Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company reviews subsidiaries and affiliates, as well as other entities, to determine if they should be considered variable interest entities (“VIE”), and whether it should change the consolidation determinations based on changes in their characteristics. The Company considers an entity a VIE if its equity investors own an interest therein that lacks the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or if such investors do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or if the entity is structured with non-substantive voting interests. To determine whether or not the entity is consolidated with the Company’s results, the Company also evaluates which interests are variable interests in the VIE and which party is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.
Principle of Consolidation
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Quantum and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions due to risks and uncertainties, including uncertainty in the current economic environment from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, the determination of standalone selling price for revenue arrangements with multiple performance obligations, useful lives of intangible assets and property and equipment, stock-based compensation and provision for income taxes including related reserves. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions which management believes to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company has cash deposits and cash equivalents deposited in or managed by major financial institutions. Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investment instruments with an original maturity of three months or less and consist primarily of money market accounts. At times the related amounts are in excess of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company has not experienced any losses with these financial institutions and does not believe such balances are exposed to significant credit risk.
Restricted Cash
Restricted Cash

Restricted cash is comprised of required minimum balances that serve as cash collateral in connection with various items including insurance requirements, value added taxes, ongoing tax audits and leases in certain countries.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses based on historical experience and expected collectability of outstanding accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition, and for the majority of its customers require no collateral. For customers that do not meet the Company’s credit standards, the Company may require a form of collateral, such as cash deposits or letters of credit, prior to the completion of a transaction. These credit evaluations require significant judgment and are based on multiple sources of information. The Company analyzes such factors as its historical bad debt experience, industry and geographic concentrations of credit risk, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms. The Company will write-off customer balances in full to the reserve when it has determined that the balance is not recoverable. Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts are recorded in general and administrative expenses.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
Level 1:    Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:    Other than quoted prices that are observable in the market for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or model-derived valuations or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3:    Inputs are unobservable and reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The categorization of a financial instrument within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company's financial instruments consist of Level 3 liabilities.
Inventories
Manufacturing Inventories
Manufacturing inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. Costs include material, direct labor, and an allocation of overhead in the case of work in process. Adjustments to reduce the cost of manufacturing inventory to its net realizable value, if required, are made for estimated excess, obsolete or impaired balances. Factors influencing these adjustments include declines in demand, rapid technological changes, product life cycle and development plans, component cost trends, product pricing, physical deterioration and quality issues. Revisions to these adjustments would be required if these factors differ from the Company’s estimates.
Service Parts Inventories
Service parts inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost being determined on a FIFO basis. The Company carries service parts because it generally provides product warranty for one to three years and earns revenue by providing enhanced and extended warranty and repair services during and beyond this warranty period. Service parts inventories consist of both component parts, which are primarily used to repair defective units, and finished units, which are provided for customer use permanently or on a temporary basis while the defective unit is being repaired. The Company records adjustments to reduce the carrying value of service parts inventory to its net realizable value and disposes of parts with no use and a net realizable value of zero. Factors influencing these adjustments include product life cycles, end of service life plans and volume of enhanced or extended warranty service contracts. Estimates of net realizable value involve significant estimates and judgments about the future, and revisions would be required if these factors differ from the Company’s estimates.
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Machinery and equipment
3 to 5 years
Computer equipment
3 to 5 years
Other software 3 years
Furniture and fixtures 5 years
Other office equipment 5 years
Leasehold improvements Shorter of useful life or life of lease

When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related costs and accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in the period realized.

The Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amount of its property and equipment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be fully recoverable. A potential impairment charge is evaluated when the undiscounted expected cash flows derived from an asset group are less than its carrying amount. Impairment losses, if applicable, are measured as the amount by which the carrying value of an asset group exceeds its fair value and are recognized in operating results. Judgment is used when applying these impairment rules to determine the timing of impairment testing, the undiscounted cash flows used to assess impairments and the fair value of the asset group.
Business Combinations
Business Combinations

The Company allocates the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. The results of operations of an acquired business is included in its consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Acquisition-related expenses are expensed as incurred.
Goodwill
Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price consideration over the estimated fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually in the third quarter of the Company's fiscal year as a single reporting unit, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. The Company may elect to qualitatively assess whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If the Company opts not to qualitatively assess, a quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed. The quantitative test compares its reporting unit's carrying amount, including goodwill, to its fair value calculated based on its enterprise value. If the carrying amount exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess. The Company did not recognize any impairment of goodwill in any of the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements.
Purchased Intangible Assets
Purchased Intangible Assets

Purchased intangible assets with finite lives are stated at cost, net of accumulated amortization. The Company amortizes its intangible assets on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of two to four years.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company measures the recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If the total of the future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of an asset, the Company records an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair market value.
Operating Leases
Operating Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. Lease liabilities are recognized at the present value of the future lease payments at commencement date. The interest rate implicit in the Company's operating leases is not readily determinable, and therefore an incremental borrowing rate is estimated to determine the present value of future payments. The estimated incremental borrowing rate factors in a hypothetical interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms, payments, and economic environments. The operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") asset is determined based on the lease liability initially established and reduced for any prepaid lease payments and any lease incentives. The Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components of operating lease contract consideration as a single lease component.

Certain of the operating lease agreements contain rent concession, rent escalation, and option to renew provisions. Rent concession and rent escalation provisions are considered in determining the lease cost. Lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term commencing on the date the Company has the right to use the leased property. The Company generally uses the base, non-cancelable, lease term when recognizing the lease assets and liabilities, unless it is reasonably certain that an extension or termination option will be exercised.

In addition, certain operating lease agreements contain tenant improvement allowances from the Company's landlords. These allowances are accounted for as lease incentives and reduce its ROU asset and lease cost over the lease term.

For short-term leases which have a lease term less than twelve months and do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that is reasonably certain to be exercised, the Company recognizes rent expense in the
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term and record variable lease payments as incurred.
Revenue Recognition
Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue primarily consists of amounts that have been invoiced but have not yet been recognized as revenue and performance obligations pertaining to subscription services. The current portion of deferred revenue represents the amounts that are expected to be recognized as revenue within one year of the consolidated balance sheet dates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenue from three main sources: (1) product, (2) professional services, and (3) royalties. Sales tax collected on sales is netted against government remittances and thus, recorded on a net basis. The Company's performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time or over time as stand ready obligations. The majority of revenue is recognized at a point in time when products are accepted, installed or delivered.

Product Revenue

The Company's product revenue is comprised of multiple storage solution hardware and software offerings targeted towards consumer and enterprise customers. Revenue from product sales is recognized at the point in time when the customer takes control of the product. If there are significant post-delivery obligations, the related revenue is deferred until such obligations are fulfilled. Revenue from contracts with customer acceptance criteria are recognized upon end user acceptance.

Service and Subscription Revenue

Service and subscription revenue consists of four components: (a) post-contract customer support agreements,
(b) software subscriptions, (c) installation, and (d) consulting & training.

Customers have the option to choose between different levels of hardware and software support. The Company's support plans include various stand-ready obligations such as technical assistance hot-lines, replacement parts maintenance, and remote monitoring that are delivered whenever called upon by its customers. Support plans provide additional services and assurance outside the scope of the Company's primary product warranties. Revenue from support plans are recognized ratably over the contractual term of the service contract.

The Company also sells software subscriptions that include term licenses which are recognized as revenue when the license is delivered to the customer and related customer support which is recognized ratably over the service period.

The Company offers installation services on all its products. Customers can opt to either have Quantum or a Quantum-approved third-party service provider install its products. Installation services are typically completed within a short period of time and revenue from these services are recognized at the point when installation is complete.

A majority of the Company's consulting and training revenue does not take significant time to complete therefore these obligations are satisfied upon completion of such services at a point in time.

Royalty Revenue

The Company licenses certain intellectual property to third party manufacturers which gives the manufacturers rights to intellectual property including the right to either manufacture or include the intellectual property in their products for resale. Licensees pay the Company a per-unit royalty for sales of their products that incorporate its intellectual property. On a periodic and timely basis, the licensees provide the Company with reports containing units sold to end users subject to the royalties. The reports substantiate that the performance obligation has been satisfied therefore revenue is recognized based on the reports or when amounts can be reasonably estimated.
Significant Judgements Significant Judgements
The Company generally enters into contracts with customers to provide storage solutions to meet their individual needs. Most of the Company’s contracts contain multiple goods and services designed to meet each customers’ unique storage needs. Contracts with multiple goods and services have multiple distinct performance obligations as the promise to transfer hardware, installation services, and support services are capable of being distinct and provide economic benefit to customers on their own.

Stand-alone selling price

For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) of the good or service underlying each performance obligation. The SSP represents the amount for which the Company would sell the good or service to a customer on a standalone basis (i.e., not sold as a bundle with any other products or services). Where SSP may not be directly observable (e.g., the performance obligation is not sold separately), the Company maximized the use of observable inputs by using information including reviewing discounting practices, performance obligations with similar customers and product groupings. The Company evaluated all methods included in ASC 606 to determine SSP and concluded that invoice price is the best representation of what the Company expects to receive from the delivery of each performance obligation.

Variable consideration

Product revenue includes multiple types of variable consideration, such as rebates, returns, or stock rotations. All contracts with variable consideration require payment upon satisfaction of the performance obligation typically with net 45-day payment terms. The Company does not include significant financing components in its contracts. The Company constrains estimates of variable consideration to amounts that are not expected to result in a significant revenue reversal in the future, primarily based on the most likely level of consideration to be returned to the customer under the specific terms of the underlying programs.

The expected value method is used to estimate the consideration expected to be returned to the customer. The Company uses historical data and current trends to drive the estimates. The Company records a reduction to revenue to account for these programs. The Company initially measures this asset at the carrying amount of the inventory, less any expected costs to recover the goods including potential decreases in the value of the returned goods.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of Service and Subscription Revenue
The Company classifies expenses as service cost of revenue by estimating the portion of its total cost of revenue that relates to providing field support to its customers under contract. These estimates are based upon a variety of factors, including the nature of the support activity and the level of infrastructure required to support the activities from which it earns service and subscription revenue. In the event its service business changes, its estimates of cost of service and subscription revenue may be impacted.
Shipping and Handling Fees
Shipping and handling fees are included in cost of revenue and were $7.3 million, $9.4 million, and $9.4 million in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Research and Development Costs Research and Development CostsExpenditures relating to the development of new products and processes are expensed as incurred. These costs include expenditures for employee compensation, materials used in the development effort, other internal costs, as well as expenditures for third party professional services. The Company has determined that technological feasibility for its software products is reached shortly before the products are released to manufacturing. Costs incurred after technological feasibility is established have not been material. The Company expenses software-related research and development costs as incurred.
Internal-use Software Costs
Internal-use Software Costs

The Company capitalizes costs incurred to implement software solely for its internal use, including (i) hosted applications used to deliver the Company's support services, and (ii) certain implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract when the preliminary project stage is complete, management with the relevant authority authorizes and commits to the funding of the software project, and it is probable the project will be completed and used to perform the intended function.

Software implementation costs are capitalized to either other current assets or other long-term assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and amortized over 10 years. Software implementation costs capitalized
were $3.1 million and $3.1 million for fiscal 2022 and 2021. Related amortization expense for software implementation costs was $0.1 million and $0 during fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Advertising Expense
Advertising Expense
Advertising expense is recorded as incurred and was $3.5 million, $1.5 million, and $3.4 million in fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring Reserves
Restructuring reserves include charges related to the realignment and restructuring of the Company’s business operations. These charges represent judgments and estimates of the Company’s costs of severance, closure and consolidation of facilities and settlement of contractual obligations under its operating leases, including sublease rental rates, asset write-offs and other related costs. The Company reassesses the reserve requirements to complete each individual plan under the restructuring programs at the end of each reporting period. If these estimates change in the future or actual results differ from the Company’s estimates, additional charges may be required.
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation

The Company's international operations generally use their local currency as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are translated at the average monthly exchange rates during the year. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of other comprehensive loss and recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, in which deferred tax asset and liabilities are recognized based on differences between the financial reporting carrying values of assets and liabilities and the tax basis of those assets and liabilities, measured at the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.

A valuation allowance is provided if the Company believes it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. An increase or decrease in the valuation allowance, if any, that results from a change in circumstances, and which causes a change in the Company’s judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax asset, is included in the tax provision.

The Company assesses whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the consolidated financial statements. The Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances and changes in tax law. The Company recognizes penalties and tax-related interest expense as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company records an asset retirement obligation for the fair value of legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related asset in the period in which the obligation is incurred. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, the Company recognizes changes in the liability resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value and the capitalized cost is
depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. The Company’s obligations relate primarily to certain legal obligations to remediate leased property on which certain assets are located.
Warranty Expense
Warranty Expense

The Company warranties its products against certain defects and the terms range from one to three years. The Company provides for the estimated costs of fulfilling its obligations under hardware warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized. The Company estimates the provision based on historical and projected product failure rates, historical and projected repair costs, and knowledge of specific product failures (if any). The Company regularly reassess its estimates to determine the adequacy of the recorded warranty liability and adjusts the provision, as necessary.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs for revolving credit agreements are capitalized and amortized over the term of the underlying agreements on a straight-line basis. Amortization of these debt issuance costs is included in interest expense while the unamortized debt issuance cost balance is included in other current assets or other assets. Debt issuance costs for the Company’s term loans are recorded as a reduction to the carrying amount and are amortized over their terms using the effective interest method. Amortization of these debt issuance costs is included in interest expense.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation

The Company classifies stock-based awards granted in exchange for services as either equity awards or liability awards. The classification of an award as either an equity award or a liability award is generally based upon cash settlement options. Equity awards are measured based on the fair value of the award at the grant date. Liability awards are re-measured to fair value each reporting period. Each reporting period, the Company recognizes the change in fair value of awards issued to non-employees as expense. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation on a straight-line basis over the award’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the award, less actual forfeitures. No compensation expense is recognized for awards for which participants do not render the requisite services. For equity and liability awards earned based on performance or upon occurrence of a contingent event, when and if the awards will be earned is estimated. If an award is not considered probable of being earned, no amount of stock-based compensation is recognized. If the award is deemed probable of being earned, related compensation expense is recorded over the estimated service period. To the extent the estimate of awards considered probable of being earned changes, the amount of stock-based compensation recognized will also change.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company sells products to customers in a wide variety of industries on a worldwide basis. In countries or industries where the Company is exposed to material credit risk, the Company may require collateral, including cash deposits and letters of credit, prior to the completion of a transaction. The Company does not believe it has significant credit risk beyond that provided for in the consolidated financial statements in the ordinary course of business. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 no customers represented 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue. One customer comprised approximately 21% of accounts receivable as of March 31, 2022. Two customers comprised approximately 22% of accounts receivable as of March 31, 2021.

If the Company is unable to obtain adequate quantities of the inventory needed to sell its products, the Company could face costs increases or delays or discontinuations in product shipments, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations. In many cases, the Company’s chosen vendor may be the sole source of supply for the products or parts they manufacture, or services they provide, for the Company. Some of the products the Company purchases from these sources are proprietary or complex in nature, and therefore cannot be readily or easily replaced by alternative sources.
Segment Reporting
Segment Reporting

Business segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which discrete financial information is available and is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing operating performance. Based on the way the Company manages its business, the Company has determined that it currently operates with one reportable segment. The chief operating decision maker focuses on
consolidated results in assessing operating performance and allocating resources. Furthermore, the Company offers similar products and services and uses similar processes to sell those products and services to similar classes of customers.

The Company’s chief operating decision-maker is its Chief Executive Officer who makes resource allocation decisions and assesses performance based on financial information presented on a consolidated basis. There are no segment managers who are held accountable by the chief operating decision-maker, or anyone else, for operations, operating results, and planning for levels or components below the consolidated unit level. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it has a single reportable segment and operating segment structure.
Defined Contribution Plan
Defined Contribution Plan

The Company sponsors a qualified 401(k) retirement plan for its U.S. employees. The plan covers substantially all employees who have attained the age of 18. Participants may voluntarily contribute to the plan up to the maximum limits established by Internal Revenue Service regulations. For the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company incurred $1.7 million and $1.2 million in matching contributions, respectively. No matching contributions were made in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting PronouncementsIn October 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2021-08—Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which amends ASC 805 to “require acquiring entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination.” Under current GAAP, an acquirer generally recognizes such items at fair value on the acquisition date. As a result of the amendments made by ASU 2021-08, it is expected that an acquirer will generally recognize and measure acquired contract assets and contract liabilities in a manner consistent with how the acquiree recognized and measured them in its pre-acquisition financial statements. The Company elected to early adopt this standard in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 using a retrospective approach that applies the new standard to all business acquisitions that occurred within the current fiscal year. The impact of adoption was in increase of $2.7 million to deferred revenue and goodwill associated with the Pivot 3 acquisition described in Note 3: Business Acquisitions.