Seagate 2010 Annual Report Download - page 69

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Table of Contents
The actual results with regard to warranty expenditures could have an adverse or favorable effect on our results of operations if the actual
rate of unit failure, the cost to repair a unit, or the actual cost required to satisfy customer compensatory claims differs from those estimates we
used in determining the warranty accrual. Since we typically outsource our warranty repairs, our repair cost is subject to periodic negotiations
with vendors and may vary from our estimates. We also exercise judgment in estimating our ability to sell certain repaired disk drives. To the
extent such sales fall below our forecast, warranty cost will be adversely impacted.
We review our warranty accrual quarterly for products shipped in prior periods and which are still under warranty. Any changes in the
estimates underlying the accrual may result in adjustments that impact the current period gross margins and income. In fiscal year 2011, net
favorable changes in estimates of prior warranty accruals as a percentage of revenue were not material. Our total warranty cost was 1.8%, 1.3%
and 2.4% of revenue during fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, while warranty cost related to new shipments (exclusive of the
impact of re-estimates of pre-existing liabilities) were 1.8%, 1.8% and 2.7% respectively, for the same periods. Changes in anticipated failure
rates of specific products and significant changes in repair or replacement costs have historically been the major reasons for significant changes
in prior estimates. Any future changes in failure rates of certain products, as well as changes in repair costs or the cost of replacement parts, may
result in increased or decreased warranty accruals.
Accounting for Income Taxes.
We account for income taxes pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740 (ASC 740),
Income Taxes. In applying, ASC 740, we make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement
purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of tax credits, recognition of income and deductions and calculation of specific
tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement
purposes, as well as tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions. The calculation of tax liabilities involves uncertainties in the
application of complex tax rules and the potential for future adjustment of our uncertain tax positions by the Internal Revenue Service or other
tax jurisdictions. If estimates of these tax liabilities are greater or less than actual results, an additional tax benefit or provision will result. The
deferred tax assets we record each period depend primarily on our ability to generate future taxable income in the United States and certain non-
U.S. jurisdictions. Each period, we evaluate the need for a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets and, if necessary, we adjust the
valuation allowance so that net deferred tax assets are recorded only to the extent we conclude it is more likely than not that these deferred tax
assets will be realized. If our outlook for future taxable income changes significantly, our assessment of the need for a valuation allowance may
also change.
Accounting for Goodwill, and Other Long-lived Assets. We account for goodwill in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill
and Other . As required by ASC 350, we test goodwill of our reporting units annually during our fourth quarter or whenever events occur or
circumstances change, such as an adverse change in business climate or a decline in the overall industry, that would more likely than not reduce
the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.
In accordance with ASC 360-05-4, Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets . We test other long-lived assets, including property,
equipment and leasehold improvements and other intangible assets subject to amortization, for recoverability whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying values of those assets may not be recoverable. We assess the recoverability of an asset group by
determining if the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the sum of the projected undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and
eventual disposition of the assets over the remaining economic life of the primary asset in the asset group. If the recoverability test indicates that
the carrying value of the asset group is not recoverable, we will estimate the fair value of the asset group using the same approaches indicated
above for ASC 360 step two and compare it to its carrying value. The excess of the carrying value over the fair value is allocated pro rata to
derive the adjusted carrying value of each asset in the asset group. The adjusted carrying value of each asset in the asset group is not reduced
below its fair value.
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