10-Q 1 d10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

x    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended April 2, 2004

 

¨    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 001-31560

 


 

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   98-0355609

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

P.O. Box 309GT

Ugland House, South Church Street

George Town, Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Telephone: (345) 949-8066

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

 

None

 

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

 

Common shares, par value $0.00001 per share

 


 

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  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 

As of April 22, 2004, 458,023,089 shares of the registrant’s common shares, par value $0.00001 per share, were issued and outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

INDEX

 

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

 

PART I

  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION


   PAGE NO.

Item 1.   

Financial Statements

    
    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets—
April 2, 2004 (unaudited) and June 27, 2003

   3
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—
Three and Nine Months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 (unaudited)

   4
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—
Nine Months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 (unaudited)

   5
    

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity— Nine Months ended April 2, 2004 (unaudited)

   6
    

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   7
Item 2.   

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

   28
Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   67
Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

   68
PART II

  

OTHER INFORMATION


    
Item 1.   

Legal Proceedings

   69
Item 2.   

Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

   71
Item 6.   

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   72
    

SIGNATURES

   78

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM  1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     April 2,
2004


    June 27,
2003 (a)


 

ASSETS (See Note 3)

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 736     $ 749  

Short-term investments

     627       445  

Accounts receivable, net

     649       611  

Inventories

     482       319  

Other current assets

     181       158  
    


 


Total Current Assets

     2,675       2,282  

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     1,169       1,111  

Other assets, net

     159       124  
    


 


Total Assets (See Note 3)

   $ 4,003     $ 3,517  
    


 


LIABILITIES

                

Accounts payable

   $ 725     $ 640  

Affiliate accounts payable

     —         11  

Accrued employee compensation

     147       217  

Accrued expenses

     328       312  

Accrued income taxes

     62       179  

Current portion of long-term debt

     4       4  
    


 


Total Current Liabilities

     1,266       1,363  

Other liabilities

     88       93  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     741       745  
    


 


Total Liabilities

     2,095       2,201  

Commitments and contingencies

                

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Common shares and paid-in capital

     667       640  

Deferred stock compensation

     (7 )     (9 )

Retained earnings

     1,248       685  
    


 


Total Shareholders’ Equity

     1,908       1,316  
    


 


Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 4,003     $ 3,517  
    


 



(a) The information in this column was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of June 27, 2003.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended


   

Nine Months

Ended


 
     April 2,
2004


    March 28,
2003


    April 2,
2004


    March 28,
2003


 

Revenue

   $ 1,388     $ 1,620     $ 4,888     $ 4,933  

Cost of revenue

     1,087       1,186       3,658       3,634  

Product development

     169       167       505       496  

Marketing and administrative

     73       85       224       276  

Restructuring

     6       —         20       7  
    


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     1,335       1,438       4,407       4,413  
    


 


 


 


Income from operations

     53       182       481       520  

Interest income

     4       4       13       12  

Interest expense

     (11 )     (11 )     (35 )     (36 )

Other, net

     —         5       (1 )     (1 )
    


 


 


 


Other income (expense), net

     (7 )     (2 )     (23 )     (25 )
    


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     46       180       458       495  

Provision for (benefit from)

income taxes

     (113 )     6       (105 )     14  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 159     $ 174     $ 563     $ 481  
    


 


 


 


Net income per share:

                                

Basic

   $ 0.35     $ 0.41     $ 1.25     $ 1.17  

Diluted

     0.32       0.37       1.13       1.04  

Number of shares used in per share calculations:

                                

Basic

     455       429       450       413  

Diluted

     498       476       499       465  

Dividends per share (1)

   $ 0.06     $ 0.03     $ 0.14     $ 0.68  

 

(1) During the nine months ended March 28, 2003 and immediately prior to the closing of its initial public offering in December 2002, the Company paid a return of capital distribution of $262 million, or $0.65 per share, to the holders of its then-outstanding shares, including New SAC.

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

 

4


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended

 
    

April 2,

2004


    March 28,
2003


 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                

Net income

   $ 563     $ 481  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     321       327  

VERITAS tax indemnification

     (125 )     —    

Other non-cash operating activities, net

     4       8  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable

     (38 )     (54 )

Inventories

     (163 )     23  

Accounts payable

     74       (38 )

Accrued expenses, employee compensation and warranty

     (21 )     16  

Accrued income taxes

     8       9  

Other assets and liabilities, net

     (62 )     (30 )

Accrued deferred compensation

     —         (147 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     561       595  
    


 


INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                

Acquisition of property, equipment and leasehold improvements

     (375 )     (357 )

Purchases of short-term investments

     (3,119 )     (2,405 )

Maturities and sales of short-term investments

     2,935       2,239  

Sale of XIOtech, net of repayment of short-term investments

     —         8  

Sale of Reynosa facility

     —         28  

Other investing activities, net

     (37 )     (45 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (596 )     (532 )
    


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                

Repayment of long-term debt

     (4 )     (2 )

Issuance of common shares

     89       281  

Distributions to shareholders

     (63 )     (275 )
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     22       4  
    


 


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (13 )     67  

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     749       612  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 736     $ 679  
    


 


Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

                

Cash paid for interest

   $ 25     $ 31  

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds

     9       21  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Nine Months Ended April 2, 2004

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Number

of

Common

Shares


  

Par

Value

of

Shares


   Additional
Paid-in
Capital


    Deferred
Stock
Compensation


   

Retained
Earnings and
Accumulated

Comprehensive

Income


   Total

 

Balance at June 27, 2003

   439    $ —      $ 640     $ (9 )   $ 685    $ 1,316  

Net income and comprehensive income

                                 563      563  

Issuance of common shares related to exercise of employee stock options

   13             37                      37  

Distributions to shareholders

                 (63 )                    (63 )

Issuance of common shares related to employee stock purchase plan

   5             52                      52  

Compensation expense related to New SAC’s sale of Crystal Decisions, Inc.

                 1                      1  

Amortization of deferred stock compensation

                         2              2  
    
  

  


 


 

  


Balance at April 2, 2004

   457    $ —      $ 667     $ (7 )   $ 1,248    $ 1,908  
    
  

  


 


 

  


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

6


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.    Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Nature of Operations—In August 2000, Seagate Technology, which was then known as Seagate Technology Holdings and is referred to herein as “the Company,” was formed to be a holding company for the rigid disc drive operating business and the storage area networks operating business of Seagate Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is referred to herein as “Seagate Delaware.” On December 13, 2002, the Company changed its corporate name from “Seagate Technology Holdings” to “Seagate Technology.”

 

Basis of Presentation—The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company and have not been audited. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all material adjustments necessary to summarize fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 27, 2003 are included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2003. The Company believes that the disclosures included in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, when read in conjunction with its consolidated financial statements as of June 27, 2003 and the notes thereto, are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

 

The results of operations for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending July 2, 2004.

 

The Company operates and reports its financial results on a fiscal year of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Friday closest to June 30. The quarters ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 both comprised 13 weeks. The nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 comprised 40 weeks and 39 weeks, respectively. Fiscal year 2004 will be comprised of 53 weeks and will end on July 2, 2004.

 

 

7


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

1.    Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Earnings Per Share

 

In accordance with SFAS 128, “Earnings per Share,” the following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 (in millions, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended

   Nine Months Ended

    

April 2,

2004


  

March 28,

2003


  

April 2,

2004


  

March 28,

2003


Numerator:

                           

Net Income

   $ 159    $ 174    $ 563    $ 481
    

  

  

  

Denominator:

                           

Denominator for basic net income per share—weighted average number of common and preferred shares outstanding during the period

     455      429      450      413

Incremental common shares attributable to exercise of outstanding options

     43      47      49      52
    

  

  

  

Denominator for diluted net income per share—weighted average shares

     498      476      499      465

Earnings per share:

                           

Basic

   $ 0.35    $ 0.41    $ 1.25    $ 1.17
    

  

  

  

Diluted

   $ 0.32    $ 0.37    $ 1.13    $ 1.04
    

  

  

  

 

Pro Forma Effects of Stock-Based Compensation on Earnings Per Share

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure” (“SFAS 148”). SFAS 148 amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (“SFAS 123”) to provide alternative methods of transition to SFAS 123’s fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS 148 also amends the disclosure provisions of SFAS 123 and APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require disclosure in the summary of significant accounting policies of the effects of an entity’s accounting policy with respect to stock-based employee compensation on reported net income and earnings per share in annual and interim financial statements.

 

The Company continues to use the intrinsic value method under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for employee stock options because the alternative fair value accounting method provided under SFAS 123 requires the use of option valuation models, such as the Black-Scholes option-pricing model used by the Company, that were not developed for use in valuing employee stock options. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, the Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility.

 

8


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

1.    Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

The interim pro forma information under SFAS 123, as amended by SFAS 148, is as follows:

 

     Three
Months Ended


    Nine
Months Ended


 
    

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


   

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


 

Net income—as reported

   $ 159     $ 174     $ 563     $ 481  

Add-back: Stock-based employee compensation included in net income

     1       1       2       2  

Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation determined under fair value method

     (17 )     (12 )     (50 )     (25 )
    


 


 


 


Net income—pro forma

   $ 143     $ 163     $ 515     $ 458  

Earnings per share:

                                

Basic—as reported

   $ 0.35     $ 0.41     $ 1.25     $ 1.17  
    


 


 


 


Basic—pro forma

   $ 0.31     $ 0.38     $ 1.14     $ 1.11  
    


 


 


 


Diluted—as reported

   $ 0.32     $ 0.37     $ 1.13     $ 1.04  
    


 


 


 


Diluted—pro forma

   $ 0.29     $ 0.35     $ 1.04     $ 0.99  
    


 


 


 


 

No tax effects were included in the determination of pro forma net income because the deferred tax asset resulting from stock-based employee compensation would be offset by an additional valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. The effects on pro forma disclosures of applying SFAS 123 may not be representative of the effects on pro forma disclosures in future periods. See Note 5, Stock-Based Compensation, for a discussion of the Company’s assumptions used to estimate stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such difference, may be material to the financial statements.

 

9


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

2.    Consummation of Secondary Public Offering

 

Under the Seagate Technology shareholders agreement among New SAC, the Company’s financial sponsors and the Company, New SAC has demand registration rights to request from time to time that the Company register and sell shares of its common stock held by New SAC. New SAC exercised this right and, on July 30, 2003, the Company completed the secondary public offering of 69,000,000 of its common shares, of which 9,000,000 were subject to the over-allotment option, all of which were sold by New SAC, as selling shareholder, at a price of $18.75 per share. New SAC received proceeds of approximately $1.3 billion, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $39 million. The Company incurred direct expenses aggregating approximately $1 million related to the offering. New SAC distributed its net proceeds to holders of its ordinary shares including approximately $245 million distributed to the Company’s officers and employees who hold ordinary shares of New SAC.

 

3.    Balance Sheet Information

 

    

April 2,

2004


   

June 27,

2003


 
     (in millions)  

Accounts Receivable:

                

Accounts receivable

   $ 679     $ 643  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (30 )     (32 )
    


 


     $ 649     $ 611  
    


 


Inventories:

                

Components

   $ 135     $ 71  

Work-in-process

     35       38  

Finished goods

     312       210  
    


 


     $ 482     $ 319  
    


 


Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements:

                

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements

   $ 2,315     $ 1,966  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (1,146 )     (855 )
    


 


     $ 1,169     $ 1,111  
    


 


Accrued Warranty:

                

Short-term accrued warranty included in accrued expenses on the balance sheet

   $ 90     $ 85  

Long-term accrued warranty included in other liabilities on the balance sheet

     39       49  
    


 


     $ 129     $ 134  
    


 


 

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

 

The Company’s senior secured credit facilities, comprised of a five-year $350 million term loan facility and a $150 million revolving credit facility, are secured by a first priority pledge of substantially all the tangible and intangible assets of Seagate Technology HDD Holdings and many of its subsidiaries. In addition, the Company and many of its direct and indirect subsidiaries have guaranteed the obligations under the senior secured credit facilities.

 

10


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

4.    Income Taxes

 

The Company is a foreign holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with foreign and U.S. subsidiaries that operate in multiple taxing jurisdictions. As a result, its worldwide operating income either is subject to varying rates of tax or is exempt from tax due to tax holidays or tax incentive programs in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. These tax holidays or incentives are scheduled to expire in whole or in part at various dates through 2015. The Company’s benefit from income taxes recorded for the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 differs from the provision for income taxes that would be derived by applying a notional U.S. 35% rate to income before income taxes primarily due to the net effect of (i) the tax benefit related to the aforementioned tax holiday and tax incentive programs, (ii) additional valuation allowance recorded for U.S. deferred tax assets, (iii) the reversal of the $125 million tax indemnification amount for VERITAS Software Corporation (“VERITAS”) (further described below) and (iv) U.S. tax benefits related to U.S. restructuring costs recorded in the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004. The Company’s provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended March 28, 2003 differed from the provision for income taxes that would be derived by applying a notional U.S. 35% rate to income before income taxes primarily due to (i) the tax benefit related to the aforementioned tax holiday and tax incentive programs and (ii) the realization of deferred tax assets that had previously been subject to a valuation allowance. Based on its foreign ownership structure and subject to potential future increases in its valuation allowance for U.S. deferred tax assets, the Company anticipates that its effective tax rate in future periods will generally be less than a notional U.S. 35% rate. Dividend distributions received from the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries may be subject to U.S. withholding taxes when, and if distributed. Deferred tax liabilities have not been recorded on unremitted earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, as these earnings will not be subject to tax in the Cayman Islands or U.S. income taxes if remitted to the Company’s foreign parent holding company.

 

During the three months ended April 2, 2004, the Company reduced the carrying value of its net deferred tax assets by $7 million to $70 million to reflect changes in its estimate of future taxable income. The realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent on its ability to generate sufficient U.S. and certain foreign taxable income in fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Although realization is not assured, the Company’s management believes that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will be realized. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, may increase or decrease in subsequent quarters, when the Company reevaluates the underlying basis for its estimates of future U.S. taxable income.

 

On July 31, 2001, Seagate Delaware and the Internal Revenue Service filed a settlement stipulation with the United States Tax Court in complete settlement of the remaining disputed tax matter reflected in the statutory notice of deficiency dated June 12, 1998. The settlement stipulation was expressly contingent upon Seagate Delaware and the Internal Revenue Service entering into a closing agreement in connection with certain tax matters arising in all or some part of the open tax years of Seagate Delaware and New SAC. The Internal Revenue Service completed its review of Seagate Delaware’s federal tax returns for the periods prior to the acquisition date of the operating assets and submitted its conclusions to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation for review. On March 15, 2004, VERITAS received written notification from the Internal Revenue Service that the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation had completed its review and had taken no exception to the Internal Revenue Service’s conclusions.

 

As a result of the conclusion of the tax audits with no additional tax due, and based on the March 15, 2004 notification to VERITAS from the Internal Revenue Service, the Company recorded a $125 million income tax benefit in its quarter ended April 2, 2004 from the reversal of accrued income taxes relating to tax indemnification amounts due to VERITAS pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement between Seagate Delaware, New SAC and VERITAS. The $125 million tax indemnification amount had been recorded by the Company in connection with the purchase of the operating assets of Seagate Delaware and represented U.S. tax liabilities previously accrued by Seagate Delaware for periods prior to the acquisition date of the operating assets.

 

On April 6, 2004, Seagate Delaware and the Internal Revenue Service filed a revised settlement stipulation with the Tax Court in connection with the statutory notice of deficiency which reflected the parties’ agreement to fully resolve the remaining tax matters included in the statutory notice of deficiency.

 

11


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

4.    Income Taxes (continued)

 

Certain of Seagate Delaware’s foreign and state tax returns remain under examination by various taxing authorities. The Internal Revenue Service is currently examining the Company’s federal income tax returns for fiscal years ending in 2001 and 2002. The timing of the settlement of these examinations is uncertain. We believe that adequate amounts of tax have been provided for any final assessment that may result.

 

5.    Stock-Based Compensation

 

Seagate Technology Share Option Plan—In December 2000, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Seagate Technology Share Option Plan. From July 1, 2001 through April 2, 2004, options to purchase 90,960,845 common shares were granted to employees under this share option plan, net of cancellations. Of these 90,960,845 common shares granted, 13,061,059 shares were exercised during the nine months ended April 2, 2004 at a weighted average exercise price of $2.67.

 

Deferred Stock Compensation—In connection with certain stock options granted in fiscal year 2003, the Company recorded deferred stock compensation aggregating $10.7 million, representing the difference between the exercise price of the options and the deemed fair value of the Company’s common shares on the dates the options were granted. This deferred stock compensation is being amortized over the vesting periods of the underlying stock options of 48 months. Through April 2, 2004, the Company has amortized approximately $4 million of such compensation expense.

 

Stock Purchase Plan—The Company established an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) in December 2002. A total of 20,000,000 shares of common stock have been authorized for issuance under the ESPP, plus an automatic annual increase on the first day of the Company’s fiscal year beginning in 2003 equal to the lesser of 2,500,000 shares or 0.5% of the outstanding shares on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, or such lesser number of shares as is determined by the Company’s board of directors. In no event shall the total number of shares issued under the ESPP exceed 75,000,000 shares. The ESPP permits eligible employees who have completed thirty days of employment prior to the commencement of any offering period to purchase common stock through payroll deductions generally at 85% of the fair market value of the common stock. The ESPP has two six-month purchase periods and contains a “rollover” feature if the market price of the stock at the end of any six-month purchase period is lower than the stock price at the beginning of the offering period. In that case, the plan is immediately canceled after that purchase date, and a new one-year plan is established using the then-current stock price as the base purchase price.

 

12


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

5.    Stock Compensation (continued)

 

On July 31, 2003, the purchase date for the ESPP’s first purchase period, a total of 2,496,495 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued. The weighted average exercise price for these shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding rights pursuant to the ESPP was $10.20 per share. On January 30, 2004, the purchase date for the ESPP’s second purchase period, a total of 2,483,371 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued. The weighted average exercise price for these shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding rights pursuant to the ESPP was $13.85 per share.

 

Assumptions Used in Determining Pro Forma Information—See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for pro forma information on net income and earnings per share required under SFAS 123, as amended by SFAS 148.

 

Up to the Company’s initial public offering of its common stock on December 11, 2002, the fair value of the Company’s stock options was estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation method with minimum volatility. For all employee stock options issued subsequent to December 11, 2002, the Company estimated the fair value of stock options issued to employees using the Black-Scholes valuation method with a volatility factor based on the stock volatilities of its largest publicly traded competitors.

 

The fair value of the Company’s stock options granted to employees for the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 was estimated assuming no expected dividends for periods prior to December 27, 2002, and the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended

   Nine Months Ended

    

  April 2,  

2004


  

  March 28,  

2003


  

  April 2,  

2004


  

  March 28,  

2003


Option Plan Shares

                   

Expected life (in years)

   3.0    3.0    3.0    3.0

Risk-free interest rate

   1.8%    2.3%    1.8 – 2.4%    2.1 – 3.0%

Volatility

   0.75    0.83    0.75 – 0.83    0.0001 – 0.83

Expected dividend

   0.8 – 1.5%    1.2%    0.5 – 1.5%    1.2%

Fair value

   $8.54    $4.68    $12.04    $3.92

ESPP Shares

                   

Expected life (in years)

   0.5 – 1.0    0.5 – 1.0    0.5 – 1.0    0.5 – 1.0

Risk-free interest rate

   1.1 – 1.3%    1.2 – 1.3%    1.1 – 1.3%    1.2 – 1.3%

Volatility

   0.46 – 0.74    0.74 – 0.91    0.46 – 0.99    0.74 – 0.91

Expected dividend

   1.5%    1.2%    1.5%    1.2%

Fair value

   $3.41    $3.31    $3.41    $3.31

 

13


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

6.    Post-Retirement Medical Plan

 

 

The Company’s post-retirement medical plan offers medical coverage to eligible U.S. retirees and their eligible dependents. Substantially all U.S. employees become eligible for these benefits after 15 years of service and attaining age 60 and older.

 

The following table provides the disclosure of the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003:

 

     Three Months Ended

   Nine Months Ended

    

April 2,

2004


  

March 28,

2003


  

April 2,

2004


  

March 28,

2003


     (in millions)

Service cost

   $       1    $       1    $ 1    $ 1

Interest cost

     —        —        1      1

Expected return on plan assets

     —        —        —        —  

Amortization of prior service costs

     —        —        —        —  

Amortization of net (gain) loss

     —        —        —        —  
    

  

  

  

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1    $ 1    $ 2    $ 2

Employer Contributions

   $ —      $ —      $ 1    $ 1

 

The Company anticipates an additional contribution of $0.262 million to the post-retirement medical plan for the remainder of fiscal year 2004.

 

7.    Restructuring Costs

 

In the quarter ended April 2, 2004, the Company recorded restructuring costs of $6 million in connection with its on-going restructuring activities, which began in its first fiscal quarter. During the nine months ended April 2, 2004, the Company recorded restructuring costs of $20 million. These costs were a result of a restructuring plan established to continue the alignment of the Company’s global workforce with existing and anticipated future market requirements, primarily in its U.S. design centers and Far East operations. The restructuring costs were comprised of employee termination costs relating to a reduction in the Company’s workforce of approximately 649 employees, 380 of whom had been terminated as of April 2, 2004.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s restructuring activities for the nine months ended April 2, 2004:

 

    

Severance

and

Benefits


 
     (in millions)  

Accrual balances, June 27, 2003

   $ 5  

First quarter restructuring costs

     11  

Second quarter restructuring costs

     4  

Third quarter restructuring costs

     6  

Cash charges

     (20 )
    


Accrual balances, April 2, 2004

   $ 6  
    


 

14


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

8.    Business Segments

 

Prior to the Company’s sale of XIOtech Corporation to New SAC on November 4, 2002, the Company had two operating segments: rigid disc drives and storage area networks, however, only the rigid disc drive business was a reportable segment. The operating results for XIOtech are included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations through the date that XIOtech was sold to New SAC and are included in the “other” category below. The Company has identified its Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, as the Chief Operating Decision Maker. Gross profit from operations is defined as revenue less cost of revenue. The following tables summarize the Company’s operations:

 

     Three Months Ended

         Nine Months Ended

 
    

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


        

April 2,

2004


  

March 28,

2003


 
     (in millions)  

Revenue and Gross Profit

                                    

Revenue:

                                    

Rigid Disc Drives

   $ 1,388     $ 1,620          $ 4,888    $ 4,911  

Other

     —         —              —        24  

Eliminations

     —         —              —        (2 )
    


 


      

  


Consolidated

   $ 1,388     $ 1,620          $ 4,888    $ 4,933  
    


 


      

  


Gross Profit:

                                    

Rigid Disc Drives

   $ 301     $ 434          $ 1,230    $ 1,287  

Other

     —         —              —        12  
    


 


      

  


Consolidated

   $ 301     $ 434          $ 1,230    $ 1,299  
    


 


      

  


Total Assets

                                    

Rigid Disc Drives

   $ 4,006     $ 3,386                      

Other

     —         —                        
    


 


                   

Operating Segments

     4,006       3,386                      

Eliminations

     (3 )     (4 )                    
    


 


                   

Consolidated

   $ 4,003     $ 3,382                      
    


 


                   

 

Through November 4, 2002, the date of the sale of XIOtech to New SAC, XIOtech had a net loss of $9 million, which is included in the Company’s consolidated results for the nine months ended March 28, 2003.

 

9.    Comprehensive Income

 

For the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003, comprehensive income included net income and an immaterial amount of unrealized gains on marketable securities. The Company records unrealized gains and losses on the mark-to-market of its investments and its foreign currency as components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at April 2, 2004 and June 27, 2003 was insignificant.

 

15


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

10.    Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51.” FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 is effective for all new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the provisions of FIN 46 must be applied for the first interim or annual period ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 has not and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (“SFAS 149”) which amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 except for the provisions that were cleared by the FASB in prior pronouncements. The adoption of SFAS 149 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” (“SFAS 150”). This statement established standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. In accordance with the standard, financial instruments that embody obligations for the issuer are required to be classified as liabilities. This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and was effective for the Company’s fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 150 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” (“SFAS 132”). This statement establishes standards that require companies to provide more details about their plan assets, benefit obligations, cash flows, benefit costs and other relevant information. In addition to expanded annual disclosures, companies are required to report the various elements of pension and other postretirement benefit costs on a quarterly basis. This statement is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003, and was effective for the Company’s fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2004. The adoption of SFAS 132, as revised in 2003, did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

11.    Litigation

 

See Part II, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings.”

 

16


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

12.    Guarantees

 

Intellectual Property Indemnification Obligations

 

The Company has entered into agreements with customers and suppliers that include limited intellectual property indemnification obligations that are customary in the industry. These guarantees generally require the Company to compensate the other party for certain damages and costs incurred as a result of third party intellectual property claims arising from these transactions. The nature of the intellectual property indemnification obligations prevents the Company from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay to its customers and suppliers. Historically, the Company has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification obligations.

 

Product Warranty

 

The Company estimates probable product warranty costs at the time revenue is recognized. The Company generally warrants its products for a period of one to five years. The Company uses estimated repair or replacement costs and uses statistical modeling to estimate product return rates in order to determine its warranty obligation. Changes in the Company’s product warranty liability during the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended

    Nine Months Ended

 
    

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


   

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


 
     (in millions)  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 140     $ 149     $ 134     $ 160  

Warranties issued

     15       19       57       60  

Repairs and replacements

     (33 )     (33 )     (111 )     (93 )

Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties, including expirations

     7       2       49       10  
    


 


 


 


Balance, end of period

   $ 129     $ 137     $ 129     $ 137  
    


 


 


 


 

The Company offers extended warranties on certain of it products. Revenue and deferred revenue related to extended warranties has not been material to date.

 

17


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

13. Related Party Transactions

 

Affiliate Transactions

 

Historically, the Company’s predecessor provided substantial services to some of its other affiliated companies. Subsequent to the closing of the November 2000 transactions, these services continue to be provided by the Company. The services provided generally include tax, benefits administration, information technology and legal. The Company charges for these services through corporate expense allocations. The amount of corporate expense allocations depends upon the total amount of allocable costs incurred by the Company on behalf of the affiliated company less amounts charged as specified cost or expense rather than by allocation. Such costs have been proportionately allocated to the affiliated companies based on detailed inquiries and estimates of time incurred by the Company’s general administrative departmental managers. Management believes that the allocations charged to other affiliated companies are reasonable. Allocations charged to other affiliated companies’ administrative expenses for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 were approximately $2 million. Purchases and sales to other affiliated companies were not material for any of the periods presented.

 

Employee Receivables

 

At April 2, 2004, amounts receivable from three officers totaled $1.7 million while amounts receivable from an additional 17 officers and/or employees totaled $1.5 million. Individual loans were made to these employees to assist them with relocation costs and/or beginning employment at the Company. The loans totaling $1.7 million were made during fiscal year 2001 and bear interest at 8% per year and are due in lump sum payments, including unpaid interest, in fiscal year 2006. Under the terms of these loans, $0.7 million of the $1.7 million, as well as accrued and unpaid interest, will be forgiven if these officers remain employed for a specified period of time. In the periods in which these officers fulfill their employment obligations, the amount of principal and interest, which are forgiven ratably over the required employment term, will be charged to compensation expense. The loans totaling $1.5 million generally are non-interest bearing and are due in lump sum payments at the end of a five-year period.

 

Distributions to New SAC

 

During the nine months ended April 2, 2004, the Company paid cash distributions aggregating approximately $63 million, or $0.14 per share, to its shareholders. Of the $63 million paid, New SAC received approximately $40 million. New SAC in turn distributed the $40 million it received to its ordinary shareholders, including approximately $8 million paid to officers and employees of the Company who held ordinary shares of New SAC.

 

18


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information

 

On May 13, 2002, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, or HDD, issued $400 million in aggregrate principal amount of 8% senior notes due 2009. HDD is the Company’s wholly-owned direct subsidiary, and the Company has guaranteed HDD’s obligations under the 8% senior notes, on a full and unconditional basis. The following tables present parent guarantor, subsidiary issuer and combined non-guarantors condensed consolidating balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries at April 2, 2004 and June 27, 2003, the condensed consolidating results of operations for the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003, and the condensed consolidating cash flows for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 and March 28, 2003. The information classifies the Company’s subsidiaries into Seagate Technology-parent company guarantor, HDD-subsidiary issuer, and the combined non-guarantors based upon the classification of those subsidiaries under the terms of the 8% senior notes. The Company is restricted in its ability to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan under both the indenture governing the 8% senior notes and the credit agreement governing the senior secured credit facilities. Under each of these instruments, dividends paid by HDD or its restricted subsidiaries would constitute restricted payments and loans between the Company and HDD or its restricted subsidiaries would constitute affiliate transactions.

 

19


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Balance Sheet

April 2, 2004

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


   HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


   Combined
Non-
Guarantors


   Eliminations

   

Seagate
Technology

Consolidated


Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 35    $ —      $ 701    $ —       $ 736

Short-term investments

     —        —        627      —         627

Accounts receivable, net

     —        —        649      —         649

Inventories

     —        —        482      —         482

Intercompany loan receivable

     —        323      —        (323 )     —  

Other current assets

     —        —        181      —         181
    

  

  

  


 

Total Current Assets

     35      323      2,640      (323 )     2,675
    

  

  

  


 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     —        —        1,169      —         1,169

Equity investment in HDD

     1,875      —        —        (1,875 )     —  

Equity investments in Non-Guarantors

     —        2,202      —        (2,202 )     —  

Other assets

     —        10      149      —         159
    

  

  

  


 

Total Assets

   $ 1,910    $ 2,535    $ 3,958    $ (4,400 )   $ 4,003
    

  

  

  


 

Accounts payable

   $ —      $ —      $ 725    $ —       $ 725

Accrued employee compensation

     —        —        147      —         147

Accrued expenses

     1      14      313      —         328

Accrued income taxes

     —        —        62      —         62

Intercompany loan payable

     —        —        323      (323 )     —  

Current portion of long-term debt

     —        2      2      —         4
    

  

  

  


 

Total Current Liabilities

     1      16      1,572      (323 )     1,266
    

  

  

  


 

Other liabilities

     1      —        87      —         88

Long-term debt, less current portion

     —        644      97      —         741
    

  

  

  


 

Total Liabilities

     2      660      1,756      (323 )     2,095
    

  

  

  


 

Shareholders’ Equity

     1,908      1,875      2,202      (4,077 )     1,908
    

  

  

  


 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 1,910    $ 2,535    $ 3,958    $ (4,400 )   $ 4,003
    

  

  

  


 

 

20


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Balance Sheet

June 27, 2003

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


   HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


   Combined
Non-
Guarantors


   Eliminations

   

Seagate
Technology

Consolidated


Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 45    $ —      $ 704    $ —       $ 749

Short-term investments

     —        —        445      —         445

Accounts receivable, net

     —        —        611      —         611

Intercompany receivable

     —        —        14      (14 )     —  

Inventories

     —        —        319      —         319

Intercompany loan receivable

     —        310      —        (310 )     —  

Other current assets

     —        —        158      —         158
    

  

  

  


 

Total Current Assets

     45      310      2,251      (324 )     2,282
    

  

  

  


 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

     —        —        1,111      —         1,111

Equity investment in HDD

     1,288      —        —        (1,288 )     —  

Equity investments in Non-Guarantors

     —        1,619      —        (1,619 )     —  

Other assets

     —        12      112      —         124
    

  

  

  


 

Total Assets

   $ 1,333    $ 1,941    $ 3,474    $ (3,231 )   $ 3,517
    

  

  

  


 

Accounts payable

   $ —      $ —      $ 640    $ —       $ 640

Affiliate accounts payable

     —        —        11      —         11

Intercompany payable

     1      —        13      (14 )     —  

Accrued employee compensation

     —        —        217      —         217

Accrued expenses

     8      5      299      —         312

Accrued income taxes

     —        —        179      —         179

Intercompany loan payable

     —        —        310      (310 )     —  

Current portion of long-term debt

     —        2      2      —         4
    

  

  

  


 

Total Current Liabilities

     9      7      1,671      (324 )     1,363
    

  

  

  


 

Other liabilities

     8      —        85      —         93

Long-term debt, less current portion

     —        646      99      —         745
    

  

  

  


 

Total Liabilities

     17      653      1,855      (324 )     2,201
    

  

  

  


 

Shareholders’ Equity

     1,316      1,288      1,619      (2,907 )     1,316
    

  

  

  


 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 1,333    $ 1,941    $ 3,474    $ (3,231 )   $ 3,517
    

  

  

  


 

 

21


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Statement of Operations

Three Months Ended April 2, 2004

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


   HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


   

Combined

Non-

Guarantors


    Eliminations

   

Seagate
Technology

Consolidated


 

Revenue

   $ —      $ —       $ 1,388     $ —       $ 1,388  

Cost of revenue

     —        —         1,087       —         1,087  

Product development

     —        —         169       —         169  

Marketing and administrative

     —        —         73       —         73  

Restructuring costs

     —        —         6       —         6  
    

  


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     —        —         1,335       —         1,335  
    

  


 


 


 


Income from operations

     —        —         53       —         53  

Interest income

     —        6       4       (6 )     4  

Interest expense

     —        (10 )     (7 )     6       (11 )

Equity in income of HDD

     159      —         —         (159 )     —    

Equity in income of Non-Guarantors

     —        163       —         (163 )     —    

Other, net

     —        —         —         —         —    
    

  


 


 


 


Other income (expense), net

     159      159       (3 )     (322 )     (7 )
    

  


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     159      159       50       (322 )     46  

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     —        —         (113 )     —         (113 )
    

  


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 159    $ 159     $ 163     $ (322 )   $ 159  
    

  


 


 


 


 

22


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Statement of Operations

Nine Months Ended April 2, 2004

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


    HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


   

Combined

Non-

Guarantors


    Eliminations

   

Seagate
Technology

Consolidated


 

Revenue

   $ —       $ —       $ 4,888     $ —       $ 4,888  

Cost of revenue

     —         —         3,658       —         3,658  

Product development

     —         —         504       —         504  

Marketing and administrative

     1       —         223       —         224  

Restructuring costs

     —         —         20       —         20  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     1       —         4,405       —         4,406  
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from operations

     (1 )     —         483       —         482  

Interest income

     —         20       11       (18 )     13  

Interest expense

     —         (32 )     (21 )     18       (35 )

Equity in income of HDD

     564       —         —         (564 )     —    

Equity in income of Non-Guarantors

     —         576       —         (576 )     —    

Other, net

     —         —         (2 )     —         (2 )
    


 


 


 


 


Other income (expense), net

     564       564       (12 )     (1,140 )     (24 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     563       564       471       (1,140 )     458  

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     —         —         (105 )     —         (105 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 563     $ 564     $ 576     $ (1,140 )   $ 563  
    


 


 


 


 


 

23


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14.    Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended April 2, 2004

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


    HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


    Combined
Non-
Guarantors


    Eliminations

    Seagate
Technology
Consolidated


 

Net Income

   $ 563     $ 564     $ 576     $ (1,140 )   $ 563  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

                                        

Depreciation and amortization

     —         —         321       —         321  

VERITAS tax indemnification

     —         —         (125 )     —         (125 )

Equity in income of HDD

     (564 )     —         —         564       —    

Equity in income of Non-Guarantors

     —         (576 )     —         576       —    

Other non-cash operating activities, net

     —         —         4               4  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net

     (14 )     4       (192 )     —         (202 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (15 )     (8 )     584       —         561  

Investing Activities

                                        

Acquisition of property, equipment and leasehold Improvements

     —         —         (375 )     —         (375 )

Purchase of short-term investments

     —         —         (3,119 )     —         (3,119 )

Maturities and sales of short-term investments

     —         —         2,935       —         2,935  

Other investing activities, net

     —         2       (39 )     —         (37 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) used in investing activities

     —         2       (598 )     —         (596 )

Financing Activities

                                        

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (2 )     (2 )     —         (4 )

Issuance of common shares

     89       —         —         —         89  

Loan from HDD to Non-Guarantor

     —         (13 )     13       —         —    

Investment by Parent in HDD

     (21 )     21       —         —         —    

Distribution to shareholders

     (63 )     —         —         —         (63 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     5       6       11       —         22  
    


 


 


 


 


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (10 )     —         (3 )     —         (13 )

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     45       —         704       —         749  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 35     $ —       $ 701     $ —       $ 736  
    


 


 


 


 


 

24


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14.    Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Statement of Operations

Three Months Ended March 28, 2003

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


   HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


    Combined
Non-
Guarantors


    Eliminations

    Seagate
Technology
Consolidated


 

Revenue

   $ —      $ —       $ 1,620     $ —       $ 1,620  

Cost of revenue

     —        —         1,186       —         1,186  

Product development

     —        —         167       —         167  

Marketing and administrative

     —        1       84       —         85  
    

  


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     —        1       1,437       —         1,438  
    

  


 


 


 


Income (loss) from operations

     —        (1 )     183       —         182  

Interest income

     —        5       4       (5 )     4  

Interest expense

     —        (10 )     (6 )     5       (11 )

Equity in income of HDD

     174            —         (174 )     —    

Equity in income (losses) of Non-Guarantors

     —        180       —         (180 )     —    

Other, net

     —        —         5             5  
    

  


 


 


 


Other income (expense), net

     174      175       3       (354 )     (2 )
    

  


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     174      174       186       (354 )     180  

Provision for income taxes

     —        —         6       —         6  
    

  


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 174    $ 174     $ 180     $ (354 )   $ 174  
    

  


 


 


 


 

25


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14.    Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Statement of Operations

Nine Months Ended March 28, 2003

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


    HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


    Combined
Non-
Guarantors


    Eliminations

    Seagate
Technology
Consolidated


 

Revenue

   $ —       $ —       $ 4,933     $ —       $ 4,933  

Cost of revenue

     —         —         3,634       —         3,634  

Product development

     —         —         496       —         496  

Marketing and administrative

     —         3       273       —         276  

Restructuring

     —         —         7       —         7  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     —         3       4,410       —         4,413  
    


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from operations

     —         (3 )     523       —         520  

Interest income

     —         17       11       (16 )     12  

Interest expense

     —         (33 )     (19 )     16       (36 )

Equity in income of HDD

     490             —         (490 )     —    

Equity in income (losses) of Non-Guarantors

     (9 )     509       —         (500 )     —    

Other, net

     —         —         (1 )     —         (1 )
    


 


 


 


 


Other income (expense), net

     481       493       (9 )     (990 )     (25 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     481       490       514       (990 )     495  

Provision for income taxes

     —         —         14       —         14  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 481     $ 490     $ 500     $ (990 )   $ 481  
    


 


 


 


 


 

26


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14.    Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (continued)

 

Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended March 28, 2003

(In millions)

 

     Seagate
Technology
Parent
Company
Guarantor


    HDD
Subsidiary
Issuer


    Combined
Non-
Guarantors


    Eliminations

    Seagate
Technology
Consolidated


 

Net Income

   $ 481     $ 490     $ 500     $ (990 )   $ 481  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

                                        

Depreciation and amortization

     —         —         327       —         327  

Equity in income of HDD

     (490 )     —         —         490       —    

Equity in income (loss) of Non-Guarantors

     9       (509 )     —         500       —    

Other non-cash operating activities, net

     —         —         8       —         8  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net

     (9 )     (136 )     (76 )     —         (221 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (9 )     (155 )     759       —         595  

Investing Activities

                                        

Acquisition of property, equipment and leasehold improvements

     —         —         (357 )     —         (357 )

Purchase of short-term investments

     —         —         (2,405 )     —         (2,405 )

Maturities and sales of short-term investments

     —         —         2,239       —         2,239  

Other investing activities, net

     —         —         (9 )     —         (9 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     —         —         (532 )     —         (532 )

Financing Activities

                                        

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (1 )     (1 )     —         (2 )

Issuance of common shares

     281       —         —         —         281  

Loan from HDD to Non-Guarantor

     —         (325 )     325       —         —    

Loan repayment from Non-Guarantor to HDD

     —         452       (452 )     —         —    

Distribution from HDD to Parent

     347       (347 )     —         —         —    

Distribution from Parent to HDD

     (330 )     330       —         —         —    

Distribution to shareholders

     (275 )     —         —         —         (275 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     23       109       (128 )     —         4  
    


 


 


 


 


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     14       (46 )     99       —         67  

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     —         46       566       —         612  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 14     $ —       $ 665     $ —       $ 679  
    


 


 


 


 


 

 

27


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following is a discussion of the financial condition and results of operations for our fiscal quarter and nine months ended April 2, 2004 for Seagate Technology. Unless the context indicates otherwise, as used herein, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Seagate Technology, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and its subsidiaries. We are a subsidiary of New SAC, a Cayman Islands limited liability corporation. We were formed in August 2000 to be a holding company for the rigid disc drive operating business and the storage area networks operating business of Seagate Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which we refer to herein as “Seagate Delaware.” In November 2000, we acquired the rigid disc drive business and the storage area networks business of Seagate Delaware in a series of transactions that we refer to herein as the November 2000 transactions.

 

You should read this discussion in conjunction with the financial information and related notes included elsewhere in this quarterly report.

 

Our Company

 

We are the worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of rigid disc drives. Rigid disc drives are used as the primary medium for storing electronic information in systems ranging from desktop computers, notebook computers and consumer electronics to data centers delivering information over corporate networks and the Internet. We produce a broad range of rigid disc drive products that make us a leader in both the enterprise sector of our industry, where our products are primarily used in enterprise servers, mainframes and workstations, and the personal storage sector of our industry, where our products are used in PCs, notebook computers and consumer electronics.

 

We sell our rigid disc drives primarily to major original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, and also market to distributors under our globally recognized brand name. For fiscal year 2003 and the nine months ended April 2, 2004, approximately 61% and 58%, respectively, of our rigid disc drive revenue was from sales to OEMs, including customers such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, EMC, IBM and Sun Microsystems. We have longstanding relationships with many of these OEM customers. We also have key relationships with major distributors, who sell our rigid disc drive products to small OEMs, dealers, system integrators and retailers throughout most of the world. For fiscal year 2003 and the nine months ended April 2, 2004, approximately 34% and 29%, respectively, of our revenue came from customers located in North America, approximately 31% and 31%, respectively, came from customers located in Europe and approximately 35% and 40%, respectively, came from customers located in the Far East. Substantially all of our revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

Certain Forward-Looking Information

 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements identify prospective information. Important factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those in the forward-looking statements. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and “would” or other similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations, contain projections of our future results of operations or of our financial position or state other “forward-looking” information. We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors.

 

 

28


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

There may, however, be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control. The factors listed in the section captioned “—Risk Factors” below, as well as any other cautionary language in this report, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. You should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in these risk factors and elsewhere in this report could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

 

Overview

 

Industry Overview.    Our industry is characterized by several trends that have a material impact on our strategic planning, financial condition and results of operations. Historically, our industry has been characterized by continuous and significant advances in technology, which contributed to rapid product life cycles, the importance of being first to market with new products and the difficulty in recovering research and development expenses. However, based upon the recent pace of new product introductions, we believe that our industry is currently in a period in which the rate of increases in areal density, which is the storage capacity per square inch on a disc, is lower than the rate of the last several years. The slowing change in areal density contributes to:

 

  an increase in the rates of price erosion as the slowing areal density curve results in longer product cycles which permits more competitors time to enter the market for a particular type of disc drive and, accordingly, increases competition based on price;

 

  an increased importance of successfully executing product transitions, as factors such as quality, reliability and manufacturing yields become of increasing competitive importance; and

 

  a potential reduction in financial benefit from new product introductions due to declining cost reductions and the inability to introduce new products at higher prices in traditional hard disc drive markets.

 

We also believe that the industry is experiencing several positive trends relative to overall demand including:

 

  a proliferation of applications in the consumer electronics market that utilize disc drives. We estimate that in the most recent quarter industry shipments of disc drives to non-gaming consumer electronic applications grew in excess of 200% from the year-ago quarter;

 

  a renewed buying cycle for consumer and commercial client computing systems. We estimate that in the most recent quarter industry shipments of disc drives for PC desktop and notebook systems grew 17% from the year-ago quarter, with the desktop market increasing approximately 12% and the notebook market increasing 39%. We believe that a portion of the growth in the notebook market is a result of consumers shifting from desktop to notebook computers, a trend that we believe may be accelerating; and

 

  a return to growth in the enterprise storage market. We estimate that industry shipments of enterprise products in the first quarter of calendar year 2004 were up 12% from the first quarter of calendar year 2003 levels.

 

29


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

In the first half of fiscal year 2004, we observed what we believe to be a shift in seasonal demand for disc drives used in the personal storage market. We believe the seasonally high demand for disc drives used in this market may be shifting more toward our first fiscal quarter from our second fiscal quarter. This shift in seasonal demand for our personal storage products is in part driven by the growing consumer electronics business with its season occurring earlier than that of the general computer market. We believe this trend will continue and, due to the increasing importance of the consumer electronics market to our business, will impact our revenue and results of operations in these quarters.

 

Another key trend has been the growth of sales to distributors of desktop disc drive products. Product qualification programs in this channel are limited, which increases the number of competing products that are available to satisfy demand, particularly in times of lengthening product cycles. As a result, purchasing decisions in this channel are based largely on price, terms and product availability and unit sales growth is less predictable and has greater fluctuation than sales to OEM customers. As sales to distributors become an increasingly larger portion of total industry sales, disc drive manufacturers may experience increased volatility in their results of operations.

 

To the extent that our industry builds product based on expectations of demand that do not materialize, distributors may experience an oversupply of personal storage products that could lead to increased price erosion. During our second fiscal quarter of 2004, ended January 2, 2004, we observed lower than anticipated sell-through in the distribution channel. We believe our experience was consistent with that of our industry. We believe that this lower than anticipated sell-through taken together with the level of industry production, created increased pressure on pricing and terms and resulted in historically high industry channel inventories at the end of the December quarter. During the March quarter, a number of disc drive manufacturers independently launched initiatives to improve the stability of the distribution channel, particularly with respect to the purchasing behavior of distributors while other disc drive manufacturers have not. These initiatives included efforts to develop point-of-sale information systems to help match supply and demand, pricing increases and alteration of distribution programs. As the distribution channel reacts to these various activities, there may be increased volatility of sales in this channel for individual disc drive manufacturers.

 

30


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Seagate Overview.    We maintain a highly integrated approach to our business by designing and manufacturing components we view as critical to our products, such as read/write heads and recording media. We believe that our control of these key technologies, combined with our innovations in manufacturing, enable us to achieve product performance, time-to-market leadership and manufacturing flexibility, which allows us to respond to customers and market opportunities. Although we derive an important competitive advantage as a result of this strategy, it results in higher fixed costs, which may adversely affect our financial performance, particularly in periods of declining demand and in periods of slower growth in the areal density curve such as we are now experiencing. To offset these higher fixed costs we are continuously engaged in efforts to reduce our costs and improve our manufacturing efficiencies and flexibility. This approach also increases the importance of realizing and maintaining substantial market share in the markets in which we compete, allowing us to spread our technology investments across a high unit volume of products.

 

A significant portion of our success historically has been a result of increasing our market share at the expense of our competitors. However, over the last few quarters, our market share has been negatively affected by our customers’ diversifying their sources of supply as the slowing areal density curve has resulted in longer product cycles and more time for our competitors to enter the market for particular products. We believe that the current industry expectation of few, if any, new significant product introductions over the next quarter in either the personal storage or enterprise storage product offerings creates an environment of more stable market shares, in which significant shifts in market share are likely to occur only as a result of specific company product execution issues or price competition. Any significant further decline in our market share would adversely affect our results of operations.

 

During periods of slowing growth of areal density and longer product cycles we may experience pricing pressures. Currently, we are experiencing pricing pressure across all of our products, particularly in the enterprise disc drive market. This pricing pressure is contributing to our reduced gross margin. As we enter what is traditionally the period of the year most affected by seasonality and continue to experience declining prices, we anticipate further reductions in our gross margin.

 

Furthermore, because the rate of growth in areal density is slowing, the favorable impact of new product introductions on our results of operations may be minimized. Historically, the introduction of new products generally has had a favorable impact on our results of operations both because the new products are introduced at higher prices than existing competitive offerings and because advances in areal density technology have enabled lower manufacturing costs through reduction in components such as read/write heads and rigid discs. However, in contrast to when the rate of growth in areal density is increasing, a slowing growth rate in areal density can limit the cost benefits of new products because it is technologically more difficult to reduce the number of read/write heads and rigid discs in a particular drive. In addition, given the environment of intense price competition, in the absence of significant capacity or reliability increases it is difficult to obtain higher prices for new products.

 

We believe that we and the hard drive industry are in a unique and challenging period of time with longer product cycles, continued aggressive pricing in the core markets and ongoing changes in how we serve our distribution channel partners. All of these may impact our near-term profitability. Cost reduction actions focused on significantly reducing discretionary spending in the near-term have already been implemented and additional actions that are focused on improving our cost structure to be in line with the challenging environment ahead are likely. During this challenging time-frame, the management team will be intensely focused on maintaining profitability excluding the impact of any restructuring charges we may incur.

 

31


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Results of Operations

 

We list in the tables below the historical condensed consolidated statements of operations in dollars and as a percentage of revenue for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months
Ended


    Nine Months
Ended


 
(dollars in millions)   

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


   

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


 

Revenue

   $ 1,388     $ 1,620     $ 4,888     $ 4,933  

Cost of revenue

     1,087       1,186       3,658       3,634  
    


 


 


 


Gross margin

     301       434       1,230       1,299  
    


 


 


 


Product development

     169       167       505       496  

Marketing and administrative

     73       85       224       276  

Restructuring

     6       —         20       7  
    


 


 


 


Income from operations

     53       182       481       520  

Other income (expense), net

     (7 )     (2 )     (23 )     (25 )
    


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     46       180       458       495  

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (113 )     6       (105 )     14  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 159     $ 174     $ 563     $ 481  
    


 


 


 


     Three Months
Ended


    Nine Months Ended

 
    

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


   

April 2,

2004


   

March 28,

2003


 

Revenue

     100 %     100 %     100 %     100 %

Cost of revenue

     78       73       75       74  
    


 


 


 


Gross margin

     22       27       25       26  
    


 


 


 


Product development

     12       10       10       10  

Marketing and administrative

     5       6       5       6  

Restructuring

     1       —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Income from operations

     4       11       10       10  

Other income (expense), net

     (1 )     —         (1 )     —    
    


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     3       11       9       10  

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (8 )     —         (2 )     —    
    


 


 


 


Net income

     11 %     11 %     11 %     10 %
    


 


 


 


 

32


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Revenue.    Revenue for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 was $1.388 billion, down 14% from $1.620 billion in the year-ago quarter, and down 21% from $1.760 billion in the immediately preceding quarter. Revenue for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 was $4.888 billion, down 1% from $4.933 billion in the year-ago nine-month period. Our overall average unit sales price for our rigid disc drive products was $76 for the quarter ended April 2, 2004, down 22% from $97 in the year-ago quarter, and down 5% from $80 in the immediately preceding quarter.

 

The decrease in revenue from the year-ago quarter was primarily attributable to price erosion partially offset by an increase in rigid disc drive shipments from 16.6 million units in the year-ago quarter to 18.0 million units in the quarter ended April 2, 2004. The decrease in revenue from the immediately preceding quarter was primarily attributable to a decrease in rigid disc drive shipments from 21.7 million units in the previous quarter to 18.0 million units in the quarter ended April 2, 2004, and price erosion. The decrease in revenue from the year-ago nine-month period was primarily attributable to price erosion offset by an increase in rigid disc drive shipments from 51.6 million units in the year-ago period to 61.0 million units in the nine months ended April 2, 2004.

 

During the quarter ended April 2, 2004, we shipped 1.0 million mobile storage disc drives, which was 0.6 million units below our expectations in early March. This shortfall resulted from a combination of a supply chain imbalance and our concentrated customer base. While we remain focused on growing our customer base by completing additional OEM qualifications, we expect the supply chain imbalance in the notebook disc drive market will continue to adversely impact shipments in the June quarter.

 

Unit shipments for personal storage disc drives were 14.6 million during the quarter. The rate of price decline for personal storage products slowed during the quarter as pricing in the distribution channel stabilized. The benefit resulting from the improved channel-pricing environment during the quarter was offset by the rapid decline in channel inventory for our personal storage products. We believe that this decline in channel inventory was driven by our decision not to reduce prices at the end of the quarter. The aggressive reduction of channel inventory negatively impacted our sales into the channel by approximately 1.4 million units. During the quarter we recaptured some OEM share in the personal storage market, which partially offset the reduction in channel sales.

 

Unit shipments for enterprise storage disc drives were 2.5 million during the quarter, and, although we believe we maintained our market share from previous quarter levels, our revenue contribution from enterprise product shipments was adversely affected by a higher mix of shipments to OEMs rather than to the distribution channel where pricing conditions are currently more favorable.

 

Cost of Revenue.    Cost of revenue for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 was $1.087 billion, down 8% from $1.186 billion in the year-ago quarter, and down 16% from $1.299 billion in the immediately preceding quarter. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 was 22% as compared with 27% for the year-ago quarter, and 26% for the immediately preceding quarter. Cost of revenue for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 was $3.658 billion, up 1% from $3.634 billion in the year-ago nine-month period. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 was 25% as compared with 26% for the year-ago nine-month period. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenue from the comparable year-ago quarter was primarily due to price erosion. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenue from the immediately preceding quarter was primarily due to lower overall disc drive shipments, continued aggressive pricing for enterprise disc drives, a normal level of price erosion in the notebook drive market as well as a higher mix of shipments of our enterprise storage products to OEM’s rather than to the distribution channel where pricing conditions are currently more favorable. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenue from the year-ago nine-month period was primarily due to price erosion. As we enter what is traditionally the period of the year most affected by seasonality and continue to experience declining prices, we anticipate further reductions in gross margin.

 

33


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Product Development Expense.    Product development expense increased by $2 million, or 1%, for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 when compared with the year-ago quarter and increased by $3 million, or 2% when compared with the immediately preceding quarter. The increase in product development expense from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to increases of $9 million in program materials and $6 million in salaries as a result of increased headcount partially offset by a decrease of $12 million in employee incentive compensation. The increase in product development expense from the immediately preceding quarter was primarily due to increases of $6 million in program materials and $3 million in salaries partially offset by $4 million in business development grants and a decrease of $4 million in employee incentive compensation. Product development expense increased by $9 million, or 2%, for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 when compared with the year-ago nine-month period. The increase in product development expense from the year-ago nine-month period was primarily due to increases of $20 million in salaries as a result of increased headcount and annual merit increases, $7 million in program materials and $6 million in depreciation partially offset by decreases of $18 million in employee incentive compensation, $4 million in allocated legal expenses and the absence of $4 million of product development expense incurred in the year-ago nine-month period by XIOtech which we sold in November 2002.

 

Marketing and Administrative Expense.    Marketing and administrative expense decreased by $12 million, or 14%, for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 when compared with the year-ago quarter, and was flat when compared with the immediately preceding quarter. The decrease in marketing and administrative expense from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to decreases of $8 million in employee incentive compensation and $3 million in outside services. Marketing and administrative expense decreased by $52 million, or 19%, for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 when compared with the year-ago nine-month period. The decrease in marketing and administrative expense from the year-ago nine-month period was primarily due to the absence of $16 million in marketing and administrative expense incurred by XIOtech which we sold in November 2002, $12 million related to the discontinuation of an annual monitoring fee paid to certain New SAC investors, $7 million in compensation expense pursuant to executive terminations and $3 million in debt refinancing expenses all of which occurred in the year-ago nine-month period as well as $14 million in employee incentive compensation, $6 million in outside services and $5 million in information technology expense. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $4 million in salaries as a result of annual merit increases and $9 million in legal expense of which $6 million related to decreased allocations.

 

Restructuring.    In the quarter ended April 2, 2004, we recorded restructuring costs of $6 million in connection with our on-going restructuring activities, which began in our first fiscal quarter. During the nine months ended April 2, 2004, we recorded restructuring costs of $20 million. These costs were a result of a restructuring plan established to continue the alignment of our global workforce with existing and anticipated future market requirements, primarily in our U.S. design centers and Far East operations. The restructuring costs were comprised of employee termination costs relating to a reduction in our workforce. Upon completion of these restructuring activities, we estimate that annual salary expense will be reduced by approximately $24 million. We expect these employee termination activities to be substantially completed by July 2, 2004. The restructuring charges incurred during the nine months ended April 2, 2004 do not relate to the cost reduction activities we are currently evaluating.

 

Net Other Income (Expense).    Net other expense increased by $5 million for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 when compared with the year-ago quarter, and was flat when compared with the immediately preceding quarter. The increase in net other expense from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to gains on the sale of assets of $4 million which occurred in the year-ago quarter. Net other expense decreased $2 million for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 when compared with the year-ago nine-month period. This decrease in net other expense was primarily due to the write down of $8 million of our investment in a private company partially offset by gains of $6 million on the sale of assets, both of which occurred in the year-ago nine-month period.

 

34


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes.    We are a foreign holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with foreign and U.S. subsidiaries that operate in multiple taxing jurisdictions. As a result, our worldwide operating income either is subject to varying rates of tax or is exempt from tax due to tax holidays or tax incentive programs in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. These tax holidays or incentives are scheduled to expire in whole or in part at various dates through 2015. The benefit from income taxes recorded for the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004 differs from the provision for income taxes that would be derived by applying a notional U.S. 35% rate to income before income taxes primarily due to the net effect of (i) the tax benefit related to the aforementioned tax holiday and tax incentive programs, (ii) additional valuation allowance recorded for U.S. deferred tax assets, (iii) the reversal of the $125 million tax indemnification amount for VERITAS Software Corporation (“VERITAS”) (further described below) and (iv) U.S. tax benefits related to U.S. restructuring costs recorded in the three and nine months ended April 2, 2004. The provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended March 28, 2003 differed from the provision for income taxes that would be derived by applying a notional U.S. 35% rate to income before income taxes primarily due to (i) the tax benefit related to the aforementioned tax holiday and tax incentive programs and (ii) the realization of deferred tax assets that had previously been subject to a valuation allowance. Based on our foreign ownership structure and subject to potential future increases in our valuation allowance for U.S. deferred tax assets, we anticipate that our effective tax rate in future periods will generally be less than a notional U.S. 35% rate. Dividend distributions received from our U.S. subsidiaries may be subject to U.S. withholding taxes when, and if distributed. Deferred tax liabilities have not been recorded on unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, as these earnings will not be subject to tax in the Cayman Islands or U.S. income taxes if remitted to our foreign parent holding company.

 

During the three months ended April 2, 2004, we reduced the carrying value of our net deferred tax assets by $7 million to $70 million to reflect changes in our estimate of future taxable income. The realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient U.S. and certain foreign taxable income in fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Although realization is not assured, management believes that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will be realized. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, may increase or decrease in subsequent quarters, when we reevaluate the underlying basis for our estimates of future U.S. taxable income.

 

On July 31, 2001, Seagate Delaware and the Internal Revenue Service filed a settlement stipulation with the United States Tax Court in complete settlement of the remaining disputed tax matter reflected in the statutory notice of deficiency dated June 12, 1998. The settlement stipulation was expressly contingent upon Seagate Delaware and the Internal Revenue Service entering into a closing agreement in connection with certain tax matters arising in all or some part of the open tax years of Seagate Delaware and New SAC. The Internal Revenue Service completed its review of Seagate Delaware’s federal tax returns for the periods prior to the acquisition date of the operating assets and submitted its conclusions to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation for review. On March 15, 2004, VERITAS received written notification from the Internal Revenue Service that the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation had completed its review and had taken no exception to the Internal Revenue Service’s conclusions.

 

As a result of the conclusion of the tax audits with no additional tax due, and based on the March 15, 2004 notification to VERITAS from the Internal Revenue Service, we recorded a $125 million income tax benefit in our quarter ended April 2, 2004 from the reversal of accrued income taxes relating to tax indemnification amounts due to VERITAS pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement between Seagate Delaware, New SAC and VERITAS. The $125 million tax indemnification amount had been recorded by us in connection with the purchase of the operating assets of Seagate Delaware and represented U.S. tax liabilities previously accrued by Seagate Delaware for periods prior to the acquisition date of the operating assets.

 

On April 6, 2004, Seagate Delaware and the Internal Revenue Service filed a revised settlement stipulation with the Tax Court in connection with the statutory notice of deficiency which reflected the parties’ agreement to fully resolve the remaining tax matters included in the statutory notice of deficiency.

 

35


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Certain of Seagate Delaware’s foreign and state tax returns remain under examination by various taxing authorities. The Internal Revenue Service is currently examining our federal income tax returns for fiscal years ending in 2001 and 2002. The timing of the settlement of these examinations is uncertain. We believe that adequate amounts of tax have been provided for any final assessment that may result.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following is a discussion of our principal liquidity requirements and capital resources.

 

The credit agreement that governs our senior secured credit facilities contains covenants that Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, our wholly-owned subsidiary that operates our rigid disc drive business, must satisfy in order to remain in compliance with the agreement. These covenants require Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, among other things, to maintain the following ratios: (1) an interest expense coverage ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of at least 2.50 to 1.00; (2) a fixed charge coverage ratio for any four consecutive fiscal quarters of at least 1.50 to 1.00; and (3) a net leverage ratio of not more than 1.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. We are currently in compliance with all of these covenants, including the financial ratios that we are required to maintain.

 

The calculated financial ratios for the quarter ended April 2, 2004 are as follows:

 

     Required

   April 2, 2004

Interest Coverage Ratio

   Not less than 2.50    37.19

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

   Not less than 1.50    4.24

Net Leverage Ratio

   Not greater than 1.50    (0.57)

 

In connection with our senior credit facility, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings and Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. entered into a $150 million revolving credit facility, under which $114 million was available to these entities for borrowing as of April 2, 2004. Although no borrowings have been drawn under this revolving credit facility to date, as of April 2, 2004, we had utilized $36 million of the revolving credit facility for outstanding letters of credit and bankers’ guarantees.

 

The degree to which we are leveraged could materially and adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances or other purposes and could make us more vulnerable to industry downturns and competitive pressures. Although we are currently not a party to any agreement or letter of intent with respect to potential investments in, or acquisitions of, complementary businesses, products or technologies, we may enter into these types of arrangements in the future, which could also require us to seek additional equity or debt financing. Additional funds may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all. We will require substantial amounts of cash to fund scheduled payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness, future capital expenditures and any increased working capital requirements. If we are unable to meet our cash requirements out of existing cash or cash flow from operations, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain alternative financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

 

36


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Discussion of Cash Flows

 

At April 2, 2004, our working capital was $1.409 billion, which included cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1.363 billion. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments increased $169 million from June 27, 2003 to April 2, 2004. This increase was primarily due to cash provided by operating activities and proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options partially offset by investments in property, equipment and leasehold improvements.

 

Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended April 2, 2004 was $561 million and consisted primarily of net income and the net change in working capital.

 

During the nine months ended April 2, 2004, we invested approximately $375 million in property, equipment and leasehold improvements. The $375 million investment comprised:

 

  $130 million for manufacturing facilities and equipment related to our subassembly and disc drive final assembly and test facilities in the United States and the Far East;

 

  $142 million to upgrade the capabilities of our thin-film media operations in the United States, Singapore and Northern Ireland;

 

  $80 million for manufacturing facilities and equipment for our recording head operations in the United States, the Far East and Northern Ireland; and

 

  $23 million for other purposes.

 

We anticipate investments of approximately $600 million to $650 million in property and equipment for fiscal year 2004, which includes approximately $150 million for our planned media factory expansion in Singapore. We plan to finance these investments from existing cash balances and cash flows from operations.

 

Until required for other purposes, our cash and cash equivalents are maintained in highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. Our short-term investments consist primarily of readily marketable debt securities with remaining maturities of more than 90 days at the time of purchase.

 

37


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Liquidity Sources and Cash Requirements and Commitments

 

On August 22, 2003 and November 21, 2003, we made quarterly cash distributions of $0.04 per share aggregating approximately $36 million, to all our shareholders of record as of August 8, 2003 and November 7, 2003, respectively, including New SAC. On February 27, 2004, we made a quarterly cash distribution of $0.06 per share, or a total of approximately $27 million, to all our shareholders of record as of February 13, 2004. On April 20, 2004, we declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.06 per share to be paid on or before May 21, 2004 to all our shareholders of record as of May 7, 2004.

 

We anticipate that these distributions will be a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will not be taxable as a dividend. In such case, for U.S. tax purposes, shareholders would reduce their tax basis in their common shares by the amount received (thereby increasing the amount of gain, or decreasing the amount of loss, to be received by the shareholder on a subsequent distribution of the common shares).

 

Our ability to continue to pay quarterly cash distributions will be subject to, among other things, general business conditions within the rigid disc drive industry, our financial results, the impact of paying distributions on our credit ratings, and legal and contractual restrictions on the payment of distributions by our subsidiaries to us or by us to our shareholders, including restrictions imposed by the covenants contained in the indenture governing our senior notes and the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities.

 

Our principal sources of liquidity as of April 2, 2004 consisted of: (1) $1.363 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, (2) a $150 million revolving credit facility, of which $36 million had been used for outstanding letters of credit and bankers’ guarantees as of April 2, 2004, and (3) cash we expect to generate from operations during this fiscal year.

 

Our principal liquidity requirements are to service our debt and meet our working capital, research and development and capital expenditure needs and to make quarterly return of capital distributions to our shareholders.

 

We believe that our sources of cash will be sufficient to fund our operations and meet our cash requirements for at least the next 12 months. Our ability to fund these requirements and comply with the financial covenants under our debt agreements will depend on our future operations, performance and cash flow and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, as part of our strategy, we may selectively pursue strategic alliances, acquisitions and investments that are complementary to our business. Any material future acquisitions, alliances or investments will likely require additional capital. We cannot assure you that additional funds from available sources will be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

 

38


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Our contractual cash obligations and commitments as of April 2, 2004 have been summarized in the table below:

 

          Fiscal Year(s)

     Total

   2004

   2005-2006

   2007-2008

   After 2008

     (in millions)

Contractual Obligations:

                                  

Long term debt

   $ 745    $ 2    $ 7    $ 336    $ 400

Operating leases

     182      6      42      13      121
    

  

  

  

  

Subtotal

     927      8      49      349      521

Commitments:

                                  

Capital expenditures

     271      248      23      —        —  

Letters of credit or bank guarantees

     36      36      —        —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

Subtotal

     307      284      23      —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 1,234    $ 292    $ 72    $ 349    $ 521
    

  

  

  

  

 

Under operating leases in the table above, we have included total future minimum rent expense under non-cancelable leases for both occupied and abandoned facilities.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our most critical accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our consolidated financial statements. The SEC has defined the most critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and operating results, and require us to make our most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. Based on this definition, our most critical policies include: establishment of sales program accruals, establishment of warranty accruals, and valuation of deferred tax assets. Below, we discuss these policies further, as well as the estimates and judgments involved. We also have other key accounting policies and accounting estimates relating to uncollectible customer accounts and valuation of inventory. We believe that these other accounting policies and accounting estimates either do not generally require us to make estimates and judgments that are as difficult or as subjective, or it is less likely that they would have a material impact on our reported results of operations for a given period.

 

Establishment of Distributor Sales Program Accruals.    We establish certain distributor sales programs aimed at increasing customer demand. These programs are typically related to a distributor’s level of sales, order size and advertising or point of sale activity and stock rotation. We use a sell-in model under which we recognize revenue when our products are sold to distributors. At the time we recognize revenue, we record contra-revenue based on estimates of future sales returns, price erosion and other sales incentive allowances provided to our customers. These estimates are based on various factors, including estimated future price erosion, customer orders and sell-through levels, program participation, customer claim submittals and sales returns. During periods in which our distributors’ inventories of our products are at higher than historical levels, such as the period ended January 2, 2004, our estimates upon which our recorded contra-revenue is based are subject to a greater degree of subjectivity and the potential for actual results to vary is accordingly higher. Significant actual variations in any of the factors upon which we base our estimates could have a material effect on our operating results. In addition, our failure to accurately predict the level of future sales returns by our distribution customers could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

39


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

We recently made changes to our distributor sales programs commencing with our third fiscal quarter of 2004 that simplified the calculation of sales incentive allowances. Although these changes have the potential to reduce the level of estimation required in establishing sales program accruals in future periods, no assurance can be given that this will be the case, particularly as we implement our new programs.

 

Establishment of Warranty Accruals.    We estimate probable product warranty costs at the time revenue is recognized. We generally warrant our products for a period of one to five years. We use estimated repair or replacement costs and use statistical modeling to estimate product return rates in order to determine our warranty obligation. We exercise judgment in determining the underlying estimates. Our judgment is subject to a greater degree of subjectivity with respect to newly introduced products because of a lack of past experience with those products upon which to base our estimates. Should actual experience in any future period differ significantly from our estimates, our future results of operations could be materially affected. The actual results with regard to warranty expenditures could have a material adverse effect on us if the actual rate of unit failure is greater than what we used in estimating the warranty expense accrual.

 

Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets.    The recording of our deferred tax assets each period depends primarily on our ability to generate current and future taxable income in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions. Each period we evaluate the need for a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets and we adjust the valuation allowance so that we record net deferred tax assets only to the extent that we conclude it is more likely than not that these assets will be realized.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51.” FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 is effective for all new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the provisions of FIN 46 must be applied for the first interim or annual period beginning after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 has not and is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (“SFAS 149”) which amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 except for the provisions that were cleared by the FASB in prior pronouncements. The adoption of SFAS 149 did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” (“SFAS 150”). This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures in its statement of financial position certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. In accordance with the standard, financial instruments that embody obligations for the issuer are required to be classified as liabilities. This Statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and was effective in our fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 150 did not have a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

40


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits,” (“SFAS 132”). This statement establishes standards that require companies to provide more details about their plan assets, benefit obligations, cash flows, benefit costs and other relevant information. In addition to expanded annual disclosures, companies are required to report the various elements of pension and other postretirement benefit costs on a quarterly basis. This statement is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003, and was effective for our fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2004. The adoption of SFAS 132, as revised in 2003, did not have an impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

Risk Factors

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

Competition—Our industry is highly competitive and our products have experienced significant price erosion and market share variability.

 

Even during periods when demand is stable, the rigid disc drive industry is intensely competitive and vendors typically experience substantial price erosion over the life of a product. Our competitors have historically offered existing products at lower prices as part of a strategy to gain or retain market share and customers, and we expect these practices to continue. We may need to reduce our prices to retain our market share, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Based on our recent experience in the industry with respect to new product introductions, we believe that the rate of increase in areal density, or the storage capacity per square inch on a disc, is slowing from its previous levels. This trend may contribute to increased average price erosion. To the extent that historical price erosion patterns continue, product life cycles are lengthened, our competitors have more time to enter the market for a particular product and we are unable to offset these factors with new product introductions at higher average prices. A second trend that may contribute to increased average price erosion is the growth of our sales to distributors that serve producers of non-branded products in the personal storage sector. These customers generally have limited product qualification programs, which increases the number of competing products available to satisfy their demand. As a result, purchasing decisions for these customers are based largely on price and terms. Any increase in our average price erosion would have an adverse effect on our result of operations.

 

Moreover, a significant portion of our success historically has been a result of increasing our market share at the expense of our competitors. However, over the last few quarters, our market share has been negatively affected by our customers’ diversifying their sources of supply as the slowing areal density curve has resulted in longer product cycles and more time for our competitors to enter the market for particular products. We believe that the current industry expectation of few, if any, new significant product introductions over the next quarter in either the personal storage or enterprise storage product offerings creates an environment of more stable market shares, in which significant shifts in market share are likely to occur only as a result of specific company product execution issues or price competition. Any significant further decline in our market share would adversely affect our results of operations.

 

41


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Principal Competitors—We compete with both captive manufacturers, who do not depend solely on sales of rigid disc drives to maintain their profitability, and independent manufacturers, whose primary focus is producing technologically advanced rigid disc drives.

 

We have experienced and expect to continue to experience intense competition from a number of domestic and foreign companies, including other independent rigid disc drive manufacturers and large captive manufacturers such as:

 

Captive


  

Independent


Fujitsu Limited    Maxtor Corporation
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies    Western Digital Corporation
Samsung Electronics Incorporated     
Toshiba Corporation     

 

The term “independent” in this context refers to manufacturers that primarily produce rigid disc drives as a stand-alone product, and the term “captive” refers to rigid disc drive manufacturers who themselves or through affiliated entities produce complete computer or other systems that contain rigid disc drives or other information storage products. Captive manufacturers are formidable competitors because they have the ability to determine pricing for complete systems without regard to the margins on individual components. Because components other than rigid disc drives generally contribute a greater portion of the operating margin on a complete computer system than do rigid disc drives, captive manufacturers do not necessarily need to realize a profit on the rigid disc drives included in a computer system and, as a result, may be willing to sell rigid disc drives to third parties at very low margins. Many captive manufacturers are also formidable competitors because they have more substantial resources than we do. In addition, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (together with affiliated entities) and Samsung Electronics Incorporated also sell other products to our customers, including critical components like flash memory, application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, and flat panel displays, and may be willing to sell their disc drives at a lower margin to advance their overall business strategy. This may improve their ability to compete with us. To the extent we are not successful competing with captive or independent rigid disc drive manufacturers, our results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

In addition, in response to customer demand for high-quality, high-volume and low-cost rigid disc drives, manufacturers of rigid disc drives have had to develop large, in some cases global, production facilities with highly developed technological capabilities and internal controls. The development of large production facilities and industry consolidation can contribute to the intensification of competition. We also face indirect competition from present and potential customers who evaluate from time to time whether to manufacture their own rigid disc drives or other information storage products.

 

42


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Industry Consolidation—Consolidation among captive manufacturers may serve to increase their resources and improve their access to customers, thereby making them more formidable competitors.

 

Consolidation among captive manufacturers may provide them with competitive advantages over independent manufacturers, including us. For example, in 2002, IBM merged its disc drive business with the disc drive business of Hitachi through the formation of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, a separate company. Hitachi currently owns more than 70% of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and is expected to assume full ownership at the end of 2005. As a part of this transaction, each of IBM and Hitachi agreed to multi-year supply commitments with the new company. Because IBM is one of our most significant customers and Hitachi is one of our most significant competitors, there is a significant risk that IBM will decrease the number of rigid disc drives purchased from us and increase the number purchased from the new company. Moreover, economies of scale and the combination of the two companies’ technological capabilities, particularly in the enterprise sector of our industry, could make the new company a more formidable competitor than IBM or Hitachi operating alone. As of April 2, 2004, the formation of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has not had a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Volatility of Quarterly Results—Our quarterly operating results fluctuate significantly from period to period, and this may cause our stock price to decline.

 

In the past, our quarterly revenue and operating results fluctuated significantly from period to period. We expect this fluctuation to continue for a variety of reasons, including:

 

  changes in the demand for the computer systems, storage subsystems and consumer electronics that contain our rigid disc drives, due to seasonality and other factors;

 

  changes in purchases from period to period by our primary customers;

 

  competitive pressures resulting in lower selling prices;

 

  shifting trends in customer demand which, when combined with overproduction of particular products, particularly at times like now where the industry is served by multiple suppliers, results in supply/demand imbalances;

 

  the ability of our competitors to increase market share, particularly with respect to enterprise products, through the introduction of technologically advanced products and their ability to improve their operational execution;

 

  adverse changes in the level of economic activity in the United States and other major regions in which we do business;

 

  our high proportion of fixed costs, including research and development expenses;

 

  delays or problems in the introduction of our new products;

 

  announcements of new products, services or technological innovations by us or our competitors; and

 

  increased costs or adverse changes in availability of supplies.

 

 

43


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

As a result, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our revenue and operating results may not be meaningful, and that these comparisons may not be an accurate indicator of our future performance. Our operating results in one or more future quarters may fail to meet the expectations of investment research analysts or investors, which could cause an immediate and significant decline in the trading price of our common shares.

 

Industry Demand—Changes in demand for computer systems and storage subsystems has caused and may cause in the future a decline in demand for our products.

 

Our rigid disc drives are components in computers, computer systems and storage subsystems. The demand for these products has been volatile. In a weak economy, consumer spending tends to decline and retail demand for PCs tends to decrease, as does enterprise demand for computer systems and storage subsystems. During economic slowdowns such as the one that began in 2001, demand for rigid disc drives, particularly in the enterprise sector was adversely impacted as a result of the weakened economy and because enterprises shifted their focus from making new equipment purchases to more efficiently using their existing information technology infrastructure through, among other things, adopting new storage architectures. Unexpected slowdowns in demand for computer systems and storage subsystems generally cause sharp declines in demand for rigid disc drive products.

 

Additional causes of declines in demand for our products in the past have included announcements or introductions of major operating system or semiconductor improvements or changes in consumer preferences, such as the shift from desktop to notebook computers. We believe these announcements and introductions have from time to time caused consumers to defer their purchases and made inventory obsolete. Whenever an oversupply of rigid disc drives causes participants in our industry to have higher than anticipated inventory levels, we experience even more intense price competition from other rigid disc drive manufacturers than usual.

 

Seasonality—Because we experience seasonality in the sales of our products, our results of operations will generally be adversely impacted during our fourth fiscal quarter.

 

Because sales of computer systems, storage subsystems and consumer electronics tend to be seasonal, we expect to continue to experience seasonality in our business as we respond to variations in our customers’ demand for rigid disc drives. In particular, we anticipate that sales of our products will continue to be lower during our fourth fiscal quarter than the rest of the year. In the desktop computer, notebook computer and consumer electronics sectors of our business, this seasonality is partially attributable to our customers’ increased sales during the winter holiday season of PCs and consumer electronics. In the enterprise sector of our business, our sales are seasonal because of the capital budgeting and purchasing cycles of our end users. Because our working capital needs peak during periods in which we are increasing production in anticipation of orders that have not yet been received, our operating results will fluctuate seasonally even if the forecasted demand for our products proves accurate. Furthermore, it is difficult for us to evaluate the degree to which this seasonality may affect our business in future periods because our overall growth may have reduced the impact of this seasonality in recent periods. In addition, the pattern of seasonal changes in demand may change. For instance, we believe demand for our products used in consumer electronics may be peaking in our first fiscal quarter, which is earlier than in the past.

 

44


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Difficulty in Predicting Quarterly Demand—If we fail to predict demand accurately for our products in any quarter, we may not be able to recapture the cost of our investments.

 

The rigid disc drive industry operates on quarterly purchasing cycles, with much of the order flow in any given quarter coming at the end of that quarter. Our manufacturing process requires us to make significant product-specific investments in inventory in each quarter for that quarter’s production. Because we typically receive the bulk of our orders late in a quarter after we have made our investments, there is a risk that our orders will not be sufficient to allow us to recapture the costs of our investment before the products resulting from that investment have become obsolete. We cannot assure you that we will be able to accurately predict demand in the future.

 

Other factors that may negatively impact our ability to recapture the cost of investments in any given quarter include:

 

  our inability to reduce our fixed costs to match sales in any quarter because of our vertical manufacturing strategy, which means that we make more capital investments than we would if we were not vertically integrated;

 

  the timing of orders from and shipment of products to key customers;

 

  unanticipated fluctuations in unit volume purchases from our customers, particularly our distributor customers who are accounting for an increasingly larger portion of our total sales;

 

  our product mix and the related margins of the various products;

 

  accelerated reduction in the price of our rigid disc drives due to technological advances and/or an oversupply of rigid disc drives in the market, a condition that is exacerbated when the industry is served by multiple suppliers and shifting trends in demand can create supply demand imbalances;

 

  manufacturing delays or interruptions, particularly at our major manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand;

 

  variations in the cost of components for our products;

 

  limited access to components that we obtain from a single or a limited number of suppliers;

 

  the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the cost of producing our products and the effective price of our products to foreign consumers; and

 

  operational issues arising out of the increasingly automated nature of our manufacturing processes.

 

Dependence on Distributors—We are increasingly dependent on sales to distributors, which may increase price erosion and the volatility of our sales.

 

An increasing portion of our sales has been to distributors of desktop disc drive products. Product qualification programs in this distribution channel are limited, which increases the number of competing products that are available to satisfy demand, particularly in times of lengthening product cycles. As a result, purchasing decisions in this channel are based largely on price, terms and product availability. Sales volumes through this channel are also less predictable and subject to greater volatility than sales to our OEM customers. Recently, a number of disc drive manufacturers independently launched initiatives to improve the stability of the distribution channel, particularly with respect to the purchasing behavior of these distributors while other disc drive manufacturers have not. These actions have further increased the uncertainty as to demand within this market segment. To the extent that distributors reduce their purchases of our products or prices decline significantly in the distribution channel, our results of operations would be adversely affected.

 

Longer Product Life Cycles—Lengthening of product life cycles can make planning product transitions difficult and may reduce the favorable impact of new product transitions.

 

In contrast to historical trends, based on our recent experience in the industry with respect to new product introductions, we believe that the current rate of increase in areal density is slowing from the rate of the last several years. We believe that this slowdown in the rate of increase in areal density will continue until a significant advance in technology for the electronic storage of data, such as perpendicular recording technology, becomes commercially available.

 

45


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

When the rate of increase in areal density slows, it may contribute to increased average price erosion to the extent historical price erosion patterns continue, product life cycles are lengthened and our ability to introduce new products at higher prices is limited, and longer product life cycles which permits competitors more time to enter the market for a particular type of disc drive. In addition, the lengthening of product life cycles can make planning product transitions more difficult. To the extent that we prematurely discontinue a product, or do not timely introduce new products, our operating results may be adversely affected.

 

Because the rate of growth in areal density is slowing, the favorable impact of new product introductions on our results of operations may be minimized. Historically, the introduction of new products generally has had a favorable impact on our results of operations both because the new products are introduced at higher prices than existing competitive offerings and because advances in areal density technology have enabled lower manufacturing costs through reduction in components such as read/write heads and rigid discs. However, in contrast to when the rate of growth in areal density is increasing, a slowing growth rate in areal density can limit the cost benefits of new products because it is technologically more difficult to reduce the number of read/write heads and rigid discs in a particular drive. In addition, given the environment of intense price competition, in the absence of significant capacity or reliability increases it is difficult to obtain higher prices for new products.

 

New Product Offerings—Market acceptance of new product introductions cannot be accurately predicted, and our results of operations will suffer if there is less demand for our new products than is anticipated.

 

We are continually developing new products in the hope that we will be able to introduce technologically advanced rigid disc drives into the marketplace ahead of our competitors. The success of our new product introductions is dependent on a number of factors, including market acceptance, our ability to manage the risks associated with product transitions, the effective management of inventory levels in line with anticipated product demand, and the risk that our new products will have quality problems or other defects in the early stages of introduction that were not anticipated in the design of those products. Accordingly, we cannot accurately determine the ultimate effect that our new products will have on our sales or results of operations.

 

In addition, the success of our new product introductions is dependent upon our ability to qualify as a primary source of supply with our original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, customers. In order for our products to be considered by our customers for qualification, we must be among the leaders in time-to-market with those new products. Once a product is accepted for qualification testing, any failure or delay in the qualification process or a requirement that we requalify can result in our losing sales to that customer until new products are introduced. The limited number of high-volume OEMs magnifies the effect of missing a product qualification opportunity. These risks are further magnified because we expect competitive pressures to result in declining sales and declining gross margins on our current generation products. We cannot assure you that we will be among the leaders in time-to-market with new products or that we will be able to successfully qualify new products with our customers in the future.

 

46


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Smaller Form Factor Rigid Disc Drives—If we do not continue to successfully market smaller form factor rigid disc drives, our business may suffer.

 

Increases in sales of notebook computers and in areal density are resulting in a shift to smaller form factor rigid disc drives for an expanding number of applications, including PCs, enterprise storage applications and consumer electronics. These applications have typically used rigid disc drives with a 3.5-inch form factor, which we currently manufacture. Notebook computers typically use 2.5-inch form factor rigid disc drives. We initiated volume shipments of these products to a number of OEMs in the second fiscal quarter. These shipments materially contributed to our results of operations in the second fiscal quarter. However, our recently introduced products only address a limited portion of the existing notebook market. We cannot assure you that we will receive additional qualifications or that we will be able to successfully compete in the market for smaller form factor rigid disc drives. In our third fiscal quarter of 2004, ended April 2, 2004, an oversupply of notebook disc drives in the supply chain led to a significant shortfall in our shipments of Momentus, our first product for the notebook market. If we do not suitably adapt our technology and product offerings to successfully develop and introduce smaller form factor rigid disc drives, customers may decrease the amounts of our products that they purchase which would adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Importance of Time-to-Market—Our operating results may depend on our being among the first-to-market and achieving sufficient production volume with our new products.

 

To achieve consistent success with our OEM customers, it is important that we be an early provider of new types of rigid disc drives featuring leading, high-quality technology. Historically, our operating results have substantially depended upon our ability to be among the first-to-market with new product offerings. However, during a period of slowing areal density growth, such as we are in now, the importance of time-to-market may be less critical. Our market share and operating results in the future may be adversely affected, particularly if the areal density curve resumes its historical rate of growth, if we fail to:

 

  consistently maintain or improve our time-to-market performance with our new products;

 

  produce these products in sufficient volume;

 

  qualify these products with key customers on a timely basis by meeting our customers’ performance and quality specifications; or

 

  achieve acceptable manufacturing yields and costs with these products.

 

If delivery of our products is delayed, our OEM customers may use our competitors’ products to meet their production requirements. If the delay of our products causes delivery of those OEMs’ computer systems into which our products are integrated to be delayed, consumers and businesses may purchase comparable products from the OEMs’ competitors.

 

47


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Moreover, we face the related risk that consumers and businesses may wait to make their purchases if they want to buy a new product that has been shipped or announced but not yet released. If this were to occur, we may be unable to sell our existing inventory of products that may have become less efficient and cost effective compared to new products. As a result, even if we are among the first-to-market with a given product, subsequent introductions or announcements by our competitors of new products could cause us to lose revenue and not achieve a positive return on our investment in existing products and inventory.

 

Importance of Reducing Operating Costs—If we do not reduce our operating expenses, we will not be able to compete effectively in our industry.

 

Our strategy involves, to a substantial degree, increasing revenue while at the same time reducing operating expenses. In furtherance of this strategy, we have engaged in ongoing, company-wide manufacturing efficiency activities intended to increase productivity and reduce costs. These activities have included closures and transfers of facilities, significant personnel reductions and efforts to increase automation. We cannot assure you that our efforts will result in the increased profitability, cost savings or other benefits that we expect. Moreover, the reduction of personnel and closure of facilities may adversely affect our ability to manufacture our products in required volumes to meet customer demand and may result in other disruptions that affect our products and customer service. In addition, the transfer of manufacturing capacity of a product to a different facility frequently requires qualification of the new facility by some of our OEM customers. We cannot assure you that these activities and transfers will be implemented on a cost-effective basis without delays or disruption in our production and without adversely affecting our customer relationships and results of operations.

 

New Product Development and Technological Change—If we do not develop products in time to keep pace with technological changes, our operating results will be adversely affected.

 

Our customers have demanded new generations of rigid disc drive products as advances in computer hardware and software have created the need for improved storage products with features such as increased storage capacity, improved performance and reliability of smaller form factors. We, and our competitors have developed improved products, and we will need to continue to do so in the future. For fiscal year 2003 and the nine months ended April 2, 2004, we had product development expenses of $670 million and $505 million, respectively. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully complete the design or introduction of new products in a timely manner, that we will be able to manufacture new products in sufficient volumes with acceptable manufacturing yields, that we will be able to successfully market these new products or that these products will perform to specifications on a long-term basis. In addition, the impact of slowing areal density growth may adversely impact our ability to be successful.

 

When we develop new products with higher capacity and more advanced technology, our operating results may decline because the increased difficulty and complexity associated with producing these products increases the likelihood of reliability, quality or operability problems. If our products suffer increases in failures, are of low quality or are not reliable, customers may reduce their purchases of our products and our manufacturing rework and scrap costs and service and warranty costs may increase. In addition, a decline in the reliability of our products may make us less competitive as compared with other rigid disc drive manufacturers.

 

48


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Impact of Technological Change—Increases in the areal density of disc drives may outpace customers’ demand for storage capacity.

 

The rate of increase in areal density, or storage capacity per square inch on a disc, may be greater than the increase in our customers’ demand for aggregate storage capacity. As a result, our customers’ storage capacity needs may be satisfied with fewer rigid disc drives. These factors could decrease our sales, especially when combined with continued price erosion, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Changes in Information Storage Products—Future changes in the nature of information storage products may reduce demand for traditional rigid disc drive products.

 

We expect that in the future new personal computing devices and products will be developed, some of which, such as Internet appliances, may not contain a rigid disc drive. While we are investing development resources in designing information storage products for new applications, it is too early to assess the impact of these new applications on future demand for rigid disc drive products. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in developing other information storage products. In addition, there are currently no widely accepted standards in various technical areas that may be important to the future of our business, including the developing sector of intelligent storage solutions. Products using alternative technologies, such as semiconductor memory, optical storage and other storage technologies could become a significant source of competition to particular applications of our products.

 

For example, semiconductor memory is much faster than rigid disc drives, but currently is volatile in that it is subject to loss of data in the event of power failure and is much more costly than rigid disc drive technologies. Flash EEPROM, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, is currently much more costly than rigid disc drive technologies and, while it has higher read performance than rigid disc drives, it has lower write performance. Flash EEPROM could become competitive in the near future for applications requiring less storage capacity than that required in traditional markets for our products.

 

High Fixed Costs—Our vertical integration strategy entails a high level of fixed costs.

 

Our vertical integration strategy entails a high level of fixed costs and requires a high volume of production and sales to be successful. During periods of decreased production, these high fixed costs have had, and could in the future have, a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. For example, in 1998 our predecessor experienced a significant decrease in the demand for its products, and because our predecessor was unable to adequately reduce its costs to offset this decrease in revenue, its gross and operating margins suffered. In addition, a strategy of vertical integration has in the past and could in the future delay our ability to introduce products containing market-leading technology, because we may not have developed the technology and source of components for our products and do not have access to external sources of supply without incurring substantial costs.

 

49


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Research and development expenses represent a significant portion of our fixed costs. As part of our vertical integration strategy, we explore a broad range of ways to improve rigid disc drives as well as possible alternatives to rigid disc drives for storing and retrieving electronic data. If we fail to develop new technologies in a timely manner, and our competitors succeed in doing so, our ability to sell our products could be significantly diminished. Conversely, if we over invest in technologies that can never be profitably manufactured and marketed, our results of operations could suffer. By way of example, we have incurred expenses in exploring new technologies for storing electronic data, including perpendicular recording technology, which involves a different orientation for the magnetic field than is currently used in rigid disc drives, and heat assisted magnetic recording technology, which uses heat generated by a laser to improve storage capacity. We believe these new technologies could significantly improve the storage capacity of rigid disc drives over the long-term. To date, we have not yet developed a commercial product based on these technologies. Furthermore, based on our recent experience in the industry with respect to new product introductions, we believe that the rate of increase of areal density is slowing as compared to its previous levels, which has lengthened the life cycles of existing products and may further postpone returns on our investments in new technologies. If we have invested too much in new technologies, our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, as we replace our existing assets with new, higher cost assets, we expect that our depreciation expense will increase, which will contribute to our high level of fixed costs and reduce our earnings. This could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.

 

Dependence on Supply of Equipment and Components—If we experience shortages or delays in the receipt of critical equipment or components necessary to manufacture our products, we may suffer lower operating margins, production delays and other material adverse effects.

 

The cost, quality and availability of some equipment, components and raw materials used to manufacture rigid disc drives and other information storage products are critical to the successful manufacture of these products. The equipment we use to manufacture our products is frequently custom made and comes from a few suppliers. Particularly important components include read/write heads, recording media, application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, spindle motors and printed circuit boards. We rely on sole suppliers and a limited number of suppliers for some of these components, including the read/write heads and recording media that we do not manufacture, ASICs, spindle motors and printed circuit boards. In the past, we have experienced increased costs and production delays when we were unable to obtain the necessary equipment or sufficient quantities of some components and/or have been forced to pay higher prices for some components or raw materials, such as precious metals, that were in short supply in the industry in general.

 

Due to the weakened economy in general and in the technology sector of the economy in particular, the rigid disc drive industry has experienced economic pressure, which has resulted in consolidation among component manufacturers and may result in some component manufacturers exiting the industry or not making sufficient investments in research to develop new components. In addition, the recent increases in demand for our mobile computing products, such as notebook computers, could lead to shortages in the components used in smaller form factor rigid disc drives such as the glass substrates used to make the recording media for such drives. These events could affect our ability to obtain critical components for our products, including our recently introduced line of products for notebook computers, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our prospects and results of operations.

 

50


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

If there is a shortage of, or delay in supplying us with, critical components, then:

 

  it is likely that our suppliers would raise their prices and, if we could not pass these price increases to our customers, our operating margin would decline;

 

  we might have to reengineer some products, which would likely cause production and shipment delays, make the reengineered products more costly and provide us with a lower rate of return on these products;

 

  we would likely have to allocate the components we receive to certain of our products and ship less of others, which could reduce our revenues and could cause us to lose sales to customers who could purchase more of their required products from manufacturers that either did not experience these shortages or delays or that made different allocations; and

 

  we might be late in shipping products, causing potential customers to make purchases from our competitors and, thus, causing our revenue and operating margin to decline.

 

We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain critical components in a timely and economic manner, or at all.

 

Dependence on Key Customers—We may be adversely affected by the loss of, or reduced, delayed or cancelled purchases by, one or more of our larger customers.

 

For fiscal year 2003 and the nine months ended April 2, 2004, our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 63% and 62%, respectively, of our rigid disc drive revenue. Hewlett-Packard accounted for approximately 18% of our rigid disc drive revenue for each of fiscal year 2003 and the nine months ended April 2, 2004. If any of our key customers were to significantly reduce their purchases from us, our results of operations would be adversely affected. While sales to major customers may vary from period to period, a major customer that permanently discontinues or significantly reduces its relationship with us could be difficult to replace. In line with industry practice, new customers usually require that we pass a lengthy and rigorous qualification process at the customer’s cost. Accordingly, it may be difficult for us to attract new major customers.

 

Customer Concentration—Consolidation among our customers could cause sales of our products to decline.

 

Mergers, acquisitions, consolidations or other significant transactions involving our customers generally entail risks to our business. For example, IBM, which is one of our key customers, merged its disc drive business with the disc drive business of Hitachi through the formation of a new company with which IBM has entered into a multi-year supply agreement. As a result, IBM may decrease its purchases from us in favor of this new company. If a significant transaction involving any of our key customers results in the loss of or reduction in purchases by these key customers, it could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

51


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

OEM Purchase Agreements—Our OEM customers are not obligated to purchase our products.

 

Typically, our OEM purchase agreements permit OEMs to cancel orders and reschedule delivery dates without significant penalties. In the past, orders from many of our OEMs were cancelled and delivery schedules were delayed as a result of changes in the requirements of the OEMs’ customers. These order cancellations and delays in delivery schedules have had a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the past and may do so again in the future. Our OEMs and distributors typically furnish us with non-binding indications of their near term requirements, with product deliveries based on weekly confirmations. If actual orders from distributors and OEMs decrease from their non-binding forecasts, these variances could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

Economic Risks Associated with International Operations—Our international operations subject us to risks related to currency exchange fluctuations, longer payment cycles for sales in foreign countries, seasonality and disruptions in foreign markets, tariffs and duties, price controls, potential adverse tax consequences, increased costs, our customers’ credit and access to capital and health-related risks.

 

We have significant operations in foreign countries, including manufacturing facilities, sales personnel and customer support operations. For fiscal year 2003 and the nine months ended April 2, 2004, approximately 31% and 31%, respectively, of our rigid disc drive revenue were from sales to customers located in Europe and approximately 35% and 40%, respectively, were from sales to customers located in the Far East. We have manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Singapore and Thailand, in addition to those in the United States. A substantial portion of our desktop rigid disc drive assembly occurs in our facility in China.

 

Our international operations are subject to economic risks inherent in doing business in foreign countries, including the following:

 

  Disruptions in Foreign Markets.    Disruptions in financial markets and the deterioration of the underlying economic conditions in the past in some countries, including those in Asia, have had an impact on our sales to customers located in, or whose end-user customers are located in, these countries.

 

  Fluctuations in Currency Exchange Rates.    Prices for our products are denominated predominately in U.S. dollars, even when sold to customers that are located outside the United States. Currency instability in Asian and other geographic markets may make our products more expensive than products sold by other manufacturers that are priced in the local currency. Moreover, many of the costs associated with our operations located outside the United States are denominated in local currencies. As a consequence, the increased strength of local currencies against the U.S. dollar in countries where we have foreign operations would result in higher effective operating costs and, potentially, reduced earnings. Currently, we do not hedge our foreign exchange risk. Recent fluctuations in foreign exchange rates have had a negative effect on our operations and profitability and there can be no assurance that these fluctuations will not become more aggravated and result in a material adverse effect on our operations and profitability.

 

  Longer Payment Cycles.    Our customers outside of the United States are often allowed longer time periods for payment than our U.S. customers. This increases the risk of nonpayment due to the possibility that the financial condition of particular customers may worsen during the course of the payment period.

 

52


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

  Seasonality.    Seasonal reductions in the business activities of our customers during the summer months, particularly in Europe, typically result in lower earnings during those periods.

 

  Tariffs, Duties, Limitations on Trade and Price Controls.    Our international operations are affected by limitations on imports, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations, price controls and other restraints on trade. In addition, the governments of many countries, including China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, in which we have significant operating assets, have exercised and continue to exercise significant influence over many aspects of their domestic economies and international trade.

 

  Potential Adverse Tax Consequences.    Our international operations create a risk of potential adverse tax consequences, including imposition of withholding or other taxes on payments by subsidiaries.

 

  Increased Costs.    The shipping and transportation costs associated with our international operations are typically higher than those associated with our U.S. operations, resulting in decreased operating margins in some foreign countries.

 

  Credit and Access to Capital Risks.    Our international customers could have reduced access to working capital due to higher interest rates, reduced bank lending resulting from contractions in the money supply or the deterioration in the customer’s or its bank’s financial condition, or the inability to access other financing.

 

Political Risks Associated with International Operations—Our international operations subject us to risks related to political unrest and terrorism.

 

We have manufacturing facilities in parts of the world that periodically experience political unrest. This could disrupt our ability to manufacture important components as well as cause interruptions and/or delays in our ability to ship components to other locations for continued manufacture and assembly. Any such delays or interruptions could result in delays in our ability to fill orders and have an adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition. U.S. and international responses to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the ongoing hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq and the risk of hostilities with North Korea could exacerbate these risks.

 

Legal and Operational Risks Associated with International Operations—Our international operations subject us to risks related to staffing and management, legal and regulatory requirements and the protection of intellectual property.

 

Operating outside of the United States creates difficulties associated with staffing and managing our international manufacturing facilities, complying with local legal and regulatory requirements and protecting our intellectual property. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be found to be operating in compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject. We also cannot assure you that these laws will not be modified.

 

53


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Conflicts of Interest of our Directors and Officers—Our directors and executive officers may have conflicts of interest because of their ownership of capital stock of, and their employment with, our parent company and our affiliates.

 

Many of our directors and executive officers hold ordinary shares of our parent company, New SAC. Ownership of the capital stock of our parent company by our directors and officers could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when our directors and officers are faced with decisions that could have different implications for us and for New SAC.

 

Some of our directors also serve on the board of New SAC. Several of our executive officers also serve as officers and/or directors of New SAC as well as of other affiliates of ours. In view of these overlapping relationships, conflicts of interest may exist or arise with respect to existing and future business dealings, including the relative commitment of time and energy by our directors and officers to us and to our parent company and affiliates, potential acquisitions of businesses or properties and other business opportunities, the issuance of additional securities, the election of new or additional directors and the payment of distributions by us. We cannot assure you that any conflicts of interest will be resolved in our favor.

 

Risks Associated with Future Acquisitions—We may not be able to identify suitable strategic alliance, acquisition or investment opportunities, or successfully acquire and integrate companies that provide complementary products or technologies.

 

Our growth strategy may involve pursuing strategic alliances with, and making acquisitions of or investments in, other companies that are complementary to our business. There is substantial competition for attractive strategic alliance, acquisition and investment candidates. We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition, investment or strategic partnership candidates. Even if we were able to identify them, we cannot assure you that we will be able to partner with, acquire or invest in suitable candidates, or integrate acquired technologies or operations successfully into our existing technologies and operations. Our ability to finance potential acquisitions will be limited by our high degree of leverage, the covenants contained in the indenture that governs our outstanding 8% senior notes, the credit agreement that governs our senior secured credit facilities and any agreements governing any other debt we may incur.

 

If we are successful in acquiring other companies, these acquisitions may have an adverse effect on our operating results, particularly while the operations of the acquired business are being integrated. It is also likely that integration of acquired companies would lead to the loss of key employees from those companies or the loss of customers of those companies. In addition, the integration of any acquired companies would require substantial attention from our senior management, which may limit the amount of time available to be devoted to our day-to-day operations or to the execution of our strategy. Furthermore, the expansion of our business involves the risk that we might not manage our growth effectively, that we would incur additional debt to finance these acquisitions or investments and that we would incur substantial charges relating to the write-off of in-process research and development, similar to that which we incurred in connection with several of our prior acquisitions. Each of these items could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

54


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Potential Loss of Licensed Technology—The closing of the November 2000 transactions may have triggered change of control or anti-assignment provisions in some of our license agreements, which could result in a loss of our right to use licensed technology.

 

We have a number of cross-licenses with third parties that enable us to manufacture our products free from any infringement claims that might otherwise be made by these third parties against us. A number of these licenses contain change of control or anti-assignment provisions. We have taken steps to transfer these licenses in connection with the closing of the November 2000 transactions; however, we cannot assure you that these transfers will not be challenged. For example, Papst Licensing GmbH, IBM and Hitachi initially took the position that their license agreements did not transfer to our new business entities. Subsequently, we entered into new license agreements with IBM and Hitachi in December 2001. In September 2002, we settled a broader dispute with Papst that also resolved the claim by Papst that its license agreement was not properly transferred.

 

We received a letter dated November 20, 2002 from Read-Rite Corporation asserting that we do not currently have a license to its patented technology and that our rigid disc drive products infringe at least two of its patents. We have since received additional letters from Read-Rite Corporation making the same claims. Seagate Delaware entered into a Patent Cross License Agreement dated December 31, 1994, which covered the two patents referenced in the November 20 letter, as well as other intellectual property of Read-Rite Corporation. Prior to the November 20, 2002 letter, Read-Rite Corporation had not responded to our efforts to confirm that under the Patent Cross License Agreement we were entitled to a new license agreement in our own name and on materially the same terms as the 1994 agreement. In order to clarify the parties’ rights under the Patent Cross License Agreement, we filed a declaratory judgment action on May 7, 2003 in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, seeking a declaration that we are entitled to a cross-license, effective as of November 22, 2000, under terms substantially identical to those contained in the Patent Cross License Agreement. On June 11, 2003 Read-Rite Corporation answered the complaint putting forward a general denial and asserting various affirmative defenses. On June 17, 2003, Read-Rite Corporation filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Upon notice, our declaratory judgment action has been stayed. On July 23, 2003, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved Western Digital Corporation’s bid to acquire the assets of Read-Rite Corporation, including the intellectual property that was the subject of Read-Rite’s dispute with us, in a transaction that closed on July 31, 2003. We objected to Western Digital’s assumption of the Patent Cross-License Agreement. On November 14, 2003, the Bankruptcy Trustee made a motion to assume or reject certain Read-Rite executory contracts, rejecting the Patent Cross-License Agreement. We have given notice of our election to retain the benefits of the Patent Cross-License Agreement to the extent permitted by Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

To the extent that third party cross-licenses, including the Patent Cross License Agreement dated December 31, 1994 between Read-Rite Corporation and Seagate Delaware, are deemed not to have been properly assigned to us in the November 2000 transactions, our inability to either obtain new licenses or transfer existing licenses could result in delays in product development or prevent us from selling our products until equivalent substitute technology can be identified, licensed and/or integrated or until we are able to substantially engineer our products to avoid infringing the rights of third parties. We might not be able to renegotiate agreements, be able to obtain necessary licenses in a timely manner, on acceptable terms, or at all, or be able to re-engineer our products successfully. Moreover, the loss of or inability to extend any of these licenses would increase the risk of infringement claims being made against us, which claims could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

55


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Risk of Intellectual Property Litigation—Our products may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to incur unexpected costs or prevent us from selling our products.

 

We cannot be certain that our products do not and will not infringe issued patents or other intellectual property rights of others. Historically, patent applications in the United States and some foreign countries have not been publicly disclosed until the patent is issued, and we may not be aware of currently filed patent applications that relate to our products or technology. If patents are later issued on these applications, we may be liable for infringement. We may be subject to legal proceedings and claims, including claims of alleged infringement of the patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by us, or our licensees in connection with their use of our products. We are currently subject to a suit by Convolve, Inc. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a suit pending in Nanjing, China. In addition, as noted above, Read-Rite Corporation, in a letter dated November 20, 2002 and in correspondence since that date, asserted that we do not currently have a license to Read-Rite Corporation patented technology and that our rigid disc drive products infringe at least two Read-Rite Corporation patents. We filed a declaratory judgment action in the Superior Court of California, seeking to clarify our rights to Read-Rite Corporation’s patented technology. Read-Rite Corporation responded by filing a general denial and asserting various affirmative defenses. On June 17, 2003, Read-Rite Corporation filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and, pursuant to a notice we received on June 19, 2003, our declaratory judgment action has been stayed. On July 23, 2003, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved Western Digital Corporation’s bid to acquire the assets of Read-Rite Corporation, including the intellectual property that was the subject of Read-Rite’s dispute with us, in a transaction that closed on July 31, 2003. We objected to Western Digital’s assumption of the Patent Cross-License Agreement. On November 14, 2003, the Bankruptcy Trustee made a motion to assume or reject certain Read-Rite executory contracts, rejecting the Patent Cross-License Agreement. We have given notice of our election to retain the benefits of the Patent Cross-License Agreement to the extent permitted by Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming, regardless of the merits of any claim, and could divert our management’s attention from operating our business. In addition, intellectual property lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties due to the complexity of the technical issues involved, and we cannot assure you that we will be successful in defending ourselves against intellectual property claims. Moreover, software patent litigation has increased due to the current uncertainty of the law and the increasing competition and overlap of product functionality in the field. If we were to discover that our products infringe the intellectual property rights of others, we would need to obtain licenses from these parties or substantially reengineer our products in order to avoid infringement. We might not be able to obtain the necessary licenses on acceptable terms, or at all, or be able to reengineer our products successfully. Moreover, if we are sued for infringement and lose the suit, we could be required to pay substantial damages and/or be enjoined from using or selling the infringing products or technology. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from selling our products.

 

56


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Dependence on Intellectual Property—If our intellectual property and other proprietary information were copied or independently developed by competitors, our operating results would be negatively affected.

 

Our success depends to a significant degree upon our ability to protect and preserve the proprietary aspects of our technology. However, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our technology without our authorization, particularly in those countries where the laws do not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States, or protect us from independently developing or acquiring technology that is similar to ours. For example, in its bankruptcy proceedings under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, Read-Rite Corporation’s patents and other intellectual property rights were sold to Western Digital Corporation, who will use this intellectual property to compete against us. The use of our technology or similar technology by others could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage we have developed, cause us to lose sales or otherwise harm our business. If it became necessary for us to resort to litigation to protect these rights, any proceedings could be burdensome and costly, and we may not prevail.

 

Limitations on Patent Protection—Our issued and pending patents may not adequately protect our intellectual property or provide us with any competitive advantage.

 

Although we have numerous U.S. and foreign patents and numerous pending patents that relate to our technology, we cannot assure you that any patents, issued or pending, will provide us with any competitive advantage or will not be challenged by third parties. Moreover, our competitors may already have applied for patents that, once issued, will prevail over our patent rights or otherwise limit our ability to sell our products in the United States or abroad. Our competitors also may attempt to design around our patents or copy or otherwise obtain and use our proprietary technology. With respect to our pending patent applications, we may not be successful in securing patents for these claims. Our failure to secure these patents may limit our ability to protect the intellectual property rights that these applications were intended to cover.

 

57


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Disclosure of our Proprietary Technology—Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements may not adequately protect our proprietary technology or trade secrets.

 

We have entered into confidentiality agreements with our employees and non-disclosure agreements with customers, suppliers and potential strategic partners, among others. If any party to these agreements were to violate their agreement with us and disclose our proprietary technology to a third party, we may be unable to prevent the third party from using this information. Because a significant portion of our proprietary technology consists of specialized knowledge and technical expertise developed by our employees, we have a program in place designed to ensure that our employees communicate any developments or discoveries they make to other employees. However, employees may choose to leave our company before transferring their knowledge and expertise to our other employees. Violations by others of our confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements and the loss of employees who have specialized knowledge and expertise could harm our competitive position and cause our sales and operating results to decline. Our trade secrets may otherwise become known or independently developed by others, and trade secret laws provide no remedy against independent development or discovery.

 

Service Marks and Trademarks—Our failure to obtain trademark registrations or service marks, or challenges to those marks, could impede our marketing efforts.

 

We have registered and applied for some service marks and trademarks, and will continue to evaluate the registration of additional service marks and trademarks, as appropriate. We cannot guarantee the approval of any of our pending applications by the applicable governmental authorities. Moreover, even if the applications are approved, third parties may seek to oppose or otherwise challenge these registrations. A failure to obtain trademark registrations in the United States and in other countries could limit our ability to use our trademarks and impede our marketing efforts in those jurisdictions.

 

Environmental Matters—We could incur substantial costs, including cleanup costs, fines and civil or criminal sanctions, as a result of violations of or liabilities under environmental laws.

 

Our operations inside and outside the United States are subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, and the cleanup of contaminated sites. In addition to the U.S. federal, state and local laws to which our domestic operations are subject, our extensive international manufacturing operations subject us to environmental regulations imposed by foreign governments.

 

Although our policy is to apply strict standards for environmental protection at our sites inside and outside the United States, we could incur substantial costs, including cleanup costs, fines and civil or criminal sanctions, third-party property damage or personal injury claims if we were to violate or become liable under environmental laws or become non-compliant with environmental permits required at our facilities. Contaminants have been detected at some of our present and former sites, principally in connection with historical operations. In addition, we have been named as a potentially responsible party at several superfund sites. While we are not currently aware of any contaminated or superfund sites as to which material outstanding claims or obligations exist, the discovery of additional contaminants or the imposition of additional cleanup obligations at these or other sites could result in significant liability. In addition, the ultimate costs under environmental laws and the timing of these costs are difficult to predict. Liability under some environmental laws relating to contaminated sites can be imposed retroactively and on a joint and several basis. In other words, one liable party could be held liable for all costs at a site. Potentially significant expenditures could be required in order to comply with environmental laws that may be adopted or imposed in the future.

 

58


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Dependence on Key Personnel—The loss of some key executive officers and employees could negatively impact our business prospects.

 

Our future performance depends to a significant degree upon the continued service of key members of management as well as marketing, sales and product development personnel. The loss of one or more of our key personnel would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. We believe our future success will also depend in large part upon our ability to attract, retain and further motivate highly skilled management, marketing, sales and product development personnel. A significant portion of the incentive compensation for our senior management vested in calendar year 2003 and substantially all of this compensation will have vested by November 2004. We may not be able to provide our senior management with adequate additional incentives to remain employed by us after this time. We have experienced intense competition for personnel, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key employees or that we will be successful in attracting, assimilating and retaining personnel in the future.

 

System Failures—System failures caused by events beyond our control could adversely affect computer equipment and electronic data on which our operations depend.

 

Our operations are dependent on our ability to protect our computer equipment and the information stored in our databases from damage by, among other things, earthquake, fire, natural disaster, power loss, telecommunications failures, unauthorized intrusion and other catastrophic events. As our operations become more automated and increasingly interdependent, our exposure to the risks posed by these types of events will increase. A significant part of our operations is based in an area of California that has experienced power outages and earthquakes and is considered seismically active. We do not have a contingency plan for addressing the kinds of events referred to in this paragraph that would be sufficient to prevent system failures and other interruptions in our operations that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Potential Tax Legislation—Negative publicity about companies located in certain offshore jurisdictions may lead to new legislation that could increase our tax burden.

 

Several members of the United States Congress have introduced legislation relating to the U.S. federal tax treatment of U.S. companies that have undertaken certain types of expatriation transactions. While we do not believe that this legislation, as currently proposed, would adversely affect us, the exact scope of the legislation and whether it will ultimately be enacted is unclear at this time. In addition, certain state legislatures have proposed similar legislation. Therefore, it is possible that federal or state legislation in this area, if enacted, could materially increase our future tax burden or otherwise affect our business.

 

59


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Risks Related to Our Substantial Indebtedness

 

Substantial Leverage—Our substantial leverage may place us at a competitive disadvantage in our industry.

 

We are leveraged and have significant debt service obligations. Our significant debt and debt service requirements could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities. For example, our high level of debt presents the following risks to you:

 

  we are required to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay principal and interest on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances and other general corporate requirements;

 

  our interest expense could increase if prevailing interest rates increase, because a substantial portion of our debt bears interest at floating rates;

 

  our substantial leverage increases our vulnerability to economic downturns and adverse competitive and industry conditions and could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to those of our competitors that are less leveraged;

 

  our debt service obligations could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry and could limit our ability to pursue other business opportunities, borrow more money for operations or capital in the future and implement our business strategies;

 

  our level of debt may restrict us from raising additional financing on satisfactory terms to fund working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, and other general corporate requirements; and

 

  covenants in our debt instruments limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to pay distributions or make other restricted payments and investments.

 

Significant Debt Service Requirements—Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash, and our ability to generate cash may be affected by factors beyond our control.

 

Our business may not generate cash flow in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay the principal of, or interest on, our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs, including working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, and other general corporate requirements. Our ability to generate cash is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that:

 

  our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations;

 

  we will continue to realize the cost savings, revenue growth and operating improvements that resulted from the execution of our long-term strategic plan; or

 

  future borrowings will be available to us under our senior secured credit facilities or that other sources of funding will be available to us, in each case, in amounts sufficient to enable us to fund our liquidity needs.

 

60


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

If we cannot fund our liquidity needs, we will have to take actions such as reducing or delaying capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our debt, or seeking additional equity capital. We cannot assure you that any of these remedies could, if necessary, be effected on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. In addition, our existing debt instruments permit us to incur a significant amount of additional debt. If we incur additional debt above the levels now in effect, the risks associated with our substantial leverage, including the risk that we will be unable to service our debt or generate enough cash flow to fund our liquidity needs, could intensify.

 

Restrictions Imposed by Debt Covenants—Restrictions imposed by our existing debt instruments will limit our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or engage in other business activities that may be in our interest.

 

Our existing debt instruments, including the indenture governing our outstanding 8% senior notes, impose, and the terms of any future debt may impose, operating and other restrictions on us. The indenture governing our 8% notes limits our ability to incur additional indebtedness if our consolidated coverage ratio, which is the ratio of the aggregate consolidated EBITDA of our subsidiary, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, the issuer of our 8% senior notes, and its restricted subsidiaries, to the total interest expense of those entities, is less than or equal to 3.0 to 1.0 during any consecutive four-quarter period. Our existing debt instruments also limit, among other things, our ability to:

 

  pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our shares;

 

  redeem or repurchase shares;

 

  make investments or other restricted payments;

 

  sell assets;

 

  issue or sell shares of restricted subsidiaries;

 

  enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

  create liens;

 

  enter into sale/leaseback transactions;

 

  effect a consolidation or merger; and

 

  make certain amendments to our deferred compensation plans.

 

These covenants are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions, including exceptions that permit us to make significant distributions of cash. In addition, the obligation to comply with many of the covenants under the indenture governing our 8% senior notes will cease to apply if the notes achieve investment grade status.

 

Our existing debt instruments also require us to achieve specified financial and operating results and maintain compliance with specified financial ratios. Our ability to comply with these ratios may be affected by events beyond our control.

 

61


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

A breach of any of the restrictive covenants described above or our inability to comply with the required financial ratios could result in a default under our existing debt instruments. If a default occurs, the holders of our outstanding 8% senior notes may elect to declare all of our outstanding obligations, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable. If our outstanding indebtedness were to be accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full that debt and any future indebtedness, which would cause the market price of our common shares to decline significantly.

 

Risks Related to Our Common Shares

 

Control by Our Sponsor Group—Because our sponsor group, through its ownership of New SAC, will continue to hold a controlling interest in us, the influence of our public shareholders over significant corporate actions will be limited.

 

As of April 2, 2004, affiliates of Silver Lake Partners, Texas Pacific Group, August Capital, J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC and investment partnerships affiliated with Goldman, Sachs & Co. indirectly own approximately 19.7%, 13.7%, 7.0%, 4.1% and 1.4%, respectively, of our outstanding common shares through their ownership of New SAC. The sponsors’ ownership of New SAC and New SAC’s and the sponsors’ ownership of us is the subject of shareholders agreements and other arrangements that result in the sponsors’ acting as a group with respect to all matters submitted to our shareholders. As a result, the members of our sponsor group will continue to have the power to:

 

  control all matters submitted to our shareholders;

 

  elect our directors; and

 

  exercise control over our business, policies and affairs.

 

Also, New SAC is not prohibited from selling a controlling interest in us to a third party.

 

Accordingly, our ability to engage in significant transactions, such as a merger, acquisition or liquidation, is limited without the consent of members of our sponsor group. Conflicts of interest could arise between us, and our sponsor group, and any conflict of interest may be resolved in a manner that does not favor us. The members of our sponsor group may continue to retain control of us for the foreseeable future and may decide not to enter into a transaction in which you would receive consideration for your common shares that is much higher than the cost to you or the then-current market price of those shares. In addition, the members of our sponsor group could elect to sell a controlling interest in us and you may receive less than the then-current fair market value or the price you paid for your shares. Any decision regarding their ownership of us that members of our sponsor group may make at some future time will be in their absolute discretion.

 

62


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Future Sales—Additional sales of our common shares by New SAC, our sponsors or our employees or issuances by us in connection with future acquisitions or otherwise could cause the price of our common shares to decline.

 

If New SAC or—after any distribution to our sponsors of our shares by New SAC—our sponsors sell a substantial number of our common shares in the future, the market price of our common shares could decline. The perception among investors that these sales may occur could produce the same effect. New SAC and our sponsors have rights, subject to specified conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering common shares or to include common shares in registration statements that we may file. In addition, beginning in June 2004, either Silver Lake Partners or Texas Pacific Group can unilaterally cause New SAC to distribute its shares in us to our sponsor group and New SAC’s other shareholders. By exercising their registration or distribution rights and selling a large number of common shares, New SAC or any of the sponsors could cause the price of our common shares to decline. Furthermore, if we were to include common shares in a registration statement initiated by us, those additional shares could impair our ability to raise needed capital by depressing the price at which we could sell our common shares.

 

One component of our business strategy is to make acquisitions. In the event of any future acquisitions, we could issue additional common shares, which would have the effect of diluting your percentage ownership of the common shares and could cause the price of our common shares to decline.

 

Volatile Public Markets—The price of our common shares may be volatile and could decline significantly.

 

The stock market in general, and the market for technology stocks in particular, has recently experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. If these market or industry-based fluctuations continue, the trading price of our common shares could decline significantly independent of our actual operating performance, and you could lose all or a substantial part of your investment. The market price of our common shares could fluctuate significantly in response to several factors, including among others:

 

  actual or anticipated variations in our results of operations;

 

  announcements of innovations, new products or significant price reductions by us or our competitors;

 

  our failure to meet the performance estimates of investment research analysts;

 

  the timing of announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts or acquisitions;

 

  general stock market conditions;

 

  the occurrence of major catastrophic events; and

 

  changes in financial estimates by investment research analysts.

 

63


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Failure to Pay Quarterly Distributions—Our failure to pay quarterly distributions to our common shareholders could cause the market price of our common shares to decline significantly.

 

We made quarterly cash distributions of $0.04 per share on each of August 22, 2003 and November 21, 2003 to all of our shareholders of record as of August 8, 2003 and November 7, 2003, respectively, including New SAC. We made a quarterly cash distribution of $0.06 per share on February 27, 2004 to all of our shareholders of record as of February 13, 2004, including New SAC.

 

Our ability to pay quarterly distributions will be subject to, among other things, general business conditions within the rigid disc drive industry, our financial results, the impact of paying distributions on our credit ratings, and legal and contractual restrictions on the payment of distributions by our subsidiaries to us or by us to our shareholders, including restrictions imposed by the covenants contained in the indenture governing our senior notes and the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities. Any reduction or discontinuation of quarterly distributions could cause the market price of our common shares to decline significantly. Moreover, in the event our payment of quarterly distributions is reduced or discontinued, our failure or inability to resume paying distributions at historical levels could result in a persistently low market valuation of our common shares.

 

Taxation of Distributions—Certain U.S. shareholders may be ineligible for favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment on distributions on our common shares.

 

Because we did not have any current or accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended June 27, 2003, distributions on our common shares during this period were treated as a return of capital rather than dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. There can be no assurance, however, that we will not have current or accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes in future years. To the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions on our common shares will not be treated as a return of capital distribution and will be treated as dividend income.

 

Furthermore, we currently believe that we are a foreign personal holding company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under recent U.S. federal income tax legislation, U.S. shareholders who are individuals will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation applicable to certain dividend income (currently a maximum rate of 15%) on distributions on our common shares if we qualify as a foreign personal holding company in the year in which such distributions were made or in the preceding taxable year. As a result, if distributions on our common shares are treated as dividend income because we have current or accumulated earnings and profits in the taxable year in which such distributions are made, U.S. shareholders who are individuals may not qualify for favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment under the new legislation.

 

Potential Governmental Action—Governmental action against companies located in offshore jurisdictions may lead to a reduction in the demand for our common shares.

 

Recently, several state and other governmental officials have threatened to take legislative and other actions against U.S. companies that have expatriated to specific foreign jurisdictions. For example, the California state treasurer has requested that certain pension funds eliminate from their investment portfolios all public equity and fixed income holdings of companies that have reincorporated in foreign jurisdictions. If we are included within the scope of such legislation or governmental action, it may reduce the demand for, and have a material adverse effect on the price of, our common shares.

 

64


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Securities Litigation—Significant fluctuations in the market price of our common shares could result in securities class action claims against us.

 

Significant price and value fluctuations have occurred with respect to the publicly traded securities of rigid disc drive companies and technology companies generally. The price of our common shares is likely to be volatile in the future. In the past, following periods of decline in the market price of a company’s securities, class action lawsuits have often been pursued against that company. If similar litigation were pursued against us, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

 

Limited Protection of Shareholder Interests—Holders of the common shares may face difficulties in protecting their interests because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

 

Our corporate affairs are governed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, by the Companies Law (2003 Revision) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in jurisdictions in the United States. Therefore, you may have more difficulty in protecting your interests in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholder than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, due to the comparatively less developed nature of Cayman Islands law in this area.

 

Unlike many jurisdictions in the United States, Cayman Islands law does not specifically provide for shareholder appraisal rights on a merger or consolidation of a company. This may make it more difficult for you to assess the value of any consideration you may receive in a merger or consolidation or to require that the offeror give you additional consideration if you believe the consideration offered is insufficient.

 

Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies such as ourselves have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records and accounts or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of the company. Our directors have discretion under our articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.

 

Subject to limited exceptions, under Cayman Islands law, a minority shareholder may not bring a derivative action against the board of directors. Our Cayman Islands counsel is not aware of any reported class action or derivative action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court.

 

65


Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions Could Discourage or Prevent an Acquisition of Us—Provisions of our articles of association and Cayman Islands corporate law may impede a takeover, which could adversely affect the value of the common shares.

 

Our articles of association permit our board of directors to issue preferred shares from time to time, with such rights and preferences as they consider appropriate. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of preferred shares with terms and conditions and under circumstances that could have an effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction.

 

Unlike many jurisdictions in the United States, Cayman Islands law does not provide for mergers as that expression is understood under corporate law in the United States. While Cayman Islands law does have statutory provisions that provide for the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, which are commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement,” the procedural and legal requirements necessary to consummate these transactions are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States. Under Cayman Islands law and practice, a scheme of arrangement in relation to a solvent Cayman Islands exempted company must be approved at a shareholders’ meeting by a majority of the company’s shareholders who are present and voting (either in person or by proxy) at such meeting. The shares voted in favor of the scheme of arrangement must also represent at least 75% of the value of each class of the company’s shareholders (excluding the shares owned by the parties to the scheme of arrangement) present and voting at the meeting. The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands must also sanction the convening of these meetings and the terms of the amalgamation. Although there is no requirement to seek the consent of the creditors of the parties involved in the scheme of arrangement, the Grand Court typically seeks to ensure that the creditors have consented to the transfer of their liabilities to the surviving entity or that the scheme of arrangement does not otherwise materially adversely affect the creditors’ interests. Furthermore, the Grand Court will only approve a scheme of arrangement if it is satisfied that:

 

  the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;

 

  the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;

 

  the scheme of arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and

 

  the scheme of arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law.

 

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities—Holders of our common shares may have difficulty obtaining or enforcing a judgment against us because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

Because we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, there is uncertainty as to whether the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands would recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof, or be competent to hear original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.

 

66


Table of Contents
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Interest Rate Risk.    Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio and long-term debt. We currently do not use derivative financial instruments in either our investment portfolio, or to hedge debt.

 

We invest in high credit quality issuers and, by policy, limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. As stated in our policy, we are averse to principal loss and ensure the safety and preservation of our invested funds by limiting default risk and market risk.

 

We mitigate default risk by maintaining a diversified portfolio and by investing in only high quality securities. We constantly monitor our investment portfolio and position our portfolio to respond appropriately to a reduction in credit rating of any investment issuer, guarantor or depository. We maintain a highly liquid portfolio by investing only in marketable securities with active secondary or resale markets.

 

We have both fixed and floating rate debt obligations. We enter into debt obligations to support general corporate purposes including capital expenditures and working capital needs. We have used derivative financial instruments in the form of an interest rate swap agreement to hedge a portion of our floating rate debt obligations. Our last interest rate swap agreement matured in November 2002. We currently have no swap agreements.

 

67


Table of Contents

The table below presents principal (or notional) amounts and related weighted average interest rates by year of maturity for our investment portfolio and debt obligations as of April 2, 2004. All investments mature in three years or less.

 

     2004

    2005

    2006

    2007

    2008

   Thereafter

    Total

    Fair Value
April 2, 2004


     (in millions)

Assets

                                                           

Cash equivalents:

                                                           

Fixed rate

   $ 629                                          $ 629     $ 629

Average interest rate

     1.03 %                                          1.03 %      

Short-term investments:

                                                           

Fixed rate

   $ 31     $ 31     $ 41     $ 231                  $ 334     $ 336

Average interest rate

     1.57 %     1.99 %     2.59 %     2.69 %                  2.91 %      

Variable rate

   $ 291                                          $ 291     $ 291

Average interest rate

     1.12 %                                          1.12 %      

Total investment securities

   $ 951     $ 31     $ 41     $ 231                  $ 1,254     $ 1,256

Average interest rate

     1.07 %     1.99 %     2.59 %     2.69 %                  1.44 %      

Long-Term Debt

                                                           

Fixed rate

                                        $ 400     $ 400     $ 420

Average interest rate

                                          8.00 %     8.00 %      

Floating rate:

                                                           

Tranche B

   $ 2     $ 4     $ 3     $ 336                  $ 345     $ 345

(LIBOR +2%)

     3.13 %     3.13 %     3.13 %     3.13 %                  3.13 %      

 

Foreign Currency Risk.    We transact business in various foreign countries. Our primary foreign currency cash flows are in emerging market countries in Asia and in European countries. During the nine months ended April 2, 2004, we did not hedge any of our local currency cash flows. All foreign currency cash flow requirements were met using spot foreign exchange transactions. Recent fluctuations in foreign exchange rates have not had a material effect on our operations and profitability; however, there can be no assurance that these fluctuations will not become more aggravated and result in a material adverse effect on our operations and profitability.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days before the filing date of this quarterly report. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to their evaluation.

 

68


Table of Contents

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our legal proceedings described below. Litigation is inherently uncertain and may result in adverse rulings or decisions. Additionally, we may enter into settlements or be subject to judgments that may, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

Intellectual Property Litigation

 

Convolve, Inc. and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) v. Seagate Technology LLC, et al.    Between 1998 and 1999, Convolve, Inc., a small privately held technology consulting firm founded by an MIT Ph.D., engaged in discussions with Seagate Delaware with respect to the potential license of technology that Convolve claimed to own. During that period, the parties entered into non-disclosure agreements. We declined Convolve’s offer of a license in late 1999. On July 13, 2000, Convolve and MIT filed suit against Compaq Computer Corporation and us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging patent infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract and fraud relating to Convolve and MIT’s Input Shaping® and Convolve’s Quick and QuietTM technology. The plaintiffs claim their technology is incorporated in our sound barrier technology, which was publicly announced on June 6, 2000. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, $800 million in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages. We answered the complaint on August 2, 2000 and filed counterclaims for declaratory judgment that two Convolve/MIT patents are invalid and not infringed and that we own any intellectual property based on the information that we disclosed to Convolve. The court denied plaintiffs’ motion for expedited discovery and ordered plaintiffs to identify their trade secrets to defendants before discovery could begin. Convolve served a trade secrets disclosure on August 4, 2000, and we filed a motion challenging the disclosure statement. On May 3, 2001, the court appointed a special master to review the trade secret issues. The special master resigned on June 5, 2001, and the court appointed another special master on July 26, 2001. After a hearing on our motion challenging the trade secrets disclosure on September 21, 2001, the special master issued a report and recommendation to the court that the trade secret list was insufficient. Convolve revised the trade secret list, and the court entered an order on January 1, 2002, accepting the special master’s recommendation that this trade secret list was adequate. On November 6, 2001, the USPTO issued US Patent No. 6,314,473 to Convolve. Convolve filed an amended complaint on January 16, 2002, alleging defendants’ infringement of this patent, and we answered and filed counterclaims on February 8, 2002. Discovery is in process. On July 26, 2002, we filed a Rule 11 motion challenging the adequacy of plaintiffs’ pre-filing investigation on the first two patents alleged in the complaint and seeking dismissal of plaintiffs’ claims related to these patents and reimbursement of attorney’s fees. The court denied our motion on May 23, 2003. Briefing on claims construction issues has been completed and a claims construction (Markman) hearing has been requested. No trial date has been set. We believe that the claims are without merit, and we intend to defend against them vigorously. On May 6, 2003, the USPTO issued to Convolve U.S. Patent No. 6,560,658 B2, entitled “Data Storage Device with Quick and Quiet Modes.” Convolve has indicated that it will seek leave of the court to add this patent to the lawsuit. This latest patent is a continuation of a patent currently in the lawsuit (U.S. Patent No. 6,314,473). We similarly believe any claims that may relate to this continuation patent would be without merit, regardless of whether such claims were added to the ongoing litigation or asserted against us in a separate lawsuit. Judge John Martin, who was assigned to this case, has announced his retirement from the federal bench.

 

69


Table of Contents

The case was reassigned to Judge George B. Daniels. On October 14, 2003, the Special Master resigned from the case due to Convolve’s claim that he had a conflict of interest. Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV was appointed to handle all discovery matters. Plaintiffs have indicated that they will dismiss claims regarding U.S. Patent No. 5,638,267 from the case. The claims construction hearing on U.S. Patent Nos. 4,916,635 and 6,314,473 was held on March 30 and 31, 2004. We await the court’s order.

 

Shao Tong, et al. v. Seagate International (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.    In July 2002, we were sued in the People’s Court of Nanjing City, China, by an individual, Shao Tong, and a private Chinese company, Nanjing Yisike Network Safety Technique Co., Ltd. The complaint alleged that two of our personal storage disc drive products infringe Chinese patent number ZL94111461.9, which prevents the corruption of systems data stored on rigid disc drives. The suit, which sought to stop us from manufacturing the two products and claimed immaterial monetary damages, was dismissed by the court on procedural grounds on November 29, 2002. On December 3, 2002, the plaintiffs served us with notice that they had refiled the lawsuit. The new complaint contains identical infringement claims against the same disc drive products, claims immaterial monetary damages and attorney’s fees and requests injunctive relief and a recall of the products from the Chinese market. Manufacture of the accused products ceased in May 2003. At a hearing on March 10, 2003, the court referred the matter to an independent technical advisory board for a report on the application of the patent claims to the two products. On June 10, 2003, we presented our non-infringement case to the technical panel. The panel issued a technical advisory report to the court finding no infringement. The court heard oral arguments on the technical advisory report in September 2003, issued an order that Seagate products do not infringe the patent and rejected plaintiffs’ lawsuit. Plaintiffs filed an appeal with the Jiangsu High Court, and we filed our opposition brief on January 21, 2004. The PRC Patent Reexamination Board declared patent ZL94111461.9 invalid on March 28, 2004. The patentee has three months to appeal the PRB’s decision. The Jiangsu High Court stayed the appeal on the infringement case pending a final judgment on patent invalidity. We believe the claims are without merit, and we intend to defend against them vigorously.

 

Read-Rite Corporation—In order to clarify our rights under a Patent Cross-License Agreement between Seagate Delaware and Read-Rite Corporation, we filed a declaratory judgment action on May 7, 2003 in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, seeking a declaration that we are entitled to a cross-license, effective as of November 22, 2000, under terms substantially identical to those contained in the Patent Cross License Agreement. On June 11, 2003, Read-Rite Corporation answered the complaint putting forward a general denial and asserting various affirmative defenses. On June 17, 2003, Read-Rite Corporation filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Upon notice, our declaratory judgment action has been stayed. On July 23, 2003, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved Western Digital Corporation’s bid to acquire the assets of Read-Rite Corporation, including intellectual property that was the subject of Read-Rite’s dispute with us, in a transaction that closed on July 31, 2003. We objected to Western Digital’s assumption of the Patent Cross-License Agreement. On November 14, 2003, the Bankruptcy Trustee made a motion to assume or reject certain Read-Rite executory contracts, rejecting the Patent Cross-License Agreement. We have given notice of our election to retain the benefits of the Patent Cross-License Agreement to the extent permitted by Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

70


Table of Contents

Securities and Exchange Commission’s Request for Information

 

In October 2003, we received from the Securities and Exchange Commission a request for all third-party research analyst reports regarding Seagate Technology published during the period commencing January 1, 2000 through August 30, 2003. By early December 2003 we had provided all information requested by the SEC. There are no outstanding requests from the SEC for further information. The additional information furnished related to the allegations of the former employee who has claimed the company terminated him in violation of the Minnesota Whistleblower Act. Nothing has come to our attention during this process that changes our view regarding the lack of merit of those claims. There is no procedural requirement that the SEC completes any investigation within certain timeframes or makes any announcements with respect to the status of an investigation.

 

The former employee has alleged that the Company dismissed him because he asserted that the Company had incorrectly reallocated certain expenses between costs of goods sold and research and development costs in its financial statements. The reallocations, which the Company did record, were related to a broad company restructuring that changed the focus of activities at various locations as between manufacturing and research and development. These reallocations had no impact on either revenues or earnings and were detailed in the Company’s financial statements contained in its initial public offering prospectus. Moreover, the Company reviewed the reallocations, as well as its financial statement disclosures regarding them, with its independent auditors and the members of the audit committee of its board of directors at the time of the Company’s initial public offering in light of the employee’s allegations. Based upon the Company’s review, which included an investigation by independent counsel and independent accountants reporting to its audit committee, the Company believes that all reallocations were appropriate, the associated disclosure was complete, and that all of the employee’s allegations are without merit.

 

Other Matters

 

We are involved in a number of other judicial and administrative proceedings incidental to our business, and we may be involved in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of our business in the future. Although occasional adverse decisions or settlements may occur, we believe that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

There were no sales of unregistered securities during the nine months ended April 2, 2004.

 

71


Table of Contents
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description


2.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2000, by and among Suez Acquisition Company (Cayman) Limited, Seagate Technology, Inc. and Seagate Software Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.2    Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of March 29, 2000, by and among VERITAS Software Corporation, Victory Merger Sub, Inc. and Seagate Technology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.3    Indemnification Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2000, by and among VERITAS Software Corporation, Seagate Technology, Inc. and Suez Acquisition Company (Cayman) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.4    Joinder Agreement to the Indemnification Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2000, by and among VERITAS Software Corporation, Seagate Technology, Inc. and the SAC Indemnitors listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.5    Consolidated Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement, Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, and Indemnification Agreement, and Consent, dated as of August 29, 2000, by and among Suez Acquisition Company (Cayman) Limited, Seagate Technology, Inc., Seagate Software Holdings, Inc., VERITAS Software Corporation and Victory Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.6    Consolidated Amendment No. 2 to Stock Purchase Agreement, Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, and Indemnification Agreement, and Consent, dated as of October 18, 2000, by and among Suez Acquisition Company (Cayman) Limited, Seagate Technology, Inc., Seagate Software Holdings, Inc., VERITAS Software Corporation and Victory Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.6 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.7    Letter Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2000, by and between VERITAS Software Corporation and Suez Acquisition Company (Cayman) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.7 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
2.8    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2002, by and among Oak Investment Partners X, Limited Partnership, Oak X Affiliates Fund, L.P., Oak Investment Partners IX, Limited Partnership, Oak IX Affiliates Fund, L.P., Oak IX Affiliates Fund-A, L.P., Seagate Technology Holdings, Seagate Technology SAN Holdings and XIOtech Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.8 to amendment no. 6 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on November 8, 2002)

 

72


Table of Contents
2.9    Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 31, 2002, to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2002, by and among Oak Investment Partners X, Limited Partnership, Oak X Affiliates Fund, L.P., Oak Investment Partners IX, Limited Partnership, Oak IX Affiliates Fund, L.P., Oak IX Affiliates Fund-A, L.P., Seagate Technology Holdings, Seagate Technology SAN Holdings and XIOtech Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.9 to amendment no. 6 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on November 8, 2002)
3.1    Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of Seagate Technology (formerly known as Seagate Technology Holdings) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-31560) filed with the SEC on February 10, 2003)
3.2    Second Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Seagate Technology (formerly known as Seagate Technology Holdings) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-31560) filed with the SEC on February 10, 2003)
4.1    Form of 8% Senior Notes due 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
4.2    Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2002, by and among Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, Seagate Technology Holdings and U.S. Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
4.3    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2002, by and among Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, Seagate Technology Holdings, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
4.4    Specimen Common Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to amendment no. 1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form s-1 (reg. no. 333-100513) filed with the SEC on November 8, 2002)
4.5    Shareholders Agreement by and among Seagate Technology Holdings, New SAC, Silver Lake Technology Investors Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Investors Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Partners Cayman, L.P., SAC Investments, L.P., August Capital III, L.P., J.P. Morgan Partners, L.L.C., GS Capital Partners III, L.P., GS Capital Partners III Offshore, L.P., Goldman Sachs & Co. Verwaltungs GmbH, Stone Street Fund 2000 L.P., Bridge Street Special Opportunities Fund 2000, L.P., Staenberg Venture Partners II, L.P., Staenberg Seagate Partners, LLC, Integral Capital Partners V, L.P., Integral Capital Partners V Side Fund, L.P. and the Shareholders listed on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-13560) filed with the SEC on February 10, 2003)
10.1    Credit Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2002, by and among Seagate Technology Holdings, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc., the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as syndication agent, joint bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Citicorp USA, Inc., as documentation agent, Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation, as documentation agent, and Credit Suisse First Boston, as documentation agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)

 

73


Table of Contents
10.2 (a)   Form of Employment Agreement by and between Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. and the Executive listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(a) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.2 (b)   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2001, by and between Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. and Stephen J. Luczo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(b) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.2 (c)   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2001, by and between Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. and William D. Watkins (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(c) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.3 (a)   Form of Management Retention Agreement by and between the Employee listed therein and Seagate Technology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(a) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.3 (b)   Management Retention Agreement, dated November 1998, by and between Seagate Technology, Inc. and Stephen J. Luczo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(b) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.4     Management Participation Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2000, by and among Seagate Technology, Inc., Suez Acquisition Company (Cayman) Limited and the Senior Managers party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.5     Form of Rollover Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2000, by and among New SAC, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings and the Senior Manager listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.6     Seagate Technology HDD Holdings Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.7 (a)   New SAC 2000 Restricted Share Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7(a) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.7 (b)   Form of New SAC 2000 Restricted Share Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7(b) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.8 (a)   New SAC 2001 Restricted Share Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(a) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.8 (b)   Form of New SAC 2001 Restricted Share Agreement (Tier 1 Senior Managers) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(b) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.8 (c)   Form of New SAC 2001 Restricted Share Agreement (Other Employees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(c) to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)

 

74


Table of Contents
10.9    Seagate Technology Holdings 2001 Share Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.10    Shareholders Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2000, by and among New SAC, Silver Lake Technology Investors Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Investors Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Partners Cayman, L.P., SAC Investments, L.P., August Capital III, L.P., Chase Equity Associates, L.P., GS Capital Partners III, L.P., GS Capital Partners III Offshore, L.P., Goldman, Sachs & Co. Verwaltungs GmbH, Stone Street Fund 2000 L.P., Bridge Street Special Opportunities Fund 2000, L.P., Staenberg Venture Partners II, L.P., Staenberg Seagate Partners, LLC, Integral Capital Partners V, L.P., Integral Capital Partners V Side Fund, L.P. and the individuals listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.11    Management Shareholders Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2000, by and among New SAC and the Management Shareholders listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.14    Promissory Note, dated as of May 8, 1998, by and between Seagate Technology, Inc., as lender, and David Wickersham, as borrower (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.15    Promissory Note, dated as of October 10, 2000, by and between Seagate Technology LLC, as lender, and Brian Dexheimer, as borrower (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.16    Promissory Note, dated as of February 16, 2001, by and between Seagate Technology LLC, as lender, and Jeremy Tennenbaum, as borrower (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.17    Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2002, by and among Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, Seagate Technology Holdings and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and the other initial purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on May 16, 2002)
10.18    Form of Indemnification Agreement between Seagate Technology Holdings and the director or officer named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to amendment no. 1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on July 5, 2002)
10.19    Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002, by and among New SAC and its subsidiaries party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1 (reg. no. 333-100513) filed with the SEC on October 11, 2002)
10.20    Promissory Note, dated as of October 10, 2000, by and between Seagate Technology LLC, as lender, and Patrick J. O’Malley III and Patricia A. O’Malley, as borrowers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to amendment no. 7 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on November 18, 2002)

 

75


Table of Contents
10.21    Amendment No. 1, dated December 5, 2002, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2002, by and among Seagate Technology Holdings, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc., the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as syndication agent, joint bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Citicorp USA, Inc., as documentation agent, Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation, as documentation agent, and Credit Suisse First Boston, as documentation agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to amendment no. 9 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on December 6, 2002)
10.22    Amendment No. 2, dated January 28, 2004, to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 13, 2002, by and among Seagate Technology Holdings, Seagate Technology HDD Holdings, Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc., the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc., as syndication agent, joint bookrunner and co-lead arranger, Citicorp USA, Inc., as documentation agent, Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation, as documentation agent, and Credit Suisse First Boston, as documentation agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (file no. 001-31560) filed with the SEC on February 3, 2004)
10.23*    Seagate Technology Annual Incentive Bonus Plan
14.1    Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K (file no. 001-31560) filed with the SEC on August 21, 2003)
21.1    List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to amendment no. 4 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-88388) filed with the SEC on September 27, 2002)
31.1*    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

* Filed herewith

 

76


Table of Contents

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

On January 21, 2004, the registrant filed a Current Report on form 8-K with regard to the announcement of its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended January 2, 2004, and with regard to its intention to increase its quarterly dividend from $0.04 per share to $0.06 per share, contingent upon amending its existing credit agreements.

 

On March 3, 2004, the registrant filed a Current Report on form 8-K with regard to its in-quarter business update for the third fiscal quarter ending April 2, 2004.

 

On March 16, 2004, the registrant filed a Current Report on form 8-K with regard to the completion, by the Internal Revenue Service, of its review of certain of Seagate Delaware’s (formerly Seagate Technology, Inc.) federal tax returns, and the subsequent completion of the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation’s review of the Internal Revenue Service’s conclusions.

 

On April 6, 2004, the registrant filed a Current Report on form 8-K with regard to its update of previously provided results of operations guidance for the third fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2004.

 

On April 20, 2004, the registrant filed a Current Report on form 8-K with regard to the announcement of its financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2004.

 

On April 30, 2004, the registrant filed a Current Report on form 8-K with regard to the announcement that it will separate the roles of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with Bill Watkins succeeding Steve Luczo as CEO effective July 3, 2004. Additionally, the registrant announced the resignation of David Bonderman from its board of directors and the naming of Gregorio Reyes and Lydia Marshall as new members effective April 29, 2004.

 

77


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

       

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

DATE:  

May 3, 2004

      BY:  

/s/    STEPHEN J. LUCZO        

               
               

Stephen J. Luczo

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer

and Director)

 

DATE:  

May 3, 2004

      BY:  

/s/    CHARLES C. POPE        

               
               

Charles C. Pope

Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and

Accounting Officer)

 

78