 2012.

 

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Contractual Obligations

The following summarizes our contractual obligations at April 27, 2012 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods (in millions):

 

     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017      Thereafter      Total  

Off-balance sheet commitments:

                

Office operating lease payments

   $ 36.7      $ 39.5      $ 39.7      $ 32.9      $ 18.7       $ 53.8       $ 221.3   

Real estate lease payments(1)

     60.8                                             60.8   

Less: sublease income

     (1.6     (0.4     (0.5     (0.4                     (2.9

Equipment operating lease payments

     24.3        17.2        7.7        2.8        0.6                 52.6   

Purchase commitments with contract manufacturers(2)

     248.7        1.2        0.2                               250.1   

Capital expenditures

     22.1        23.9                                      46.0   

Other purchase obligations(3)

     103.1        27.9        17.0        10.1        5.4                 163.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total off balance-sheet commitments

     494.1        109.3        64.1        45.4        24.7         53.8         791.4   

1.75% Convertible Notes(4)

     1,298.1                                             1,298.1   

Long-term financing arrangements

     10.9        4.7        2.1        1.6        0.8                 20.1   

Uncertain tax positions(5)

                   107.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,803.1      $ 114.0      $ 66.2      $ 47.0      $ 25.5       $ 53.8       $ 2,217.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Commercial Commitments:

                

Letters of credit

   $ 9.7      $ 0.1      $ 0.3      $ 0.4      $ 1.8       $ 0.8       $ 13.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in real estate lease payments pursuant to three financing arrangements with BNP Paribas LLC (BNPPLC) are (i) lease commitments of $1.7 million, which are based on a fixed rate for terms of five years and (ii) at the expiration or termination of the leasing arrangements, a supplemental payment obligation equal to our minimum guarantee of $59.1 million in the event that we elect not to purchase or arrange for sale of the buildings.
(2) Contract manufacturer commitments consist of obligations for on-hand inventories and non-cancelable purchase orders with our contract manufacturers. As of April 27, 2012, we recorded accruals of $3.3 million for firm, non-cancelable purchase commitments with contract manufacturers for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts, which is consistent with the valuation of our excess and obsolete inventory.
(3) Purchase obligations represent an estimate of all open purchase orders and contractual obligations in the ordinary course of business, other than commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers, for which we have not received the goods or services. Purchase obligations do not include contracts that may be cancelled without penalty. Although open purchase orders are considered enforceable and legally binding, the terms generally allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to the delivery of goods or performance of services.
(4) Included in these amounts are obligations related to the $1.265 billion principal amount of 1.75% Notes due 2013 (see Note 10 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements). Estimated interest payments for the Notes are $33.2 million for fiscal 2013.
(5) As of April 27, 2012, our liability for uncertain tax positions was $107.6 million, including interest and penalties, which due to the uncertainty of the timing of future payments, are presented in the total column on a separate line in this table.

Some of the amounts in the table above are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, including the commitment duration, the possibility of renewal or termination, anticipated actions by management and third parties and other factors. Because these estimates and assumptions are subjective, our actual future obligations may vary from those reflected in the table. We expect to fund our contractual obligations and other commitments in the table above through existing cash, cash equivalents, investments, and cash generated from operations or obtain additional financing, if necessary.

 

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As of April 27, 2012, we have three leasing arrangements with BNPPLC, one of which require us to lease certain of our land to BNPPLC for a period of 99 years and all of which require us to lease approximately 0.3 million square feet of office space from BNPPLC for our headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, which had an original cost of $69.6 million. Under these leasing arrangements, we pay BNPPLC minimum lease payments, which vary based on a fixed rate on the costs of the facilities on the respective lease commencement dates. We make payments for each of the leases for a term of five years. We have the option to renew each of the leases for two consecutive five-year periods upon approval by BNPPLC. Upon expiration (or upon any earlier termination) of the lease terms, we must elect one of the following options: (i) purchase the buildings from BNPPLC at cost; (ii) if certain conditions are met, arrange for the sale of the buildings by BNPPLC to a third-party, and be liable for any deficiency between the net proceeds received from the third-party and BNPPLC’s cost, up to 85% of cost (residual guarantee); or (iii) pay BNPPLC supplemental payments for an amount equal to the difference between BNPPLC’s cost and fair value, up to the residual guarantee, in which event we may recoup some or all of such payments by arranging for a sale of each or all buildings by BNPPLC during the ensuing two-year period. The following table summarizes the aggregate cost, the aggregate residual guarantee, the applicable fixed rates at April 27, 2012 and the lease commencement dates for our leasing arrangements:

 

            Cost             

   Residual
       Guarantee      
   Fixed Rates    Lease Commencement Dates    Term

$ 69.6 million

   $ 59.1 million    3.67% - 3.69%    December 2007 - January 2008    5 years

These leasing arrangements require us to maintain specified financial covenants with which we were in compliance as of April 27, 2012. Such financial covenants include a maximum ratio of Total Debt to Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization of less than 3:1 and a minimum amount of Unencumbered Cash and Short-Term Investments of $300.0 million. Our failure to comply with these financial covenants could result in a default under the leases, which, subject to our right and ability to exercise our purchase option, would give BNPPLC the right to, among other things, (i) terminate our possession of the leased property and require us to pay lease termination damages and other amounts as set forth in the lease agreements or (ii) exercise certain foreclosure remedies.

In April 2012, we exercised our option under one of our synthetic leasing arrangements to early terminate the lease and purchase the facilities, including land and buildings, for $80.0 million. The early termination did not result in a material impact to our operating results.

Based on a recent announcement by BNPPLC that it intends to phase out of its synthetic lease activities, we expect to exercise our option to buy out our synthetic leases when their five year terms expire in December 2012 through January 2013.

Legal Contingencies

We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the normal course of business. See further details on such matters in Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the ordinary course of business, we provide standby letters of credit or other guarantee instruments to third parties as required for certain transactions initiated either by us or our subsidiaries. As of April 27, 2012, our financial guarantees of $13.1 million that were not recorded on our consolidated balance sheet consisted of standby letters of credit related to workers’ compensation, a customs guarantee, a corporate credit card program, foreign rent guarantees and surety bonds, which were primarily related to self-insurance.

We use derivative instruments to manage exposures to foreign currency risk. Our primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign

 

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currency. The program is not designated for trading or speculative purposes. Currently, we do not enter into any foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge exposures related to firm commitments or nonmarketable investments. Our major foreign currency exchange exposures and related hedging programs are described below:

 

   

We utilize monthly foreign currency forward and options contracts to hedge exchange rate fluctuations related to certain foreign monetary assets and liabilities.

 

   

We use currency forward contracts to hedge exposures related to forecasted sales denominated in certain foreign currencies. These contracts are designated as cash flow hedges and in general closely match the underlying forecasted transactions in duration.

As of April 27, 2012, the notional fair value of foreign exchange forward and foreign currency option contracts totaled $641.8 million. We do not believe that these derivatives present significant credit risks, because of the short term maturity of the outstanding contracts at any point in time, the counterparties to the derivatives consist of major financial institutions, and we manage the notional amount of contracts entered into with any one counterparty. Other than the risk associated with the financial condition of the counterparties, our maximum exposure related to foreign currency forward and option contracts is limited to the premiums paid. See Note 12 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information related to our hedging activities.

In the ordinary course of business, some of our customers have entered into recourse and nonrecourse financing leasing arrangements using third-party leasing companies. Under the terms of recourse leases, which are generally three years or less, we remain liable for the aggregate unpaid remaining lease payments to the third-party leasing companies in the event of end-user customer default. Where we provide a guarantee for recourse leases, we defer revenues in accordance with revenue recognition policies. As of April 27, 2012, the maximum guaranteed payment contingencies under our financing arrangements totaled approximately $169.0 million, and the related deferred revenue totaled approximately $149.9 million.

We enter into indemnification agreements with third parties in the ordinary course of business. Generally, these indemnification agreements require us to reimburse losses suffered by the third-parties due to various events, such as lawsuits arising from patent or copyright infringement. These indemnification obligations are considered off-balance sheet arrangements under accounting guidance.

We have commitments related to three leasing arrangements with BNPPLC for approximately 0.3 million square feet of office space for our headquarters in Sunnyvale, California (as further described above under “Contractual Obligations”). Our future minimum lease payments and residual guarantees under these real estate leases will amount to a total of $60.8 million as discussed above in “Contractual Obligations.”

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk related to fluctuations in interest rates, market prices, and foreign currency exchange rates. We use certain derivative financial instruments to manage these risks. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. All financial instruments are used in accordance with management-approved policies.

Market Risk and Market Interest Risk

Investment and Interest Income — As of April 27, 2012, we had debt investments of $3.9 billion. Our investment portfolio primarily consists of investments with original maturities greater than three months at the date of purchase, and are classified as available-for-sale investments. These investments, which consist primarily of corporate bonds, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit, are subject to interest rate and interest income risk and will decrease in value if market interest rates increase. A hypothetical 10 percent increase in market interest rates from levels as of April 27, 2012 would cause an immaterial decline in the fair value of these available-for-sale investments. Volatility in market interest rates over time will cause variability in our interest income. We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio.

Our investment policy is to limit credit exposure through diversification and investment in highly rated securities. We further mitigate concentrations of credit risk in our investments by limiting our investments in the debt securities of a single issuer and by diversifying risk across geographies and type of issuer. We actively review, along with our investment advisors, current investment ratings, company-specific events and general economic conditions in managing our investments and in determining whether there is a significant decline in fair value that is other-than-temporary. We will monitor and evaluate the accounting for our investment portfolio on a quarterly basis for any other-than-temporary impairment charges.

We are also exposed to market risk relating to our auction rate securities due to uncertainties in the credit and capital markets. As of April 27, 2012, we recorded cumulative unrealized losses of $4.0 million, offset by $0.9 million of cumulative unrealized gains related to these securities. The fair value of our auction rate securities may change significantly due to events and conditions in the credit and capital markets. These securities/issuers could be subject to review for possible downgrade. Any downgrade in these credit ratings may result in an additional decline in the estimated fair value of our auction rate securities. Changes in the various assumptions used to value these securities and any increase in the market’s perceived risk associated with such investments may also result in a decline in estimated fair value.

If current market conditions deteriorate, or the anticipated recovery in market values does not occur, we may be required to record additional unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) or other-than-temporary impairment charges to earnings in future quarters. We intend, and have the ability, to hold these investments until the market recovers. We do not believe that the lack of liquidity relating to our portfolio investments will impact our ability to fund working capital needs, capital expenditures or other operating requirements.

Convertible Notes — In June 2008, we issued $1.265 billion principal amount of 1.75% Notes due 2013, of which $1,017.0 million was allocated to debt and $248.0 million was allocated to equity. Holders may convert the Notes prior to maturity upon the occurrence of certain circumstances, including, but not limited to:

 

   

during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price of the Notes for each day in this five consecutive trading day period was less than 98% of an amount equal to (i) the last reported sale price of our common stock multiplied by (ii) the conversion rate of the Notes on each such day;

 

   

during any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) if the last reported sale price of our common stock for 20 or more trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter exceeds 130% of the applicable conversion price in effect for the Notes on the last trading day of such immediately preceding calendar quarter; or

 

   

upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions described in the indenture for the Notes.

 

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The Notes are convertible into the right to receive cash in an amount up to the principal amount and shares of our common stock for the conversion value in excess of the principal amount, if any, at an initial conversion rate of 31.40 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (which represents an initial effective conversion price of the Notes of $31.85 per share), subject to adjustment as described in the indenture governing the Notes.

Concurrent with the issuance of the Notes, we entered into convertible Note hedge transactions and separately, warrant transactions, to reduce the potential dilution from the conversion of the Notes and to mitigate any negative effect such conversion may have on the price of our common stock. In fiscal 2010, we terminated the hedge transaction with a counterparty to 20% of our Note hedges, and because we have decided not to replace the hedge, we are subject to potential dilution on the 20% unhedged portion of our Notes upon conversion, if on the date of conversion, the per-share market price of our common stock exceeds the conversion price of $31.85.

Our common stock price exceeded the conversion threshold for the Notes for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ended March 31, 2012. Accordingly, as of April 27, 2012, the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder and, therefore, the carrying value of the Notes was classified as short-term debt. Since the Notes were convertible at the option of the holder and the principal amount would have been required to be paid in cash, the difference between the principal amount and the carrying value of the Notes was reflected as convertible debt in mezzanine on our consolidated balance sheets as of April 27, 2012.

Upon conversion of any Notes, we deliver cash up to the principal amount of the Notes and, with respect to any excess conversion value greater than the principal amount of the Notes, shares of our common stock. As of April 27, 2012, shares issued related to the Notes were minimal. Based on the closing price of our common stock of $39.03 on April 27, 2012, the if-converted value of our Notes exceeded their principal amount by approximately $285.3 million.

The fair value of our Notes is subject to interest rate risk, market risk and other factors due to the convertible feature. Generally, the fair value of Notes will increase as interest rates fall and/or our common stock price increases, and decrease as interest rates rise and/or our common stock price decreases. The interest and market value changes affect the fair value of our Notes, but do not impact our financial position, cash flows, or results of operations due to the fixed nature of the debt obligations. We do not carry the Notes at fair value, but present the fair value of the principal amount of the Notes for disclosure purposes. As of April 27, 2012, the principal amount of the Notes, which consists of the combined debt and equity components, was $1.265 billion, and the total estimated fair value of the principal amount was $1.650 billion based on the closing trading price of $130 per $100 of the Notes as of that date.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk and Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts

We hedge risks associated with foreign currency transactions to minimize the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on earnings. We utilize forward and option contracts to hedge against the short-term impact of foreign currency fluctuations on certain foreign-currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities. All balance sheet hedges are marked to market through earnings each period. We also use foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge foreign currency forecasted transactions related to forecasted sales transactions. These derivatives are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges under accounting guidance for derivatives and hedging. For cash flow hedges outstanding at April 27, 2012, the time-value component is recorded in earnings while all other unrealized gains or losses are included in other comprehensive income.

We do not enter into foreign exchange contracts for speculative or trading purposes. In entering into forward and option foreign exchange contracts, we have assumed the risk that might arise from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. We attempt to limit our exposure to credit risk by executing foreign exchange contracts with creditworthy multinational commercial banks. All contracts have a maturity of less than one year.

 

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The following table provides information about our currency forward contracts outstanding on April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011 (in millions):

 

     April 27, 2012      April 29, 2011  

Currency

   Local
Currency
Amount
     Notional
Contract
Amount
(USD)
     Fair
Value
(USD)
     Local
Currency
Amount
     Notional
Contract
Amount
(USD)
     Fair
Value
(USD)
 

Forward Purchase Contracts:

                 

Euro

     275.2       $ 364.3       $ 364.8         241.6       $ 357.7       $ 357.4   

British Pound Sterling

     71.5         116.2         116.2         55.0         91.7         91.9   

Australian Dollar

     52.0         54.3         54.5         31.5         34.4         34.4   

Canadian Dollar

     37.8         38.5         38.6         53.1         56.0         56.1   

Other

     N/A         68.5         68.6         N/A         52.6         52.5   

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

NetApp, Inc.

Sunnyvale, California

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of NetApp, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended April 27, 2012. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in Item 15. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended April 27, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, in the year ended April 29, 2011, the Company changed its method of recognizing revenue for multiple element arrangements in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements and ASU 2009-14, Certain Revenue Arrangements that include Software Elements.

As discussed in Note 2 to consolidated financial statements, the Company has retrospectively adopted new accounting guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board related to the presentation of comprehensive income.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated June 19, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

San Jose, California

June 19, 2012

 

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NETAPP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     April 27,
2012
    April 29,
2011
 
     (In millions, except
par value)
 
ASSETS   

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,549.8      $ 2,757.3   

Short-term investments

     3,848.7        2,417.4   

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011, respectively

     830.9        742.6   

Inventories

     161.5        108.5   

Other current assets

     435.6        339.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     6,826.5        6,365.2   

Property and equipment, net

     1,137.2        911.6   

Goodwill

     905.2        760.3   

Other intangible assets, net

     236.0        53.0   

Other non-current assets

     427.4        408.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 9,532.3      $ 8,498.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 233.1      $ 232.8   

Accrued compensation and related benefits

     340.3        437.2   

Other current liabilities

     377.6        325.8   

1.75% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2013

     1,202.3        1,150.4   

Short-term deferred revenue

     1,366.5        1,226.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     3,519.8        3,372.8   

Other long-term liabilities

     206.9        192.9   

Long-term deferred revenue

     1,449.4        1,088.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     5,176.1        4,654.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)

    

1.75% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2013

     62.6        114.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5.0 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of April 27, 2012 or April 29, 2011

     0.0        0.0   

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 885.0 shares authorized; 468.9 and 473.3 shares issued as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011, respectively

     0.5        0.5   

Additional paid-in capital

     4,410.3        3,970.3   

Treasury stock, at cost (104.3 shares as of April 27, 2012 and April 29, 2011)

     (2,927.4     (2,927.4

Retained earnings

     2,805.3        2,674.0   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     4.9        12.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     4,293.6        3,730.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 9,532.3      $ 8,498.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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NETAPP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27,
2012
    April 29,
2011
    April 30,
2010
 
     (In millions, except per share amounts)  

Revenues:

      

Product

   $ 4,209.7      $ 3,367.1      $ 2,381.1   

Software entitlements and maintenance

     812.2        720.6        679.8   

Service

     1,211.3        1,034.9        870.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net revenues

     6,233.2        5,122.6        3,931.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of revenues:

      

Cost of product

     1,979.9        1,342.0        976.4   

Cost of software entitlements and maintenance

     23.9        15.7        12.3   

Cost of service

     516.0        436.2        423.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues

     2,519.8        1,793.9        1,412.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     3,713.4        3,328.7        2,519.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

      

Sales and marketing

     1,864.0        1,597.0        1,293.7   

Research and development

     828.2        648.6        535.7   

General and administrative

     264.9        251.3        238.8   

Restructuring and other charges

     0.0        1.8        2.5   

Acquisition-related expense (income), net

     9.8        5.7        (39.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     2,966.9        2,504.4        2,030.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     746.5        824.3        488.4   

Other expense, net:

      

Interest income

     38.2        39.9        31.2   

Interest expense

     (74.7     (75.9     (74.1

Other income, net

     2.4        5.8        1.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (34.1     (30.2     (41.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     712.4        794.1        447.0   

Provision for income taxes

     107.0        121.0        46.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 605.4      $ 673.1      $ 400.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share:

      

Basic

   $ 1.66      $ 1.87      $ 1.18   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 1.58      $ 1.71      $ 1.13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in net income per share calculations:

      

Basic

     363.9        360.9        339.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     384.3        393.7        353.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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NETAPP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

    Year Ended  
    April 27,
2012
    April 29,
2011
    April 30,
2010
 
    (In millions)  

Net income

  $ 605.4      $ 673.1      $ 400.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income:

     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    (6.7     10.4        1.5   

Defined benefit obligation adjustments

    (4.4     0.0        0.0   

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:

     

Unrealized holding gains arising during the period

    1.5        5.3        6.4   

Income tax effect on unrealized holding gains

    0.5        (2.1     0.0   

Reclassification adjustments for gains included in net income

    (0.5     (0.7     (1.1

Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:

     

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period

    20.6        3.2        (0.5

Reclassification adjustments for losses (gains) included in net income

    (18.9     (6.1     1.7   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    (7.9     10.0        8.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

  $ 597.5      $ 683.1      $ 408.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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NETAPP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Year Ended  
     April 27,
2012
    April 29,
2011
    April 30,
2010
 
     (In millions)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 605.4      $ 673.1      $ 400.4   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     293.1        165.6        166.0   

Stock-based compensation

     257.6        175.2        159.8   

Accretion of discount and issuance costs on notes

     52.9        53.1        50.8   

Deferred income taxes

     (60.9     (26.3     (11.3

Tax benefit (charges) from stock-based compensation

     107.5        128.5        (0.9

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     (113.3     (127.7     (8.6

Other non-cash items, net

     (10.3     14.8        9.7   

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:

      

Accounts receivable

     (90.4     (262.7     (21.3

Inventories

     (16.5     4.4        (52.1

Other operating assets

     (37.0     6.0        (36.8

Accounts payable

     11.4        38.7        42.7   

Accrued compensation and other current liabilities

     (48.3     118.8        53.2   

Deferred revenue

     506.4        382.9        176.7   

Other operating liabilities

     5.0        1.9        46.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,462.6        1,346.3        975.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Purchases of investments

     (3,572.4     (2,190.9     (2,632.6

Redemptions of investments

     2,147.5        1,772.4        1,772.3   

Purchases of property and equipment

     (407.1     (222.7     (135.6

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

     (480.0     (136.5     0.0   

Other investing activities, net

     1.6        0.5        8.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,310.4     (777.2     (987.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Issuance of common stock

     142.1        324.2        197.1   

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

     (600.0     0.0        0.0   

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     113.3        127.7        8.6   

Settlement of note hedge

     0.0        0.0        14.2   

Other financing activities, net

     1.0        (1.0     0.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (343.6     450.9        219.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (16.1     32.3        3.6   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,207.5     1,052.3        210.8   

Cash and cash equivalents:

      

Beginning of year

     2,757.3        1,705.0        1,494.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 1,549.8      $ 2,757.3      $ 1,705.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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NETAPP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

    Common Stock     Treasury Stock     Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total  
    Shares     Amount     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Shares     Treasury
Amount
       
    (In millions)  

Balances, April 24, 2009

    436.6      $ 0.4      $ 3,115.9        (104.3   $ (2,927.4   $ 1,600.5      $ (5.2   $ 1,784.2   

Net income

    0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        400.4        0.0        400.4   

Other comprehensive income, net

    0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        8.0        8.0   

Issuance of common stock, net of taxes

    15.0        0.1        197.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        197.1   

Stock-based compensation

    0.0        0.0        159.6        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        159.6   

Income tax benefit from employee stock transactions

    0.0        0.0        (0.9     0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        (0.9

Settlement of note hedge

    0.0        0.0        14.2        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        14.2   

Taxes on settlement of note hedge

    0.0        0.0        (32.1     0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        (32.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances, April 30, 2010

    451.6        0.5        3,453.7        (104.3     (2,927.4     2,000.9        2.8        2,530.5   

Net income

    0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        673.1        0.0        673.1   

Other comprehensive income, net

    0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        10.0        10.0   

Reclassification of equity component of convertible debt

    0.0        0.0        (114.6     0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        (114.6

Issuance of common stock, net of taxes

    21.7        0.0        324.2        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        324.2   

Stock-based compensation

    0.0        0.0        175.2        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        175.2   

Income tax benefit from employee stock transactions

    0.0        0.0        128.5        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        128.5   

Stock options assumed in business acquisition

    0.0        0.0        3.3        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        3.3   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances, April 29, 2011

    473.3        0.5        3,970.3        (104.3     (2,927.4     2,674.0        12.8        3,730.2   

Net income

    0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        605.4        0.0        605.4   

Other comprehensive loss, net

    0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        (7.9     (7.9

Reclassification of equity component of convertible debt

    0.0        0.0        52.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        52.0   

Issuance of common stock, net of taxes

    10.2        0.0        148.8        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        148.8   

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

    (14.6     0.0        (125.9     0.0        0.0        (474.1     0.0        (600.0

Stock-based compensation

    0.0        0.0        257.6        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        257.6   

Income tax benefit from employee stock transactions

    0.0        0.0        107.5        0.0        0.0        0.0        0.0        107.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances, April 27, 2012

    468.9      $ 0.5      $ 4,410.3        (104.3   $ (2,927.4   $ 2,805.3      $ 4.9      $ 4,293.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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NETAPP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. The Company

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, NetApp, Inc. (“we”, “us”, or “the Company”) is a supplier of enterprise storage and data management software and hardware products and services. Our solutions help global enterprises meet major information technology challenges such as managing storage growth, assuring secure and timely information access, protecting data and controlling costs by providing innovative solutions that simplify the complexity associated with managing corporate data.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Fiscal Year — Our fiscal year is reported on a 52- or 53-week year ending on the last Friday in April. Fiscal 2012 and 2011 contained 52 weeks and fiscal 2010 contained 53 weeks.

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Accounting Change — In our fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we adopted amended standards that eliminate the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the consolidated statements stockholders’ equity and require them to be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The adoption of these amended standards did impact the presentation of other comprehensive income, as we have presented two separate but consecutive statements, but did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, reserves and allowances; inventory valuation and purchase order accruals; valuation of goodwill and intangibles; restructuring reserves; product warranties; employee benefit accruals; stock-based compensation; loss contingencies; investment impairments; income taxes, and fair value measurements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Financial Instruments — For certain financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable and other long-term financing arrangements, the carrying amounts approximate their fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds. We consider all highly liquid debt investments with original maturities of three months or less at time of purchase to be cash equivalents and such investments are recognized at carrying value which approximates fair value.

Short-Term Investments — Short-term investments consist of marketable debt or equity securities which are classified as available-for-sale and are recognized at fair value. The determination of fair value is further detailed in Note 9 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. We regularly review our investment portfolio to identify and evaluate investments that have indicators of possible impairment. Factors considered in determining whether a loss is other-than-temporary include, but are not limited to: the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been lower than the cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the

 

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NETAPP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

investee, credit quality of the issuer, likelihood of recovery, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. We classify our investments as current or noncurrent based on the nature of the investments and their availability for use in current operations.

Unrealized gains and temporary losses, net of related taxes, are included with accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI). Upon realization, those amounts are reclassified from AOCI to results of operations. The amortization of premiums and discounts on the investments and realized gains and losses related to investments are included in results of operations. Other-than-temporary impairments on available-for-sale debt securities are determined to be either credit losses or losses due to other factors. Credit losses are recognized in our results of operations and other losses are included in AOCI. Realized gains or losses on our short-term investments are calculated based on the specific identification method.

Fair Value Measurements and Impairments — All of our available-for-sale investments are subject to periodic impairment review. Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary. This determination requires significant judgment.

For short-term investments, impairment is determined based upon the specific facts and circumstances present at the time, including factors such as current economic and market conditions, the credit rating of the security’s issuer, the length of time an investment’s fair value has been below our carrying value, the extent to which fair value was below cost, and our ability and intent to hold investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery in value. If an investment’s decline in fair value, caused by factors other than changes in interest rates, is deemed to be other-than-temporary, we reduce its carrying value to its estimated fair value, as determined based on quoted market prices, liquidation values or other metrics. Declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary, if any, are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations as incurred.

For long-term investments, such as auction rate securities (ARSs), impairment is determined based on fair value and marketability of these investments. The valuation models used to estimate