NOTE 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Revenue Recognition

Revenue consists of sales of hardware, software and services, as well as royalties we earn for the license of certain intellectual property. Revenue is recognized from the sale of products and services when it is realized or realizable and earned. Revenue is considered realized and earned when: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and when collectibility is reasonably assured. Royalty revenue is recognized when earned or amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Product Revenue — Hardware

Revenue for hardware products sold to distributors, VARs, DMRs, OEMs and end users is generally recognized upon shipment. When significant post-delivery obligations exist, the related revenue is deferred until such obligations are fulfilled. If there are customer acceptance criteria in the contract, we recognize revenue upon end user acceptance, which typically occurs after delivery and installation are completed.

In the period revenue is recognized, allowances are provided for estimated future price adjustments, such as rebates, price protection and future product returns. These allowances are based on programs in existence at the time revenue is recognized, plans regarding future price adjustments, the customers’ master agreements and historical product return rates. Since we have historically been able to reliably estimate the amount of allowances required, we recognize revenue, net of projected allowances, upon shipment to our customers. If we were unable to reliably estimate the amount of revenue adjustments in any specific reporting period, then we would be required to defer recognition of the revenue until the rights had lapsed and we were no longer under any obligation to reduce the price or accept the return of the product.

Product Revenue — Software

Software revenue is generally recognized upon shipment or electronic delivery and when vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value for undelivered elements exists. For software arrangements with multiple elements, the residual method is used to determine the amount of product revenue to be recognized. Under the residual method, the VSOE of fair value for the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the arrangement consideration is recognized as product revenue, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria of appropriate revenue guidance have been met. Revenue from post-contract customer support agreements, which entitle customers to both telephone support and any unspecified upgrades and enhancements during the term of the agreement, is recognized ratably over the term of the support agreement.

We license certain software to customers under licensing agreements that allow those customers to embed our software into specific products they offer. As consideration, licensees pay us a fee based on the amount of sales of their products that incorporate our software. On a periodic and timely basis, the licensees provide us with reports listing their sales to end users for which they owe us license fees. As the reports substantiate delivery has occurred, we recognize revenue based on the information in these reports or when amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Service Revenue

Revenue for service is generally recognized upon services being rendered. Service revenue consists of customer field support agreements for our hardware products, installation, professional services and out-of-warranty repairs. For customer field support agreements, revenue equal to the separately stated price of these service contracts for our hardware products is initially deferred and recognized as revenue ratably over the contract period. Installation and professional services are not considered essential to the functionality of our products as these services do not alter the product capabilities, do not require specialized skills and may be performed by our customers or other vendors. Installation and professional services are recognized upon completion. Out-of-warranty repair revenue is recognized upon completion of the repair.

Royalty Revenue

We license certain intellectual property to third party manufacturers under arrangements that are represented by master contracts. The master contracts give the third party manufacturers rights to the intellectual property which include allowing them to either manufacture or include the intellectual property in products for resale. As consideration, the licensees pay us a per-unit royalty for sales of their products that incorporate our intellectual property. On a periodic and timely basis, the licensees provide us with reports listing units sold to end users subject to the royalties. As the reports substantiate delivery has occurred, we recognize revenue based on the information in these reports or when amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Multiple Element Arrangements

For multiple deliverable revenue arrangements with customers which are not subject to software revenue guidance, we separate the deliverables based on specific criteria, assign an estimated selling price to each deliverable based on the selling price hierarchy using VSOE, third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”) or estimated selling price (“ESP”) and allocate the total arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. 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 largely interchangeable products when sold separately. When we are unable to establish selling price using VSOE or TPE, we use ESP. For ESP, we consider our discounting and internal pricing practices. Additionally, for certain transactions we evaluate whether any undelivered elements are essential to the functionality of the delivered elements in order to determine the appropriate timing of revenue recognition. If specific criteria are not met, the arrangement is accounted for as one unit of accounting which results in revenue being deferred until the earlier of when such criteria are met, when the last undelivered element is delivered or ratably over the contract term as appropriate.

Service Cost of Revenue

We classify expenses as service cost of revenue by estimating the portion of our total cost of revenue that relates to providing field support to our customers under contract, installation, integration and repair services. 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 we earn service revenue. In the event our service business changes, our estimates of cost of service revenue may be impacted. Service cost of revenue excludes costs associated with basic warranty support on new products.

Shipping and Handling Fees

Shipping and handling fees are included in cost of revenue and were $20.3 million, $22.2 million and $26.1 million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Research and Development Costs

Expenditures 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. We have determined that technological feasibility for our software products is reached shortly before the products are released to manufacturing. Costs incurred after technological feasibility is established have not been material. We expense software-related research and development costs as incurred.

Advertising Expense

We expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $4.3 million, $5.0 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

Restructuring Charges

In recent periods and over the past several years, we have recorded significant restructuring charges related to the realignment and restructuring of our business operations. These charges represent expenses incurred in connection with strategic planning, certain cost reduction programs and acquisition integrations that we have implemented and consist of the cost of involuntary termination benefits, facilities charges, asset write-offs and other costs of exiting activities or geographies.

The charges for involuntary termination costs and associated expenses often require the use of estimates, primarily related to the number of employees to be paid severance and the amounts to be paid, largely based on years of service and statutory requirements. Assumptions to estimate facility exit costs include the ability to secure sublease income largely based on market conditions, the likelihood and amounts of a negotiated settlement for contractual lease obligations and other exit costs. Other estimates for restructuring charges consist of the realizable value of assets including associated disposal costs and termination fees with third parties for other contractual commitments.

Share-Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation using the Black-Scholes stock option pricing model to estimate the fair value of share-based awards at the date of grant. The Black-Scholes model requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, including expected life, expected volatility and expected risk-free rate of return. Other reasonable assumptions could provide differing results. We calculate a forfeiture rate to estimate the share-based awards that will ultimately vest based on types of awards and historical experience. Additionally, for awards which are performance based, we make estimates as to the probability of the underlying performance being achieved.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Assets, liabilities and operations of foreign offices and subsidiaries are recorded based on the functional currency of the entity. For a majority of our foreign operations, the functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The assets and liabilities of foreign offices with a local functional currency are translated, for consolidation purposes, at current exchange rates from the local currency to the reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. The resulting gains or losses are reported as a component of other comprehensive income. Foreign exchange gains and losses from changes in the exchange rates underlying intercompany balances that are of a long-term investment nature are also reported as a component of other comprehensive income. Assets and liabilities denominated in other than the functional currency are remeasured each month with the remeasurement gain or loss recorded in other income and expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Foreign currency gains and losses recorded in other income and expense were a $0.1 million loss in fiscal 2012, a $0.3 million gain in fiscal 2011 and a $0.6 million loss in fiscal 2010.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities due to 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 also 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.

We recognize the benefit from a tax position only if it is more-likely-than-not that the position would be sustained upon audit based solely on the technical merits of the tax position. The calculation of our tax liabilities requires judgment related to uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit and new audit activity. A change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional tax charge to the provision.

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the income tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. To the extent accrued interest and penalties do not become payable, amounts accrued will be reduced and reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision in the period that such determination is made.

Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Other Investments

We consider all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at fair value, which approximates their cost.

Restricted cash is comprised of bank guarantees and similar 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.

We also hold investments in private technology venture limited partnerships. These investments individually represent voting ownership interests of less than 20%. Ownership interests in these limited partnerships are accounted for under the equity method unless our interest is so minor (typically less than 5%) that we have virtually no influence over the partnership operating and financial policies, in which case the cost method is used. Currently, our investments in these limited partnerships are accounted for using the equity method.

Investments in other privately held companies are accounted for under the cost method unless we hold a significant stake. We review non-marketable equity investments on a regular basis to determine if there has been any impairment of value which is other than temporary by reviewing their financial information, gaining knowledge of any new financing or other business agreements and assessing their operating viability.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition and, for the majority of our customers, require no collateral. For customers that do not meet our credit standards, we often 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. We analyze such factors as our historical bad debt experience, industry and geographic concentrations of credit risk, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and expected collectibility of outstanding accounts receivable. We record bad debt expense in general and administrative expenses.

Manufacturing Inventories

Our manufacturing inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost computed on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. 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 our estimates.

Service Parts Inventories

Our service parts inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. We carry service parts because we generally provide product warranty for 1 to 3 years and earn revenue by providing enhanced and extended warranty and repair service 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. Defective parts returned from customers that can be repaired are repaired and put back into service parts inventories at their fair value. We record adjustments to reduce the carrying value of service parts inventory to its net realizable value, and we dispose of parts with 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 our estimates.

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:

Amortizable Intangible and Other Long-lived Assets

We review amortizable intangible and other long-lived assets (“long-lived assets”) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The company operates as a single reporting unit for business and operating purposes, and our impairment evaluation also treats the company as a single reporting unit. Impairment indicators we consider include adverse changes in the business climate that could affect the value of our long-lived assets, changes in our stock price and resulting market capitalization relative to book value, downward revisions in our revenue outlook, decreases or slower than expected growth in sales of products and relative weakness in customer channels. If we indentify impairment indicators, we evaluate recoverability using an undiscounted cash flow approach. Estimates of future cash flows incorporate company forecasts and our expectations of future use of our long-lived assets, and these factors are impacted by market conditions. If impairment is indicated, an impairment charge is recorded to write the long-lived assets down to their estimated fair value.

Goodwill

We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, or more frequently when indicators of impairment are present. During fiscal 2012, we early adopted the accounting guidance that allows entities to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether a quantitative calculation is necessary. As a result, we may perform a qualitative test, a quantitative test, or both for the annual impairment assessment. Some of the impairment indicators we consider include changes in our stock price and resulting market capitalization relative to book value, changes in the business climate, business strategy or product mix, changes to the long-term economic outlook and testing long-lived assets for recoverability. We operate as a single reporting unit and consider the company as a whole when reviewing these factors. If impairment is indicated, a goodwill impairment charge is recorded to write the goodwill down to its implied fair value.

Accrued Warranty

We generally warrant our hardware products against defects for periods ranging from 1 to 3 years from the date of sale. Our tape automation systems and disk systems may carry service agreements with customers that choose to extend or upgrade the warranty service. We provide repair services from our facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado as well as multiple third party providers inside and outside of the U.S. We use a combination of internal resources and third party service providers to supply field service and support. We continue to evaluate repair sites, and any resulting actions taken may affect the future costs of repair. If the actual costs were to differ significantly from our estimates, we would record the impact of these unforeseen costs or cost reductions in subsequent periods.

We estimate future failure rates based upon historical product failure trends as well as anticipated future failure rates if believed to be significantly different from historical trends. Similarly, we estimate future costs of repair based upon historical trends and anticipated future costs if they are expected to significantly differ, for example due to negotiated agreements with third parties. We use a consistent model and exercise considerable judgment in determining the underlying estimates. Our model requires an element of subjectivity for all of our products. For example, historical rates of return are not completely indicative of future return rates and we must therefore exercise judgment with respect to future deviations from our historical return rate. When actual failure rates differ significantly from our estimates, we record the impact in subsequent periods and update our assumptions and forecasting models accordingly. As our newer products mature, we are able to improve our estimates with respect to these products. It is reasonably likely that assumptions will be updated for failure rates and, therefore, our accrued warranty estimate could change in the future.

Business Combinations

We allocate the purchase price paid to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Any excess purchase price above the identified net tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities is allocated to goodwill. We consider fair value to be 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. We estimate fair value using the fair value hierarchy for the tangible and intangible assets acquired as well as liabilities and contingencies assumed from the acquired company.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We recognize all derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations when the hedged item affects earnings. Derivatives not designated or qualifying as a hedging instrument are adjusted to fair value through earnings. We may, from time to time, enter into derivative instruments to hedge against known or forecasted market exposures.

Common Stock Repurchases

During fiscal 2000, the Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $700 million of our common stock in open market or private transactions. As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, there was $87.9 million remaining on our authorization to repurchase Quantum common stock. Our ability to repurchase our common stock is restricted unless we meet certain thresholds under the terms of the Wells Fargo credit agreement (“WF credit agreement”).

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We use exit prices, that is the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability, to measure assets and liabilities that are within the scope of the fair value measurements guidance. We classify these assets and liabilities based on the following fair value hierarchy:

We have certain non-financial assets that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis when there is an indicator of impairment, and they are recorded at fair value only when an impairment is recognized. These assets include property and equipment, amortizable intangible assets, in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) and goodwill. We did not record impairments to any non-financial assets in fiscal 2012 or fiscal 2011. We do not have any non-financial liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

We have financial liabilities for which we are obligated to repay the carrying value, unless the holder agrees to a lesser amount. The carrying value and fair value of these financial liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

Risks and Uncertainties

As is typical in the information storage industry, a significant portion of our customer base is concentrated among a small number of OEMs, distributors and large VARs. The loss of any one of our more significant customers, or a significant decrease in the sales volume with one of these significant customers, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, if there is a downturn in general economic conditions, the resulting effect on IT spending could also have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We also face risks and uncertainties since our competitors in one area may be customers or suppliers in another.

A limited number of products comprise a significant majority of our sales, and due to increasingly rapid technological change in the industry, our future operating results depend on our ability to develop and successfully introduce new products.

Concentration of Credit Risk

We currently invest our excess cash in deposits with major banks and in money market funds. In the past, we have also held investments in short-term debt securities of companies with strong credit ratings from a variety of industries, and we may make investments in these securities in the future. We have not experienced any material losses on these investments and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer and to any one type of investment.

We sell products to customers in a wide variety of industries on a worldwide basis. In countries or industries where we are exposed to material credit risk, we may require collateral, including cash deposits and letters of credit prior to the completion of a transaction. We do not believe we have significant credit risk beyond that provided for in the financial statements in the ordinary course of business.

Sales to our top five customers represented 34% of revenue in fiscal 2012 compared to 33% of revenue in fiscal 2011 and 37% of revenue in fiscal 2010. We had no customers that comprised 10% or greater of revenue in fiscal 2012. Sales to our largest customer, Dell Inc. (“Dell”), were 10% of revenue in fiscal 2011 compared to 13% of revenue in fiscal 2010.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we adopted the goodwill impairment guidance for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. Adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we adopted the guidance for disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. Adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations, other than the additional disclosures included in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we early adopted the guidance regarding the presentation of other comprehensive income. We elected to present other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements of net income and its components followed immediately by a statement of other comprehensive income (loss). Adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations, other than the additional statement in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we early adopted the guidance that allows entities to perform a qualitative assessment for step one goodwill impairment testing. Adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”), which amends the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures. ASU 2011-04 provides clarifications about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. In addition, ASU 2011-04 changes how to measure fair value of financial instruments managed within a portfolio and how to apply premiums and discounts. There are also additional disclosures required. ASU 2011-04 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. We will apply this standard beginning in fiscal 2013 and do not anticipate adoption will impact our statements of financial position or results of operations.