Adobe 2009 Annual Report Download - page 3

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Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding product plans, future growth and market opportunities which involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to
such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under Item 1A, Risk Factors. You should carefully review the
risks described herein and in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), including the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q to be filed in 2010. When used in this report, the words “expects,”
“could,” “would,” “may,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “targets,” “estimates,” “looks for,”
“looks to” and similar expressions, as well as statements regarding our focus for the future, are generally intended to
identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak
only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to the
forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated is one of the largest and most diversified software companies in the
world. We offer a line of creative, business, Web and mobile software and services used by creative professionals, knowledge
workers, consumers, original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), developers and enterprises for creating, managing,
delivering, optimizing and engaging with compelling content and experiences across multiple operating systems, devices and
media. We distribute our products through a network of distributors, value-added resellers (“VARs”), systems integrators,
independent software vendors (“ISVs”) and OEMs, direct to end users and through our own Website at www.adobe.com. We
also license our technology to hardware manufacturers, software developers and service providers, and we offer integrated
software solutions to businesses of all sizes. We have operations in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”)
and Asia. Our software runs on personal computers with Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS, Linux, UNIX and various non-
PC platforms, depending on the product.
Adobe was originally incorporated in California in October 1983 and was reincorporated in Delaware in May 1997. We
maintain executive offices and principal facilities at 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, California 95110-2704. Our telephone
number is 408-536-6000. We maintain a Website at www.adobe.com. Investors can obtain copies of our SEC filings from
this site free of charge, as well as from the SEC Website at www.sec.gov.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
For more than 27 years, Adobe software and technologies have helped redefine how people engage with ideas and
information—anytime, anywhere and through any medium. The impact of our solutions is evident across many industries and
is felt by anyone who creates, views and interacts with information.
Today, through the delivery of powerful design, imaging and publishing software for print, Web, mobile and dynamic
media production, and by delivering a technology platform, we help people express, share, manage, optimize and collaborate
on their ideas in imaginative and meaningful new ways.
Our strategy is to address the needs of a variety of customers which include creative professionals—graphic designers,
Web designers, videographers, photographers and professional publishers; knowledge workers—teams of workers who share
and collaborate on high-value information; enterprise users—IT managers, Web analysts, marketing executives, line of
business managers and executives; high-end consumers—digital imaging and digital video hobbyists and enthusiasts;
application developers and OEMs—mobile device manufacturers, printer manufacturers, Internet service providers and
developers.
We execute against this strategy by delivering products that support industry standards and can be deployed across
multiple computing environments. We also leverage the broad reach of our ubiquitous client technologies including our
Adobe Reader, and our Adobe Flash Platform which enables the development of products and solutions that dramatically
improves how businesses and governments engage with their customers, employees and constituents. Our Adobe Flash
Platform includes our broadly deployed Adobe Flash Player, and our Adobe AIR software which enables developers to build
and deploy rich media and Internet applications to client devices. Together, these client technologies allow users of our
products and technologies to ensure reliable, secure and rich application experiences across devices, browsers and operating
systems.