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

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 27, 2009

or

 

¨

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: 000-10030

 

 

Apple Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

California   94-2404110
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, California
  95014
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 996-1010

 

 

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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No  x

895,816,758 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of July 13, 2009

 

 

 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

APPLE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In millions, except share amounts which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008
   June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008

Net sales

   $ 8,337    $ 7,464    $ 26,667    $ 24,584

Cost of sales

     5,314      4,864      17,141      16,178
                           

Gross margin

     3,023      2,600      9,526      8,406
                           

Operating expenses:

           

Research and development

     341      292      975      811

Selling, general, and administrative

     1,010      916      3,086      2,762
                           

Total operating expenses

     1,351      1,208      4,061      3,573
                           

Operating income

     1,672      1,392      5,465      4,833

Other income and expense

     60      118      281      480
                           

Income before provision for income taxes

     1,732      1,510      5,746      5,313

Provision for income taxes

     503      438      1,707      1,615
                           

Net income

   $ 1,229    $ 1,072    $ 4,039    $ 3,698
                           

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

   $ 1.38    $ 1.21    $ 4.53    $ 4.20

Diluted

   $ 1.35    $ 1.19    $ 4.47    $ 4.10

Shares used in computing earnings per share:

           

Basic

     893,712      883,738      891,345      879,753

Diluted

     909,160      903,167      904,549      901,028

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2


APPLE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(In millions, except share amounts)

 

          June 27,     
2009
   September 27,
2008
ASSETS:      

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,605    $ 11,875

Short-term marketable securities

     18,617      10,236

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $58 and $47, respectively

     2,686      2,422

Inventories

     380      509

Deferred tax assets

     1,731      1,447

Other current assets

     6,151      5,822
             

Total current assets

     35,170      32,311

Long-term marketable securities

     6,899      2,379

Property, plant and equipment, net

     2,653      2,455

Goodwill

     207      207

Acquired intangible assets, net

     259      285

Other assets

     2,952      1,935
             

Total assets

   $ 48,140    $ 39,572
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:      

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 4,854    $ 5,520

Accrued expenses

     3,338      3,719

Deferred revenue

     8,469      4,853
             

Total current liabilities

     16,661      14,092

Deferred revenue – non-current

     3,667      3,029

Other non-current liabilities

     1,924      1,421
             

Total liabilities

     22,252      18,542
             

Commitments and contingencies

     

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Common stock, no par value; 1,800,000,000 shares authorized; 895,735,210 and
888,325,973 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     7,957      7,177

Retained earnings

     17,878      13,845

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     53      8
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     25,888      21,030
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 48,140    $ 39,572
             

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3


APPLE INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In millions)

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period

   $ 11,875      $ 9,352   
                

Operating Activities:

    

Net income

     4,039        3,698   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:

    

Depreciation, amortization, and accretion

     506        339   

Stock-based compensation expense

     530        375   

Deferred income tax (benefit)/expense

     (201     41   

Loss on disposition of property, plant and equipment

     18        15   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable, net

     (264     34   

Inventories

     129        (199

Other current assets

     (298     (100

Other assets

     (816     101   

Accounts payable

     (648     (1,226

Deferred revenue

     4,254        1,823   

Other liabilities

     (200     400   
                

Cash generated by operating activities

     7,049        5,301   
                

Investing Activities:

    

Purchases of marketable securities

     (34,696     (17,153

Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities

     12,780        9,378   

Proceeds from sales of marketable securities

     9,117        2,367   

Purchases of other long-term investments

     (61     (31

Payment for acquisition of property, plant and equipment

     (685     (688

Payment for acquisition of intangible assets

     (56     (89

Other

     (62     20   
                

Cash used in investing activities

     (13,663     (6,196
                

Financing Activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     288        411   

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

     124        621   

Cash used to net share settle equity awards

     (68     (116
                

Cash generated by financing activities

     344        916   
                

(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (6,270     21   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period

   $ 5,605      $ 9,373   
                

Supplemental cash flow disclosure:

    

Cash paid for income taxes, net

   $ 2,490      $ 1,022   

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4


Apple Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Apple Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively “Apple” or the “Company”) design, manufacture, and market personal computers, portable digital music players, and mobile communication devices and sell a variety of related software, third-party digital content and applications, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. The Company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force, and third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, the Company sells a variety of third-party Mac, iPod, and iPhone compatible products including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and various other accessories and supplies through its online and retail stores. The Company sells to consumer, small and mid-sized business (“SMB”), education, enterprise, government, and creative markets.

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which in the opinion of management are necessary to present fairly the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for all periods presented. The preparation of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Certain prior year amounts in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. During the first quarter of 2009, the Company reclassified $2.4 billion of certain fixed-income securities from short-term marketable securities to long-term marketable securities in the September 27, 2008 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The reclassification resulted from a change in accounting presentation for certain investments based on contractual maturity dates, which more closely reflects the Company’s assessment of the timing of when such securities will be converted to cash. As a result of this change, marketable securities with maturities less than 12 months are classified as short-term and marketable securities with maturities greater than 12 months are classified as long-term. There have been no changes in the Company’s investment policies or practices associated with this change in accounting presentation. See Note 2, “Financial Instruments” of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2008, included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2008 Form 10-K”). Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years or quarters refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters of those fiscal years.

In May 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 165, Subsequent Events, which established general accounting standards and disclosure for subsequent events. The Company adopted SFAS No. 165 during the third quarter of 2009. In accordance with SFAS No. 165, the Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date and time the financial statements were issued on July 22, 2009.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding options, shares to be purchased under the employee stock purchase plan, and unvested restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per common share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.

 

5


The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 (in thousands, except net income in millions and per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008
   June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008

Numerator:

           

Net income

   $ 1,229    $ 1,072    $ 4,039    $ 3,698
                           

Denominator:

           

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     893,712      883,738      891,345      879,753

Effect of dilutive securities

     15,448      19,429      13,204      21,275
                           

Weighted-average shares diluted

     909,160      903,167      904,549      901,028
                           

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 1.38    $ 1.21    $ 4.53    $ 4.20
                           

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 1.35    $ 1.19    $ 4.47    $ 4.10
                           

Potentially dilutive securities representing approximately 10.5 million and 8.4 million shares of common stock for the three months ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008, respectively, and 13.4 million and 9.2 million shares of common stock for the nine months ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share for these periods because their effect would have been antidilutive.

Fair Value Measurements

During the third quarter of 2009, the Company adopted FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 107 and Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) 28-1, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, which requires disclosure about fair value of financial instruments in interim and annual financial statements. The adoption of FSP No. 107 and APB 28-1 had no financial impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but rather eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various other accounting pronouncements. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

SFAS No. 157 establishes a hierarchy for information and valuations used in measuring fair value, which is broken down into three levels. Level 1 valuations are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 valuations are based on inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices included within Level 1. Level 3 valuations are based on information that is unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The Company also adopted SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, during the first quarter of 2009. SFAS No. 159 allows companies to choose to measure eligible financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not required to be measured at fair value. SFAS No. 159 requires that unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected be reported in earnings at each reporting date. The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 but has not elected the fair value option for any eligible financial instruments.

Refer to Note 3, “Fair Value Measurements” of this Form 10-Q for additional information on the adoption of FSP No. 107 and SFAS Nos. 157 and 159.

 

6


Financial Instruments

During the third quarter of 2009, the Company adopted FSP No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments, which provide operational guidance for determining other-than-temporary impairments for debt securities. The adoption of FSP No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

During the second quarter of 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133, which requires additional disclosures about the Company’s objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, how the derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and related interpretations, and how the derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the financial statements. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 had no financial impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Refer to Note 2, “Financial Instruments” of this Form 10-Q for additional information on the adoption of FSP No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2 and SFAS No. 161.

Note 2 – Financial Instruments

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s cash and available-for-sale securities held in its marketable securities investment portfolio, recorded as cash, cash equivalents, short-term or long-term marketable securities as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008 (in millions):

 

          June 27, 2009         September 27, 2008

Cash

   $ 871    $ 368
             

Money market funds

     2,601      1,536

U.S. Treasury securities

     262      118

U.S. agency securities

     510      2,798

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

     554      2,560

Commercial paper

     789      4,429

Corporate securities

     —        66

Municipal securities

     18      —  
             

Total cash equivalents

     4,734      11,507
             

U.S. Treasury securities

     2,951      343

U.S. agency securities

     12,083      5,823

Non-U.S. government securities

     110      83

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

     247      486

Commercial paper

     1,116      1,254

Corporate securities

     2,020      2,247

Municipal securities

     90      —  
             

Total short-term marketable securities

     18,617      10,236
             

U.S. Treasury securities

     428      100

U.S. agency securities

     1,266      751

Non-U.S. government securities

     74      —  

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

     —        32

Corporate securities

     4,833      1,496

Municipal securities

     298      —  
             

Total long-term marketable securities

     6,899      2,379
             

Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 31,121    $ 24,490
             

 

7


As of December 27, 2008, the Company changed its accounting presentation for certain fixed-income investments, which resulted in the reclassification of certain investments from short-term marketable securities to long-term marketable securities. As a result, prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. The Company classifies its marketable securities as either short-term or long-term based on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date, while its prior classifications were based on the nature of the securities and their availability for use in current operations. As a result of this change, marketable securities with maturities of less than 12 months are classified as short-term and marketable securities with maturities greater than 12 months are classified as long-term. The Company’s long-term marketable securities’ maturities range from one year to five years. The Company believes this new presentation is preferable as it more closely reflects the Company’s assessment of the timing of when such securities will be converted to cash. Accordingly, certain fixed-income investments totaling $2.4 billion have been reclassified from short-term marketable securities to long-term marketable securities in the September 27, 2008 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to conform to the current period’s financial statement presentation. There have been no changes in the Company’s investment policies or practices associated with this change in accounting presentation.

The following tables summarize the Company’s available-for-sale securities’ adjusted cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value by significant investment category as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008 (in millions):

 

     June 27, 2009
     Adjusted
Cost
   Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value

Money market funds

   $ 2,601    $ —      $ —        $ 2,601

U.S. Treasury securities

     3,637      4      —          3,641

U.S. agency securities

     13,828      31      —          13,859

Non-U.S. government securities

     185      —        (1     184

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

     801      —        —          801

Commercial paper

     1,905      —        —          1,905

Corporate securities

     6,868      29      (44     6,853

Municipal securities

     405      1      —          406
                            

Total cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 30,230    $ 65    $ (45   $ 30,250
                            
     September 27, 2008
     Adjusted
Cost
   Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value

Money market funds

   $ 1,536    $ —      $ —        $ 1,536

U.S. Treasury securities

     559      2      —          561

U.S. agency securities

     9,383      2      (13     9,372

Non-U.S. government securities

     83      —        —          83

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

     3,078      —        —          3,078

Commercial paper

     5,683      —        —          5,683

Corporate securities

     3,917      —        (108     3,809
                            

Total cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 24,239    $ 4    $ (121   $ 24,122
                            

The Company had net unrealized gains on its investment portfolio of $20 million as of June 27, 2009 and net unrealized losses on its investment portfolio of $117 million as of September 27, 2008. The net unrealized gains as of June 27, 2009 related primarily to short-term marketable securities, while the net unrealized losses as of September 27, 2008 related primarily to long-term marketable securities. The Company may sell certain of its

 

8


marketable securities prior to their stated maturities for strategic purposes, in anticipation of credit deterioration, or for duration management. The Company recognized no material net gains or losses during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 related to such sales.

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value for investments in an unrealized loss position as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position (in millions):

 

     June 27, 2009  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  

Security Description

   Fair
    Value    
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
    Value    
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
    Value    
   Unrealized
Loss
 

Non-U.S. government securities

   $ 125    $ (1   $ —      $ —        $ 125    $ (1

Corporate securities

     1,084      (3     1,033      (41     2,117      (44
                                             

Total

   $ 1,209    $ (4   $ 1,033    $ (41   $ 2,242    $ (45
                                             
     September 27, 2008  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  

Security Description

   Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
   Unrealized
Loss
 

U.S. agency securities

   $ 6,822    $ (13   $ —      $ —        $ 6,822    $ (13

Corporate securities

     2,147      (31     1,148      (77     3,295      (108
                                             

Total

   $ 8,969    $ (44   $ 1,148    $ (77   $ 10,117    $ (121
                                             

The Company considers the declines in market value of its marketable securities investment portfolio to be temporary in nature. The unrealized losses on the Company’s marketable securities were caused primarily by changes in market interest rates, specifically, widening credit spreads. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities, and its policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The Company’s investment policy requires investments to be rated single-A or better, with the objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. Fair values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. When evaluating the investments for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell, the investment before recovery of the investment’s amortized cost basis. During the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008, the Company did not recognize any material impairment charges on outstanding securities. As of June 27, 2009, the Company does not consider any of its investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivatives to partially offset its business exposure to foreign exchange risk. The Company may enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to offset some of the foreign exchange risk of expected future cash flows on certain forecasted revenue and cost of sales, of net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries, and on certain existing assets and liabilities. To help protect gross margins from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar, hedge a portion of forecasted foreign currency revenue. The Company’s subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar and who sell in local currencies, may hedge a portion of forecasted inventory purchases not denominated in the subsidiaries’ functional currencies. The Company typically hedges portions of its forecasted foreign currency exposure associated with revenue and inventory purchases for three to six months. To help protect the net investment in a foreign operation from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company may enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to offset the changes in the carrying amounts of these investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company may also enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to partially offset the foreign exchange gains and losses generated by the re-measurement of certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain foreign exchange exposures for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to immateriality, accounting

 

9


considerations, and the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in foreign exchange rates. As of the end of the third quarter of 2009, the general nature of the Company’s risk management activities and the general nature and mix of the Company’s derivative financial instruments have not changed materially from the end of 2008.

The Company’s accounting policies for these instruments are based on whether the instruments are designated as hedge or non-hedge instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133. The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The effective portions of cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income as a part of the cumulative translation adjustment. Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments and the ineffective portions of cash flow hedges and net investment hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings in other income and expense.

The Company had a net deferred gain associated with cash flow hedges of approximately $37 million and $19 million, net of taxes, recorded in other comprehensive income as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, respectively. Other comprehensive income associated with cash flow hedges of foreign currency revenue is recognized as a component of net sales in the same period as the related revenue is recognized, and other comprehensive income related to cash flow hedges of inventory purchases is recognized as a component of cost of sales in the same period as the related costs are recognized. The portion of the Company’s net deferred gain related to products under subscription accounting is expected to be recorded in earnings ratably over the related products’ estimated economic lives beginning when the hedged transactions occur, while the portion of the net deferred gain related to other products is expected to be recorded in earnings at the time the hedged transactions occur. As of June 27, 2009, the hedged transactions are expected to occur within six months.

Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges must be de-designated as hedges when it is probable the forecasted hedged transaction will not occur in the initially identified time period or within a subsequent two month time period. Deferred gains and losses in other comprehensive income associated with such derivative instruments are reclassified immediately into earnings through other income and expense. Any subsequent changes in fair value of such derivative instruments also are reflected in current earnings unless they are re-designated as hedges of other transactions. The Company did not recognize any material net gains related to the loss of hedge designation on discontinued cash flow hedges during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008, respectively.

The Company had an unrealized net loss on net investment hedges of $6 million and $1 million, net of taxes, included in the cumulative translation adjustment account of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, respectively. The ineffective portions and amounts excluded from the effectiveness test of net investment hedges are recorded in current earnings in other income and expense.

The Company recognized in earnings a net loss of $34 million and a net gain of $139 million on foreign currency forward and option contracts not designated as hedging instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133 during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively.

The following table shows the notional principal and credit risk amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments outstanding as of June 27, 2009 (in millions):

 

     June 27, 2009
     Notional
Principal
   Credit Risk
Amounts

Instruments qualifying as accounting hedges:

     

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 2,927    $ 23

Instruments other than accounting hedges:

     

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 6,540    $ 41

 

10


The notional principal amounts for derivative instruments provide one measure of the transaction volume outstanding as of June 27, 2009, and do not represent the amount of the Company’s exposure to credit or market loss. The credit risk amounts represent the Company’s gross exposure to potential accounting loss on these transactions if all counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of the contract, based on then-current currency exchange rates. The Company’s exposure to credit loss and market risk will vary over time as a function of currency exchange rates. Although the table above reflects the notional principal and credit risk amounts of the Company’s foreign exchange instruments, it does not reflect the gains or losses associated with the exposures and transactions that the foreign exchange instruments are intended to hedge. The amounts ultimately realized upon settlement of these financial instruments, together with the gains and losses on the underlying exposures, will depend on actual market conditions during the remaining life of the instruments.

The estimates of fair value are based on applicable and commonly used pricing models and prevailing financial market information as of June 27, 2009. Refer to Note 3, “Fair Value Measurements” of this Form 10-Q, for additional information on the fair value measurements for all financial assets and liabilities, including derivative assets and derivative liabilities, that are measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on a recurring basis. The following table shows the Company’s derivative instruments measured at gross fair value as reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 27, 2009 (in millions):

 

     June 27, 2009
     Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of Derivatives
Not Designated as Hedge
Instruments

Derivative assets (a):

     

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 22    $ 41

Derivative liabilities (b):

     

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 29    $ 37

 

  (a)

All derivative assets are recorded as other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

  (b)

All derivative liabilities are recorded as accrued expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following tables show the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments designated as cash flow and net investment hedges in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended June 27, 2009  
     Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in
AOCI -
Effective
Portion (a)
    Location of
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI into
Income -
Effective
Portion
   Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income -
Effective
Portion (a)
    Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Recognized -
Ineffective
Portion and
Amount Excluded
from
Effectiveness
Testing
   Gain or (Loss)
Recognized -
Ineffective Portion
and Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness
Testing
 

Cash flow hedges:

            

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ (13   Net sales    $ 12      Other income
and expense
   $ (13

Foreign exchange contracts

     (36   Cost of sales      (2   Other income
and expense
     (4

Net investment hedges:

            

Foreign exchange contracts

     (8   Other income
and expense
     —        Other income
and expense
     1   
                              

Total

   $ (57      $ 10         $ (16
                              

 

11


     Nine Months Ended June 27, 2009  
     Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in
AOCI -
Effective
Portion (a)
    Location of
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI into
Income -
Effective
Portion
   Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income -
Effective
Portion (a)
   Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Recognized -
Ineffective
Portion and
Amount Excluded
from
Effectiveness
Testing
   Gain or (Loss)
Recognized -
Ineffective Portion
and Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness
Testing
 

Cash flow hedges:

             

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 285      Net sales    $ 252    Other income
and expense
   $ (64

Foreign exchange contracts

     87      Cost of sales      95    Other income
and expense
     (9

Net investment hedges:

             

Foreign exchange contracts

     (30   Other income
and expense
     —      Other income
and expense
     3   
                             

Total

   $ 342         $ 347       $ (70
                             

 

(a)

Refer to Note 6, “Shareholders’ Equity” of this Form 10-Q, which summarizes the activity in other comprehensive income related to derivatives.

Note 3 – Fair Value Measurements

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157 for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and credit risk.

SFAS No. 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement. SFAS No. 157 establishes and prioritizes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

12


Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 27, 2009 (in millions):

 

     June 27, 2009
     Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Instruments
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   Total (a)

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 2,601    $ —      $ —      $ 2,601

U.S. Treasury securities

     —        3,641      —        3,641

U.S. agency securities

     —        13,859      —        13,859

Non-U.S. government securities

     —        184      —        184

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

     —        801      —        801

Commercial paper

     —        1,905      —        1,905

Corporate securities

     —        6,853      —        6,853

Municipal securities

     —        406      —        406

Marketable equity securities

     19      —        —        19

Derivative assets

     —        63      —        63
                           

Total assets measured at fair value

   $ 2,620    $ 27,712    $ —      $ 30,332
                           

Liabilities:

           

Derivative liabilities

   $ —      $ 66    $ —      $ 66
                           

Total liabilities measured at fair value

   $ —      $ 66    $ —      $ 66
                           

 

(a)

The total fair value amounts for assets and liabilities also represent the related carrying amounts.

 

13


The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis presented in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 27, 2009 (in millions):

 

     June 27, 2009
     Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Instruments
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   Total (a)

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents

   $ 2,601    $ 2,133    $ —      $ 4,734

Short-term marketable securities

     —        18,617      —        18,617

Long-term marketable securities

     —        6,899      —        6,899

Other current assets

     —        63      —        63

Other assets

     19      —        —        19
                           

Total assets measured at fair value

   $ 2,620    $ 27,712    $ —      $ 30,332
                           

Liabilities:

           

Other current liabilities

   $ —      $ 66    $ —      $ 66
                           

Total liabilities measured at fair value

   $ —      $ 66    $ —      $ 66
                           

 

(a)

The total fair value amounts for assets and liabilities also represent the related carrying amounts.

Note 4 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement Details

The following tables show the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement details as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008 (in millions):

Other Current Assets

 

           June 27, 2009          September 27, 2008

Deferred costs under subscription accounting - current

   $ 3,131    $ 1,931

Vendor non-trade receivables

     1,494      2,282

Inventory component prepayments

     259      475

Other current assets

     1,267      1,134
             

Total other current assets

   $ 6,151    $ 5,822
             

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

          June 27, 2009          September 27, 2008  

Land and buildings

   $ 911      $ 810   

Machinery, equipment, and internal-use software

     1,697        1,491   

Office furniture and equipment

     107        122   

Leasehold improvements

     1,507        1,324   
                

Gross property, plant and equipment

     4,222        3,747   

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (1,569     (1,292
                

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 2,653      $ 2,455   
                

 

14


Other Assets

 

          June 27, 2009         September 27, 2008

Deferred costs under subscription accounting - non-current

   $ 1,240    $ 1,089

Long-term inventory component prepayments

     500      208

Deferred tax assets - non-current

     226      138

Capitalized software development costs, net

     111      67

Other assets

     875      433
             

Total other assets

   $ 2,952    $ 1,935
             

Accrued Expenses

 

          June 27, 2009         September 27, 2008

Deferred margin on component sales

   $ 347    $ 681

Accrued marketing and distribution

     438      329

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

     270      320

Accrued warranty and related costs

     225      267

Other current liabilities

     2,058      2,122
             

Total accrued expenses

   $ 3,338    $ 3,719
             

Other Non-Current Liabilities

 

          June 27, 2009         September 27, 2008

Deferred tax liabilities

   $ 970    $ 675

Other non-current liabilities

     954      746
             

Total other non-current liabilities

   $ 1,924    $ 1,421
             

Note 5 – Income Taxes

As of June 27, 2009, the Company recorded gross unrecognized tax benefits of $680 million, of which $282 million, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. As of September 27, 2008, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $506 million, of which $253 million, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits are classified as other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company had $283 million and $219 million of gross interest and penalties accrued as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, respectively, which are classified as other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On May 27, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its ruling in the case of Xilinx, Inc. v. Commissioner, holding that stock-based compensation is required to be included in certain transfer pricing arrangements between a U.S. company and its offshore subsidiary. As a result of the ruling in this case, the Company increased its liability for unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $79 million and decreased shareholders’ equity by approximately $72 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Management believes that an adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that may result from tax examinations. However, the outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If any issues addressed in the Company’s tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s expectations, the Company could be required to adjust its provision for income tax in the period such resolution occurs. Although the timing of the resolution and/or closure of audits is highly uncertain, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that tax audit resolutions could reduce its unrecognized tax benefits by between $105 million and $145 million in the next 12 months.

Note 6 – Shareholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

The Company has five million shares of authorized preferred stock, none of which is issued or outstanding. Under the terms of the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is authorized to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the Company’s authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.

 

15


Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income refers to revenue, expenses, gains, and losses that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. The Company’s other comprehensive income consists of foreign currency translation adjustments from those subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, the effective portion of foreign currency net investment hedges, unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities categorized as available-for-sale, and net deferred gains and losses on certain derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges.

The following table summarizes the components of total comprehensive income, net of taxes, during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
    June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
 

Net income

   $ 1,229      $ 1,072      $ 4,039      $ 3,698   

Other comprehensive income:

        

Net change in unrecognized gains/losses on derivative instruments

     (35     10        18        (5

Change in foreign currency translation

     13        (1     (64     34   

Net change in unrealized losses on marketable securities

     60        (1     91        (15
                                

Total comprehensive income

   $ 1,267      $ 1,080      $ 4,084      $ 3,712   
                                

The following table summarizes activity in other comprehensive income related to derivatives, net of taxes, held by the Company during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
    June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
 

Change in fair value of derivatives

   $ (29   $ (1   $ 110      $ (12

Adjustment for net gains/losses realized and included in net income

     (6     11        (92     7   
                                

Change in unrecognized gains/losses on derivative instruments

   $ (35   $ 10      $ 18      $ (5
                                

The following table summarizes the components of AOCI, net of taxes, as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008 (in millions):

 

          June 27, 2009          September 27, 2008  

Net unrealized gain/losses on available-for-sale securities

   $ 21      $ (70

Cumulative foreign currency translation

     (5     59   

Net unrecognized gains on derivative instruments

     37        19   
                

Accumulated other comprehensive income

   $ 53      $ 8   
                

Employee Benefit Plans

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

As of July 17, 2009, executive officers Timothy D. Cook, Ronald B. Johnson, Peter Oppenheimer, Philip W. Schiller, and Bertrand Serlet have entered into trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) of the Securities

 

16


Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). A trading plan is a written document that pre-establishes the amounts, prices and dates (or formula for determining the amounts, prices and dates) of future purchases or sales of the Company’s stock including the exercise and sale of employee stock options and shares acquired pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan and upon vesting of RSUs.

Stock Option Activity

Historically, the Company used equity awards in the form of stock options as one of the means for recruiting and retaining highly skilled talent. Beginning in 2009, the Company changed its equity compensation program for eligible employees to RSUs as the primary type of long-term equity-based award. A summary of the Company’s stock option and RSU activity and related information for the nine months ended June 27, 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts and contractual term in years):

 

           Outstanding Options
     Shares
Available
for Grant
    Number
of Shares
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining

Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

Balance at September 27, 2008

   50,572      44,146      $ 74.39      

Restricted stock units granted

   (13,066   —        $ —        

Options granted

   (203   203      $ 98.02      

Options cancelled

   1,002      (1,002   $ 119.61      

Restricted stock units cancelled

   1,018      —        $ —        

Options exercised

   —        (4,822   $ 37.14      

Plan shares expired

   (3   —        $ —        
                    

Balance at June 27, 2009

   39,320      38,525      $ 78.01    3.67    $ 2,737,827
                    

Exercisable at June 27, 2009

     26,584      $ 55.51    3.10    $ 2,398,626

Expected to vest after June 27, 2009

     11,590      $ 114.03    4.94    $ 329,228

Aggregate intrinsic value represents the value of the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the fiscal period in excess of the weighted-average exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding or exercisable. The aggregate intrinsic value excludes the effect of stock options that have a zero or negative intrinsic value. The total intrinsic value of options at the time of exercise was $218 million and $367 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, and $584 million and $1.7 billion for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 28, 2008, respectively.

RSUs granted are deducted from the shares available for grant under the Company’s stock option plans utilizing a factor of two times the number of RSUs granted. Similarly, RSUs cancelled are added back to the shares available for grant under the Company’s stock option plans utilizing a factor of two times the number of RSUs cancelled.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company’s Board of Directors has granted RSUs to members of the Company’s executive management team, excluding its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), as well as various employees within the Company. Beginning in 2009, the Company changed its equity compensation program for eligible employees to RSUs as the primary type of long-term equity-based award. RSUs generally vest over four years either at the end of the four-year service period, in two equal installments on the second and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant, in equal installments on each of the first through fourth anniversaries of the grant date, or in equal installments on each semi-annual anniversary of the grant date. Upon vesting, the RSUs are generally net share settled to cover the required withholding tax and the remaining amount is converted into an equivalent number of shares of common stock.

 

17


Outstanding RSU balances were not included in the outstanding options balances in the preceding table. A summary of the Company’s RSU activity and related information for the nine months ended June 27, 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

Balance at September 27, 2008

   7,040      $ 134.91   

Restricted stock units granted

   6,533      $ 99.59   

Restricted stock units vested

   (1,719   $ 126.75   

Restricted stock units cancelled

   (509   $ 119.09   
           

Balance at June 27, 2009

   11,345      $ 116.52    $ 1,616,006
           

The fair value as of the vesting date of RSUs that vested was $98 million and $186 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively. There were no RSUs that vested during the three months ended June 28, 2008. RSUs that vested during the nine months ended June 28, 2008 had a fair value of $300 million as of the vesting date.

Note 7 – Stock-Based Compensation

SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, requires the use of a valuation model to calculate the fair value of stock-based awards. The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock-based awards. The BSM option-pricing model incorporates various assumptions including expected volatility, expected life, and interest rates. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock over the most recent period commensurate with the estimated expected life of the Company’s stock options and other relevant factors including implied volatility in market traded options on the Company’s common stock. The Company bases its expected life assumption on its historical experience and on the terms and conditions of the stock awards it grants to employees. Stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair-value as calculated by the BSM option-pricing model and is recognized as expense ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

The compensation expense incurred by the Company for RSUs is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and is amortized ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

The weighted-average assumptions used for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 and the resulting estimates of weighted-average fair value per share of options granted and of employee stock purchase plan rights (“stock purchase rights”) during those periods are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
   June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008

Expected life - stock options

     9.6 years (a)      3.4 years      3.7 years      3.4 years

Expected life - stock purchase rights

     6 months        6 months      6 months      6 months

Interest rate - stock options

     3.70% (a)      2.57%      1.83%      3.46%

Interest rate - stock purchase rights

     0.19%        3.40%      0.64%      3.91%

Expected volatility - stock options

     40.84% (a)      45.10%      52.61%      45.80%

Expected volatility - stock purchase rights

     57.64%        38.08%      55.23%      35.76%

Expected dividend yields

     —          —        —        —  

Weighted-average fair value of stock options granted during the period

   $ 68.84      $ 62.87    $ 39.83    $ 63.25

Weighted-average fair value of stock purchase rights during the period

   $ 24.92      $ 49.01    $ 29.38    $ 41.45

 

18


 

(a)

In conjunction with the Company’s 2009 equity compensation program changes, the Company began primarily issuing RSUs rather than stock options to employees, although the Company continues to grant stock options to non-employee directors. Accordingly the weighted average expected life of stock options for the third quarter of 2009 was heavily influenced by non-employee director stock option grants, which had a ten-year expected life. The weighted average expected life of stock options also affects the resulting interest rate and expected volatility assumptions.

The following table provides a summary of the stock-based compensation expense included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008
   June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008

Cost of sales

   $ 28    $ 21    $ 85    $ 59

Research and development

     65      47      192      133

Selling, general, and administrative

     86      65      253      183
                           

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 179    $ 133    $ 530    $ 375
                           

Stock-based compensation expense capitalized as part of software development costs was not significant as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008. The income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense was $199 million and $331 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, and was $55 million and $139 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 28, 2008, respectively. As of June 27, 2009, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock options and RSUs expected to vest was $1.5 billion, which the Company expects to recognize over its weighted-average vesting period of 2.7 years.

Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company leases various equipment and facilities, including retail space, under noncancelable operating lease arrangements. The Company does not currently utilize any other off-balance sheet financing arrangements. The Company’s major facility leases are generally for terms of 3 to 20 years and generally provide renewal options for terms of 1 to 5 years. Leases for retail space are generally for terms of 5 to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years, and often contain multi-year renewal options. As of September 27, 2008, the Company’s total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases were $1.8 billion, of which $1.4 billion related to leases for retail space. As of June 27, 2009, total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases related to leases for retail space was $1.4 billion.

Accrued Warranty and Indemnifications

The following table reconciles changes in the Company’s accrued warranties and related costs for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
    June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
 

Beginning accrued warranty and related costs

   $ 247      $ 218      $ 267      $ 230   

Cost of warranty claims

     (68     (82     (219     (242

Accruals for product warranties

     46        109        177        257   
                                

Ending accrued warranty and related costs

   $ 225      $ 245      $ 225      $ 245   
                                

The Company generally does not indemnify end-users of its operating system and application software against legal claims that the software infringes third-party intellectual property rights. Other agreements entered into by the Company sometimes include indemnification provisions under which the Company could be subject to costs and/or

 

19


damages in the event of an infringement claim against the Company or an indemnified third-party. However, the Company has not been required to make any significant payments resulting from such an infringement claim asserted against it or an indemnified third-party and, in the opinion of management, does not have a potential liability related to unresolved infringement claims subject to indemnification that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operating results. Therefore, the Company did not record a liability for infringement costs as of either June 27, 2009 or September 27, 2008.

Concentrations in the Available Sources of Supply of Materials and Product

Although most components essential to the Company’s business are generally available from multiple sources, certain key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, enclosures, certain liquid crystal displays (“LCDs”), certain optical drives, and application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”) are currently obtained by the Company from single or limited sources, which subjects the Company to significant supply and pricing risks. Many of these and other key components that are available from multiple sources including, but not limited to NAND flash memory, dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”), and certain LCDs, are subject at times to industry-wide shortages and significant commodity pricing fluctuations. In addition, the Company has entered into certain agreements for the supply of key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, NAND flash memory, DRAM and LCDs at favorable pricing, but there is no guarantee that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar favorable terms, or at all, upon expiration or otherwise obtain favorable pricing in the future. Therefore, the Company remains subject to significant risks of supply shortages and/or price increases that can have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and operating results.

The Company and other participants in the personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communication industries also compete for various components with other industries that have experienced increased demand for their products. In addition, the Company uses some custom components that are not common to the rest of the personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communication industries, and new products introduced by the Company often utilize custom components available from only one source until the Company has evaluated whether there is a need for, and subsequently qualifies, additional suppliers. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured. If the Company’s supply of a key single-sourced component for a new or existing product were delayed or constrained, if such components were available only at significantly higher prices, or if a key manufacturing vendor delayed shipments of completed products to the Company, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. The Company’s business and financial performance could also be adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source. Continued availability of these components at acceptable prices, or at all, may be affected if those suppliers decided to concentrate on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet the Company’s requirements.

Significant portions of the Company’s Mac computers, iPods, iPhones, logic boards, and other assembled products are now manufactured by outsourcing partners, primarily in various parts of Asia. A significant concentration of this outsourced manufacturing is currently performed by only a few of the Company’s outsourcing partners, often in single locations. Certain of these outsourcing partners are the sole-sourced supplier of components and manufacturing outsourcing for many of the Company’s key products including but not limited to final assembly of substantially all of the Company’s portable Mac computers, iPods, iPhones and most of the Company’s iMacs. Although the Company works closely with its outsourcing partners on manufacturing schedules, the Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if its outsourcing partners were unable to meet their production commitments. The Company’s purchase commitments typically cover its requirements for periods ranging from 30 to 150 days.

Long-Term Supply Agreements

The Company has entered into prepaid long-term supply agreements to secure the supply of certain inventory components. During the first quarter of 2009, a long-term supply agreement with Intel Corporation was terminated and the remaining prepaid balance of $167 million was repaid to the Company. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company made a prepayment of $500 million to LG Display for the purchase of LCD panels. As of June 27, 2009, the Company had a total of $759 million of inventory component prepayments outstanding.

Subsequent to June 27, 2009, the Company entered into a four-year supply agreement with Toshiba to purchase NAND flash memory. As part of the agreement, the Company made a prepayment of $500 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

20


Contingencies

The Company is subject to certain other legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business and have not been fully adjudicated, which are discussed in Part II, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Legal Proceedings”. In the opinion of management, the Company does not have a potential liability related to any current legal proceedings and claims that would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operating results. However, the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. If the Company failed to prevail in any of these legal matters or if several of these legal matters were resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, the operating results of a particular reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

Production and marketing of products in certain states and countries may subject the Company to environmental, product safety and other regulations including, in some instances, the requirement to provide customers the ability to return product at the end of its useful life, and place responsibility for environmentally safe disposal or recycling with the Company. Such laws and regulations have been passed in several jurisdictions in which the Company operates, including various countries within Europe and Asia, certain Canadian provinces and certain states within the U.S. Although the Company does not anticipate any material adverse effects in the future based on the nature of its operations and the thrust of such laws, there is no assurance that such existing laws or future laws will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

Note 9 – Segment Information and Geographic Data

In accordance with SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, the Company reports segment information based on the “management” approach. The management approach designates the internal reporting used by management for making decisions and assessing performance as the source of the Company’s reportable segments.

The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. Accordingly, the Company determined its operating segments, which are generally based on the nature and location of its customers, to be the Americas, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Retail, and FileMaker operations. The Company’s reportable operating segments consist of Americas, Europe, Japan, and Retail operations. Other operating segments include Asia Pacific, which encompasses Australia and Asia except for Japan, and the Company’s FileMaker, Inc. subsidiary. The Americas, Europe, Japan, and Asia Pacific segments exclude activities related to the Retail segment. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, as well as the Middle East and Africa. The Retail segment operates Apple-owned retail stores in the U.S. and in international markets. Each reportable operating segment provides similar hardware and software products and similar services to the same types of customers. The accounting policies of the various segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this Form 10-Q and in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K.

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on net sales and operating income. Net sales for geographic segments are generally based on the location of customers, while Retail segment net sales are based on sales from the Company’s retail stores. Operating income for each segment includes net sales to third parties, related cost of sales, and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment. Advertising expenses are generally included in the geographic segment in which the expenditures are incurred. Operating income for each segment excludes other income and expense and certain expenses managed outside the operating segments. Costs excluded from segment operating income include various corporate expenses, such as manufacturing costs and variances not included in standard costs, research and development, corporate marketing expenses, stock-based compensation expense, income taxes, various nonrecurring charges, and other separately managed general and administrative costs. The Company does not include intercompany transfers between segments for management reporting purposes. Segment assets exclude corporate assets, such as cash, short-term and long-term investments, manufacturing and corporate facilities, miscellaneous corporate infrastructure, goodwill and other acquired intangible assets. Except for the Retail segment, capital asset purchases for long-lived assets are not reported to management by segment. Cash payments for capital asset purchases by the Retail segment were $101 million and $202 million during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, and $113 million and $251 million during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 28, 2008, respectively.

 

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The Company has certain retail stores that have been designed and built to serve as high-profile venues to promote brand awareness and serve as vehicles for corporate sales and marketing activities. Because of their unique design elements, locations and size, these stores require substantially more investment than the Company’s more typical retail stores. The Company allocates certain operating expenses associated with its high-profile stores to corporate marketing expense to reflect the estimated Company-wide benefit. The allocation of these operating costs to corporate expense is based on the amount incurred for a high-profile store in excess of that incurred by a more typical Company retail location. The Company had opened a total of 11 high-profile stores as of June 27, 2009. Expenses allocated to corporate marketing resulting from the operations of high-profile stores were $17 million and $49 million during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, and $13 million and $37 million during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 28, 2008, respectively.

Summary information by operating segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 is as follows (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008
   June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008

Americas:

           

Net sales

   $ 3,827    $ 3,435    $ 11,845    $ 11,001

Operating income

   $ 1,156    $ 962    $ 3,453    $ 3,053

Europe:

           

Net sales

   $ 2,006    $ 1,648    $ 6,874    $ 5,899

Operating income

   $ 634    $ 549    $ 2,054    $ 1,794

Japan:

           

Net sales

   $ 416    $ 365    $ 1,397    $ 1,189

Operating income

   $ 177    $ 127    $ 494    $ 360

Retail:

           

Net sales

   $ 1,496    $ 1,445    $ 4,707    $ 4,597

Operating income

   $ 321    $ 297    $ 982    $ 1,036

Other Segments (a):

           

Net sales

   $ 592    $ 571    $ 1,844    $ 1,898

Operating income

   $ 163    $ 154    $ 506    $ 496

 

(a)

Other Segments consist of Asia-Pacific and FileMaker.

A reconciliation of the Company’s segment operating income to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 is as follows (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
    June 27,
2009
    June 28,
2008
 

Segment operating income

   $ 2,451      $ 2,089      $ 7,489      $ 6,739   

Stock-based compensation expense

     (179     (133     (530     (375

Other corporate expenses, net (a)

     (600     (564     (1,494     (1,531
                                

Total operating income

   $ 1,672      $ 1,392      $ 5,465      $ 4,833   
                                

 

(a)

Other corporate expenses include research and development, corporate marketing expenses, manufacturing costs and variances not included in standard costs, and other separately managed general and administrative expenses, including certain corporate expenses associated with support of the Retail segment.

 

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Note 10 – Related Party Transactions and Certain Other Transactions

The Company entered into a Reimbursement Agreement with its CEO, Steve Jobs, for the reimbursement of expenses incurred by Mr. Jobs in the operation of his private plane when used for Apple business. The Company did not recognize any expenses pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement during the three months ended June 27, 2009 and recognized a total of $4,000 in expenses pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement during the nine months ended June 27, 2009. The Company recognized a total of $102,000 and $682,000 in expenses pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 28, 2008, respectively. All expenses recognized pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement have been included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This section and other parts of this Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “plans,” “predicts,” and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” which are incorporated herein by reference. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2008 (the “2008 Form 10-K”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. All information presented herein is based on the Company’s fiscal calendar. Unless otherwise stated, references in this report to particular years or quarters refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters of those fiscal years. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

Available Information

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) are filed with the SEC. Such reports and other information filed by the Company with the SEC are available on the Company’s website at http://www.apple.com/investor when such reports are available on the SEC website. The public may read and copy any materials filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy, and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The contents of these websites are not incorporated into this filing. Further, the Company’s references to the URLs for these websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.

Executive Overview

The Company designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, portable digital music players, and mobile communication devices and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. The Company’s products and services include the Mac® line of desktop and portable computers, the iPod® line of portable digital music players, iPhone , Apple TV®, Xserve®, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the Mac OS® X operating system, third-party digital content and applications through the iTunes Store®, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings. The Company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force, and third-party wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers. In addition, the Company sells a variety of third-party Mac, iPod and iPhone compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and various other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores. The Company sells to consumer, small and mid-sized business (“SMB”), education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. A further description of the Company’s products may be found below under the heading “Products” and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” as well as in Part I, Item 1, “Business,” of the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K.

The Company is focused on providing innovative products and solutions to consumer, SMB, education, enterprise, government and creative customers that greatly enhance their evolving digital lifestyles and work environments. The Company is the only participant in the personal computer industry that controls the design and development of the entire personal computer, including the hardware, operating system, and sophisticated software applications. Additionally, the Company controls the design and development of hardware and system software for its portable digital music players and mobile communication devices, and hosts a robust platform for the discovery and delivery of third-party digital content and applications for these devices through the iTunes Store. The Company is therefore uniquely positioned to offer superior and well-integrated digital lifestyle and productivity solutions, which are further enhanced by the Company’s emphasis on ease-of-use and creative industrial designs.

The Company participates in several highly competitive markets, including personal computers with its Mac line of personal computers, consumer electronics with its iPod product families, mobile communications with iPhone, and distribution of third-party digital content and applications through its online iTunes Store. While the Company is widely recognized as a leading innovator in the personal computer and consumer electronics markets as well as a

 

24


leader in the emerging market for distribution of third-party digital content and applications, these markets are highly competitive and subject to aggressive pricing. To remain competitive, the Company believes that increased investment in research and development and marketing and advertising is necessary to maintain or expand its position in the markets where it competes. The Company’s research and development spending is focused on further developing its existing Mac line of personal computers, its operating system, application software, iPhone and iPods; developing new digital lifestyle consumer and professional software applications; and investing in new product areas and technologies. The Company also believes increased investment in marketing and advertising programs is critical to increasing product and brand awareness.

The Company utilizes a variety of direct and indirect distribution channels. The Company believes that sales of its innovative and differentiated products are enhanced by knowledgeable salespersons who can convey the value of the hardware, software, and peripheral integration, demonstrate the unique digital lifestyle solutions that are available on Mac computers, and demonstrate the compatibility of the Mac with the Windows platform and networks. The Company further believes providing a high-quality sales and after-sales support experience is critical to attracting new and retaining existing customers. To ensure a high-quality buying experience for its products in which service and education are emphasized, the Company continues to expand and improve its distribution capabilities by opening its own retail stores in the U.S. and internationally. The Company had 258 stores open as of June 27, 2009.

The Company has also invested in programs to enhance reseller sales, including the Apple Sales Consultant Program, which places Apple employees and contractors at selected third-party reseller locations. The Company believes providing direct contact with its targeted customers is an efficient way to demonstrate the advantages of its Mac computers and other products over those of its competitors. The Company also sells to customers directly through its online stores around the world and through its direct sales force.

The Company’s iPods are sold through a significant number of distribution points to provide broad access. iPods can be purchased in certain department stores, member-only warehouse stores, large retail chains, and specialty retail stores, as well as through the channels for Mac distribution listed above.

iPhone is distributed through the Company, its cellular network carriers’ distribution channels, and certain third-party resellers in over 80 countries. The Company has signed multi-year agreements with various cellular network carriers authorizing them to distribute and provide cellular network services for iPhones. These agreements are generally not exclusive with a specific carrier, except in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Spain, Ireland, and certain other countries.

Products

The Company offers a range of personal computing products including desktop and portable personal computers, related devices and peripherals, and various third-party hardware and software products. In addition, the Company offers its own software products, including Mac OS X, the Company’s proprietary operating system software for the Mac; server software and related solutions; professional application software; and consumer, education, and business oriented application software. The Company also designs, develops, and markets its family of iPod digital music players and its iPhone mobile communication devices, along with related accessories and services, including the online distribution of third-party digital content through the Company’s iTunes Store.

In June 2009, the Company introduced updates to its MacBook® Pro family of portable computers and released Safari® 4, a new version of the Company’s web browser. In June 2009, the Company also announced its next version of the Mac operating system, Mac OS X Version 10.6 Snow Leopard, which is expected to be available in September 2009.

In June 2009, the Company introduced iPhone 3GS, the third-generation iPhone that combines the features of iPhone 3G with longer battery life, a built-in three megapixel auto-focus camera, video recording, hands free voice control, and the new iPhone 3.0 software, which is also available for download on prior iPhone models. iPhone 3.0 software includes new features, such as Cut, Copy and Paste, Spotlight Search and MMS messaging. Certain features of the iPhone 3.0 software are not supported by some of iPhone’s cellular network carriers.

A detailed discussion of the Company’s other products may be found in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of the Company’s first and second quarter 2009 Form 10-Qs and in Part I, Item 1, “Business,” of the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K.

 

25


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and operating results require the Company’s management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this Form 10-Q and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such differences may be material.

Management believes the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates are those related to revenue recognition, valuation of marketable securities, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory valuation and inventory purchase commitments, warranty costs, stock-based compensation, income taxes, and legal and other contingencies. Management considers these critical policies because they are both important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and operating results, and they require management to make judgments and estimates about inherently uncertain matters. The Company’s senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures with the Audit and Finance Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Revenue Recognition

Net sales consist primarily of revenue from the sale of hardware, software, music products, third-party digital content and applications, peripherals, and service and support contracts. The Company recognizes revenue for software products (operating system software and applications software), or any product that is considered to be software-related, in accordance with the guidance in Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 03-5, Applicability of AICPA Statement of Position 97-2 to Non-Software Deliverables in an Arrangement Containing More-Than-Incidental Software, (e.g., Mac computers, iPod portable digital music players and iPhone) pursuant to American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position (“SOP”) No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, as amended. For products that are not software or software-related, (e.g., third-party digital content sold on the iTunes Store and certain Mac, iPod and iPhone supplies and accessories), the Company recognizes revenue pursuant to the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, Revenue Recognition.

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collection is probable. Product is considered delivered to the customer once it has been shipped and title and risk of loss have been transferred. For most of the Company’s product sales, these criteria are met at the time the product is shipped. For online sales to individuals, for some sales to education customers in the U.S., and for certain other sales, the Company defers revenue until the customer receives the product because the Company retains a portion of the risk of loss on these sales during transit. If at the outset of an arrangement the Company determines the arrangement fee is not, or is presumed not to be, fixed or determinable, revenue is deferred and subsequently recognized as amounts become due and payable and all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.

For both Apple TV and iPhone, the Company has indicated that from time-to-time it may provide future unspecified features and additional software products free of charge to customers. Therefore, sales of Apple TV and iPhone handsets are recognized under subscription accounting in accordance with SOP No. 97-2. The Company recognizes the associated revenue and cost of goods sold on a straight-line basis over the currently estimated 24-month economic lives of these products, with any loss recognized at the time of sale. If the Company’s estimated economic life of a product accounted for under subscription accounting changes, the future rate at which deferred revenue and deferred costs are amortized into the Company’s results of operations will change. Costs incurred by the Company for engineering, sales, marketing, and warranty are expensed as incurred.

The Company records reductions to revenue for estimated commitments related to price protection and for customer incentive programs, including reseller and end-user rebates, and other sales programs and volume-based incentives. For transactions involving price protection, the Company recognizes revenue net of the estimated amount to be refunded, provided the refund amount can be reasonably and reliably estimated and the other conditions for revenue

 

26


recognition have been met. The Company’s policy requires that, if refunds cannot be reliably estimated, revenue is not recognized until reliable estimates can be made or the price protection lapses. For customer incentive programs, the estimated cost of these programs is recognized at the later of the date at which the Company has sold the product or the date at which the program is offered. The Company also records reductions to revenue for expected future product returns based on the Company’s historical experience. Future market conditions and product transitions may require the Company to increase customer incentive programs and incur incremental price protection obligations that could result in additional reductions to revenue at the time such programs are offered. Additionally, certain customer incentive programs require management to estimate the number of customers who will actually redeem the incentive based on historical experience and the specific terms and conditions of particular incentive programs. If a greater than estimated proportion of customers redeem such incentives, the Company would be required to record additional reductions to revenue, which would have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations.

Valuation of Marketable Securities

The Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of investments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as reported in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of investments impact the Company’s net income only when such investments are sold or an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized. Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities are determined by specific identification of each security’s cost basis. The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio to determine if any investment is other-than-temporarily impaired due to changes in credit risk or other potential valuation concerns, which would require the Company to record an impairment charge in the period any such determination is made. In making this judgment, the Company evaluates, among other things, the duration and extent to which the fair value of an investment is less than its cost, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell, the investment before recovery of the investment’s amortized cost basis. The Company’s assessment on whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired or not, could change in the future due to new developments or changes in assumptions related to any particular investment.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company distributes its products through third-party distributors, cellular network carriers, and resellers and directly to certain education, consumer, and enterprise customers. The Company generally does not require collateral from its customers; however, the Company will require collateral in certain instances to limit credit risk. In addition, when possible the Company does attempt to limit credit risk on trade receivables with credit insurance for certain customers in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia and by arranging with third-party financing companies to provide flooring arrangements and other loan and lease programs to the Company’s direct customers. These credit-financing arrangements are directly between the third-party financing company and the end customer. As such, the Company generally does not assume any recourse or credit-risk-sharing related to any of these arrangements. However, considerable trade receivables that are not covered by collateral, third-party flooring arrangements, or credit insurance are outstanding with the Company’s distribution and retail channel partners.

The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on management’s assessment of the ability to collect specific customer accounts and includes consideration of the credit-worthiness and financial condition of those specific customers. The Company records an allowance to reduce the specific receivables to the amount that it reasonably believes to be collectible. The Company also records an allowance for all other trade receivables based on multiple factors, including historical experience with bad debts, the general economic environment, the financial condition of the Company’s distribution channels, and the aging of such receivables. If there is a deterioration of a major customer’s financial condition, if the Company becomes aware of additional information related to the credit-worthiness of a major customer, or if future actual default rates on trade receivables in general differ from those currently anticipated, the Company may have to adjust its allowance for doubtful accounts, which would affect earnings in the period the adjustments are made.

Inventory Valuation and Inventory Purchase Commitments

The Company must order components for its products and build inventory in advance of product shipments. The Company records a write-down for inventories of components and products, including third-party products held for resale, which have become obsolete or are in excess of anticipated demand or net realizable value. The Company performs a detailed review of inventory each fiscal quarter that considers multiple factors including demand forecasts, product life cycle status, product development plans, current sales levels, and component cost trends.

 

27


The personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communications industries are subject to a rapid and unpredictable pace of product and component obsolescence and demand changes. If future demand or market conditions for the Company’s products are less favorable than forecasted or if unforeseen technological changes negatively impact the utility of component inventory, the Company may be required to record additional write-downs, which would negatively affect gross margins in the period when the write-downs were recorded.

The Company accrues reserves for estimated cancellation fees related to component orders that have been cancelled or are expected to be cancelled. Consistent with industry practice, the Company acquires components through a combination of purchase orders, supplier contracts, and open orders based on projected demand information. These commitments typically cover the Company’s requirements for periods ranging from 30 to 150 days. If there is an abrupt and substantial decline in demand for one or more of the Company’s products or an unanticipated change in technological requirements for any of the Company’s products, the Company may be required to record additional reserves for cancellation fees that would negatively affect gross margins in the period when the cancellation fees are identified and recorded.

Warranty Costs

The Company provides for the estimated cost for hardware and software warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized based on historical and projected warranty claim rates, historical and projected cost-per-claim, and knowledge of specific product failures that are outside of the Company’s typical experience. Each quarter, the Company reevaluates its estimates to assess the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities considering the size of the installed base of products subject to warranty protection and adjusts the amounts as necessary. For products accounted for under subscription accounting pursuant to SOP No. 97-2, the Company recognizes warranty expense as incurred. If actual product failure rates or repair costs differ from estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required and could materially affect the Company’s results of operations.

The Company periodically provides updates to its applications and operating system software to maintain the software’s compliance with specifications. The estimated cost to develop such updates is accounted for as warranty cost that is recognized at the time related software revenue is recognized. Factors considered in determining appropriate accruals related to such updates include the number of units delivered, the number of updates expected to occur, and the historical cost and estimated future cost of the resources necessary to develop these updates.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair-value as calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model and is recognized as expense ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The BSM option-pricing model requires various judgmental assumptions including expected volatility, forfeiture rates, and expected option life. Significant changes in any of these assumptions could materially affect the fair value of stock-based awards granted in the future.

Income Taxes

The Company records a tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized.

The Company recognizes and measures uncertain tax positions in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Financial Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, whereby the Company only recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

 

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Management believes it is more likely than not that forecasted income, including income that may be generated as a result of certain tax planning strategies, together with the tax effects of the deferred tax liabilities, will be sufficient to fully recover the remaining deferred tax assets. In the event that the Company determines all or part of the net deferred tax assets are not realizable in the future, the Company will make an adjustment to the valuation allowance that would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. In addition, the calculation of tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of FIN 48 and other complex tax laws. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with management’s expectations could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Legal and Other Contingencies

As discussed in Part II, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Legal Proceedings” and in Note 8 “Commitments and Contingencies” in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, the Company records a contingent liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. There is significant judgment required in both the probability determination and as to whether an exposure can be reasonably estimated. In management’s opinion, the Company does not have a potential liability related to any current legal proceedings and claims that would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operating results. However, the outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company are subject to significant uncertainty. Should the Company fail to prevail in any of these legal matters or should several of these legal matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, the operating results of a particular reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

 

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Net Sales

The following table summarizes net sales and Mac unit sales by operating segment and net sales and unit sales by product during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 (in millions, except unit sales in thousands and per unit amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008
   Change    June 27,
2009
   June 28,
2008
   Change

Net Sales by Operating Segment:

                 

Americas net sales

   $ 3,827    $ 3,435    11%    $ 11,845    $ 11,001    8%

Europe net sales

     2,006      1,648    22%      6,874      5,899    17%

Japan net sales

     416      365    14%      1,397      1,189    17%

Retail net sales

     1,496      1,445    4%      4,707      4,597    2%

Other Segments net sales (a)

     592      571    4%      1,844      1,898    (3)%
                                 

Total net sales

   $ 8,337    $ 7,464    12%    $ 26,667    $ 24,584    8%
                                 

Unit Sales by Operating Segment:

                 

Americas Mac unit sales

     1,147      1,134    1%      2,868      2,859    —  %

Europe Mac unit sales

     626      576    9%      2,079      1,908    9%

Japan Mac unit sales

     108      102    6%      316      311    2%

Retail Mac unit sales

     492      476    3%      1,445      1,438    —  %

Other Segments Mac unit sales (a)

     230      208    11%      635      588    8%
                                 

Total Mac unit sales

     2,603      2,496    4%      7,343      7,104    3%
                                 

Net Sales by Product:

                 

Desktops (b)

   $ 1,129    $ 1,373    (18)%    $ 3,222    $ 4,240    (24)%

Portables (c)

     2,200      2,237    (2)%      6,606      6,416    3%
                                 

Total Mac net sales

     3,329      3,610    (8)%      9,828      10,656    (8)%

iPod

     1,492      1,678    (11)%      6,528      7,493    (13)%

Other music related products and services (d)

     958      819    17%      3,018      2,508    20%

iPhone and related products and services (e)

     1,689      419    303%      4,457      1,038    329%

Peripherals and other hardware (f)

     341      437    (22)%      1,077      1,231    (13)%

Software, service, and other sales (g)

     528      501    5%      1,759      1,658    6%
                                 

Total net sales

   $ 8,337    $ 7,464    12%    $ 26,667    $ 24,584    8%
                                 

Unit Sales by Product:

                 

Desktops (b)

     849      943    (10)%      2,395      2,776    (14)%

Portables (c)

     1,754      1,553    13%      4,948      4,328    14%
                                 

Total Mac unit sales

     2,603      2,496    4%      7,343      7,104    3%
                                 

Net sales per Mac unit sold (h)

   $ 1,279    $ 1,446    (12)%    $ 1,338    $ 1,500    (11)%
                                 

iPod unit sales

     10,215      11,011    (7)%      43,955      43,776    —  %
                                 

Net sales per iPod unit sold (i)

   $ 146    $ 152    (4)%    $ 149    $ 171    (13)%
                                 

iPhone unit sales

     5,208      717    626%      13,364      4,735    182%
                                 

 

(a)

Other Segments include Asia Pacific and FileMaker.

(b)

Includes iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and Xserve product lines.

(c)

Includes MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro product lines.

(d)

Consists of iTunes Store sales, iPod services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPod accessories.

(e)

Derived from handset sales, carrier agreements, and Apple-branded and third-party iPhone accessories.

(f)

Includes sales of displays, wireless connectivity and networking solutions, and other hardware accessories.

(g)

Includes sales of Apple-branded operating system, application software, third-party software, AppleCare, and Internet services.

(h)

Derived by dividing total Mac net sales by total Mac unit sales.

(i)

Derived by dividing total iPod net sales by total iPod unit sales.

 

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Net sales during the third quarter of 2009 and the first nine months of 2009 increased $873 million or 12% and $2.1 billion or 8%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2008. Several factors contributed positively to these increases, including the following:

 

   

iPhone revenue and net sales of related products and services were $1.7 billion and $4.5 billion in the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009, respectively, with iPhone handset unit sales totaling 5.2 million and 13.4 million during the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009, respectively. Unit sales of iPhone increased 4.5 million or 626% during the third quarter of 2009 and 8.6 million or 182% during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008, which was due primarily to expanded distribution, strong demand for iPhones and lower unit sales in the third quarter of 2008 in anticipation of the iPhone 3G product transition that occurred at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2008. iPhone 3GS was released in the U.S. on June 19, 2009 and internationally in some countries over the following weeks. iPhone revenue includes the portion of handset revenue recognized in accordance with subscription accounting over the product’s 24-month estimated economic life, as well as revenue from sales of iPhone accessories and carrier agreements.

 

   

Net sales of other music-related products and services increased $139 million or 17% and $510 million or 20% during the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2008. The increase was due predominantly to increased net sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, which experienced double-digit growth in each of the Company’s geographic segments for the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. The Company believes this continued growth is the result of heightened consumer interest in downloading third-party digital content, the expansion of third-party audio and video content available for sale and rent via the iTunes Store, and the continued interest in and growth of the iTunes App Store. The Company continues to expand its iTunes content and applications offerings around the world.

Partially offsetting the favorable factors discussed above, net sales during the third quarter of 2009 and the first nine months of 2009 were negatively impacted by certain factors, including the following:

 

   

Mac net sales declined 8% for the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008, although Mac unit sales increased by 4% for the third quarter of 2009 and 3% for the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. Net sales of Macs accounted for 40% and 37% of the Company’s total net sales for the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009, respectively. Net sales per Mac unit sold decreased by 12% and 11% during the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2008, due primarily to lower average selling prices across all Mac portable and desktop systems, a stronger U.S. dollar and a higher mix of lower-priced Mac systems.

Net sales of Mac portable systems decreased by 2%, while unit sales increased by 13% for the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The decline in net sales of Mac portable systems during the third quarter of 2009 was attributable to lower average selling prices, a shift in product mix towards lower-priced portables and a stronger U.S. dollar. During the first nine months of 2009, Mac portable systems net sales and unit sales increased by 3% and 14%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2008, due primarily to higher sales of MacBooks, which experienced double digit growth in net sales and unit sales in each of the Company’s reportable operating segments compared to the same period in 2008.

 

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Net sales and unit sales of the Company’s Mac desktop systems decreased by 18% and 10%, respectively, during the third quarter of 2009, and decreased 24% and 14%, respectively, during the first nine months of 2009. The decrease in net sales of Mac desktop systems for the third quarter of 2009 and the first nine months of 2009 was due mainly to a stronger U.S. dollar and a shift in product mix towards lower-priced desktops.

 

   

Net sales of iPods decreased $186 million or 11% during the third quarter of 2009 and decreased $965 million or 13% during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. iPod unit sales decreased by 7% in the third quarter of 2009, while unit sales were relatively flat during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. Net sales per iPod unit sold decreased 4% and 13% in the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2008, resulting from lower average selling prices across most of the iPod product lines, which was due primarily to price reductions taken with the introduction of new iPods in September 2008 and a stronger U.S. dollar, offset partially by a higher product mix of iPod touch.

Segment Operating Performance

The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. The Company’s reportable operating segments consist of the Americas, Europe, Japan, and Retail. The Americas, Europe, and Japan reportable segments do not include activities related to the Retail segment. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries as well as the Middle East and Africa. The Retail segment operates Apple-owned retail stores in the U.S. and in international markets. Each reportable geographic operating segment and the Retail operating segment provide similar hardware and software products and similar services.

Americas

Net sales in the Americas segment during the third quarter of 2009 increased $392 million or 11% compared to the same period in 2008, and Americas Mac unit sales increased by 1% year-over-year. The increase in net sales during the third quarter of 2009 was attributable to increased iPhone revenue and higher sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, which were offset partially by a decrease in sales of Mac desktop and portable systems and iPods. Mac net sales decreased due largely to lower average selling prices across all Mac products and a shift in product mix toward lower-priced Macs. The Americas segment represented 46% of the Company’s total net sales in the third quarters of both 2009 and 2008.

During the first nine months of 2009, net sales in the Americas segment increased $844 million or 8% compared to the same period in 2008, while Americas Mac unit sales were relatively flat on a year-over-year basis. The increase in net sales during the first nine months of 2009 was attributable primarily to the significant year-over-year increase in iPhone revenue, higher sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, and increased sales of Mac portable systems, which were partially offset by a decrease in sales of Mac desktop systems and iPods. The Americas segment represented approximately 44% and 45% of the Company’s total net sales for the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Europe

Net sales in Europe increased $358 million or 22% during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008. The key contributors to this growth were iPhone revenue and sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, which was offset partially by lower year-over-year net sales of Mac desktop and portable systems and iPods. During the third quarter of 2009, total Mac unit sales increased 9% year-over-year, while total Mac net sales decreased resulting from lower average selling prices across all Mac products, a shift in product mix to lower-priced Macs and a stronger U.S. dollar.

For the first nine months of 2009, net sales and Mac unit sales in Europe increased 17% and 9%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2008. The increase in net sales was due mainly to increased iPhone revenue, strong sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, and Mac portable systems, which were offset partially by lower net sales of Mac desktop systems and iPods. Mac unit sales increased due primarily to strong demand for MacBook, while total Mac net sales decreased due to lower average selling prices across all Mac products, a shift in product mix to lower-priced Macs and a stronger U.S. dollar during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

 

32


Japan

Japan’s net sales increased $51 million or 14% during the third quarter of 2009 and increased $208 million or 17% during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. The key contributors to Japan’s net sales growth for the third quarter of 2009 were increased iPhone revenue, strength in the Japanese Yen, strong demand for certain Mac portable systems, and strong sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, partially offset by decreased sales of Mac desktop systems and iPods. Japan’s net sales growth for the first nine months of 2009 was attributable to increased iPhone revenue, strength in the Japanese Yen, Mac portable sales, sales of third-party digital content and applications from the iTunes Store, and iPods, which were partially offset by a decrease in sales of Mac desktop systems. Net sales and unit sales of Mac portable systems increased during the third quarter of 2009 and first nine months of 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008, driven predominantly by stronger demand for 13-inch Mac portable systems.

Retail

Retail net sales increased $51 million or 4% during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter in 2008. The increase in net sales was due predominantly to increased iPhone revenue, partially offset by a decrease in sales of iPods and Macs. Retail Mac net sales decreased due to lower average selling prices across all Mac products and shift in product mix to lower-priced Macs. The Company opened six new retail store during the third quarter of 2009, ending the quarter with 258 stores open, compared to 216 stores open at the end of the third quarter of 2008. The year-over-year growth rate of Retail net sales was less than the increase in the average number of stores open during the same period, which the Company believes reflects the challenging consumer-spending environment and continued third-party channel expansion. As a result, with an average of 254 stores and 211 stores open during the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively, average revenue per store declined to $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2009 from $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Retail net sales grew $110 million or 2% during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, due primarily to increased iPhone revenue, which was offset partially by a decrease in sales of iPods and a product mix shift to lower-priced Macs. Average revenue per store decreased to $18.7 million for the first nine months of 2009 based on an average of 252 stores, down from $22.4 million in the first nine months of 2008 based on an average of 205 stores.

The Retail segment reported operating income of $321 million during the third quarter of 2009 compared to operating income of $297 million during the third quarter of 2008, and reported operating income of $982 million during the first nine months of 2009 compared to $1.0 billion during the first nine months of 2008. The increase in operating income during the third quarter of 2009 was due to an improvement in the total Company gross margin, and the operating income decrease during the first nine months of 2009 was attributable primarily to lower average revenue per store.

Expansion of the Retail segment has required and will continue to require a substantial investment in fixed assets and related infrastructure, operating lease commitments, personnel, and other operating expenses. Capital asset purchases associated with the Retail segment since its inception totaled $1.6 billion through the end of the third quarter of 2009. As of June 27, 2009, the Retail segment had approximately 15,600 full-time equivalent employees and had outstanding lease commitments associated with retail space of $1.4 billion. The Company would incur substantial costs if it were to close multiple retail stores and such costs could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Other Segments

The Company’s Other Segments, which consist of its Asia Pacific and FileMaker operations, experienced an increase in net sales of $21 million or 4% during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008, which was due primarily to increased iPhone revenue, offset partially by declines in sales of iPods and Mac desktop and portable systems. During the first nine months of 2009, net sales in the Company’s Other Segments decreased by $54 million or 3% compared to the same period in 2008. This decrease was related primarily to lower net sales of most iPods, Mac desktop and portable systems, and as well as a strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Australian dollar and other Asian currencies, which were offset partially by increased iPhone revenue in the Company’s Asia Pacific region.

 

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Gross Margin

Gross margin for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 was as follows (in millions, except gross margin percentages):

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27, 2009    June 28, 2008    June 27, 2009    June 28, 2008

Net sales

   $ 8,337    $ 7,464    $ 26,667    $ 24,584

Cost of sales

     5,314      4,864      17,141      16,178
                           

Gross margin

   $ 3,023    $ 2,600    $ 9,526    $ 8,406
                           

Gross margin percentage

     36.3%      34.8%      35.7%      34.2%

The gross margin percentage for the third quarter of 2009 was 36.3% compared to 34.8% for the third quarter of 2008 and the gross margin percentage for the first nine months of 2009 was 35.7% compared to 34.2% for the first nine months of 2008. The gross margin percentage for the third quarter of 2009 and the first nine months of 2009 increased largely as a result of significantly lower commodity and other product costs and a stronger U.S. dollar, which were partially offset by product price reductions.

The Company expects its gross margin percentage to decrease in future periods compared to levels achieved during 2008 and the first nine months of 2009 and anticipates gross margin levels of about 34% in the fourth quarter of 2009. This expected decline is due largely to the anticipated impact of product transitions, flat or reduced pricing on new and innovative products that have higher cost structures, both expected and potential future cost increases for key components, and a stronger U.S. dollar.

The foregoing statements regarding the Company’s expected gross margin percentage are forward-looking and could differ from anticipated levels because of several factors, including but not limited to certain of those set forth below in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” under the subheading “Future operating results depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, NAND flash memory, DRAM and LCDs at favorable prices and in sufficient quantities,” which is incorporated herein by reference. There can be no assurance that targeted gross margin percentage levels will be achieved. In general, gross margins and margins on individual products will remain under downward pressure due to a variety of factors, including continued industry wide global product pricing pressures, increased competition, compressed product life cycles, product transitions and expected increases in the cost of key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, NAND flash memory, dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) and liquid crystal displays (“LCDs”), as well as potential increases in the costs of outside manufacturing services and a potential shift in the Company’s sales mix towards products with lower gross margins. In response to these competitive pressures, the Company expects it will continue to take product pricing actions, which would adversely affect gross margins. Gross margins could also be affected by the Company’s ability to manage product quality and warranty costs effectively and to stimulate demand for certain of its products. Due to the Company’s significant international operations, financial results can be significantly affected in the short-term by fluctuations in exchange rates.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 were as follows (in millions, except for percentages):

 

     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
     June 27, 2009    June 28, 2008    June 27, 2009    June 28, 2008

Research and development

   $ 341    $ 292    $ 975    $ 811

Percentage of net sales

     4%      4%      4%      3%

Selling, general, and administrative

   $ 1,010    $ 916    $ 3,086    $ 2,762

Percentage of net sales

     12%      12%      12%      11%

 

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Research and Development (“R&D”)

Expenditures for R&D increased 17% or $49 million to $341 million in the three months ended June 27, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, and increased 20% or $164 million to $975 million during the nine months ended June 27, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. These increases were due primarily to higher stock-based compensation expenses and an increase in R&D headcount in the current year to support expanded R&D activities. In addition, $19 million and $64 million of software development costs were capitalized related to Mac OS X Version 10.6 Snow Leopard and excluded from R&D expense during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, while no software development costs were capitalized during the same periods of 2008. Although total R&D expense increased 17% and 20% during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, it remained relatively flat as a percentage of net sales given the revenue growth of 12% and 8%, respectively, during the same periods in 2008. The Company continues to believe that focused investments in R&D are critical to its future growth and competitive position in the marketplace and are directly related to timely development of new and enhanced products that are central to the Company’s core business strategy. As such, the Company expects to make further investments in R&D to remain competitive.

Selling, General, and Administrative (“SG&A”)

SG&A expenditures increased $94 million or 10% and $324 million or 12%, respectively, for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. These increases are due primarily to the Company’s continued expansion of its Retail segment, higher stock-based compensation expenses and higher spending on marketing and advertising.

Other Income and Expense

Total other income and expense decreased $58 million or 49% to $60 million during the three months ended June 27, 2009 compared to $118 million in the same period of 2008, and decreased $199 million or 41% during the nine months ended June 27, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The overall decrease in other income and expense is attributable to the decline in interest rates during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the first nine months of 2008, partially offset by the Company’s higher cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balances. The weighted-average interest rate earned by the Company on its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities decreased to 1.11% in the third quarter of 2009 from 2.66% in the third quarter of 2008.

The Company’s investment portfolio had gross unrealized losses of $45 million and $121 million as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, respectively, which was offset by gross unrealized gains of $65 million and $4 million as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, respectively. The net unrealized gains as of June 27, 2009 related primarily to short-term marketable securities while the net unrealized losses as of September 27, 2008 related primarily to long-term marketable securities. The Company considers the declines in market value of its marketable securities investment portfolio to be temporary in nature. The unrealized losses on the Company’s marketable securities were caused primarily by changes in market interest rates, specifically widening credit spreads. The Company does not have the intent to sell, nor is it more likely than not the Company will be required to sell, an investment before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Accordingly, no declines in fair value were recognized in the Company’s Condensed Statements of Operations during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008. The Company may sell certain of its marketable securities prior to their stated maturities for strategic purposes, in anticipation of credit deterioration, or for duration management. The Company recognized no material net gains or losses during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 related to such sales.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rates were 29% and 30% for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009, respectively, and 29% and 30% for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 28, 2008, respectively. The Company’s effective rate for these periods differs from the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% due primarily to certain undistributed foreign earnings for which no U.S. taxes are provided because such earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S.

The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has completed its field audit of the Company’s federal income tax returns for the years 2002 through 2003 and proposed certain adjustments. The Company has contested certain of these adjustments through the IRS Appeals Office. All IRS audit issues for years prior to 2002 have been resolved. In addition, the Company is subject to audits by state, local, and foreign tax authorities. Management believes that adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that may result from tax examinations.

 

35


However, the outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If any issues addressed in the Company’s tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s expectations, the Company could be required to adjust its provision for income tax in the period such resolution occurs.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, provides a framework for measuring fair value, and expands the disclosures required for fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157. FSP No. 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) and will be adopted by the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2010. Although the Company will continue to evaluate the application of FSP No. 157-2, management does not currently believe adoption of this accounting pronouncement will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations, which establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree in a business combination. SFAS No. 141R also establishes principles around how goodwill acquired in a business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase should be recognized and measured, as well as provides guidelines on the disclosure requirements on the nature and financial impact of the business combination. In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 141R-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination that Arise from Contingencies, which amends SFAS No. 141R to require that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies be recognized at fair value, in accordance with SFAS No. 157, if the fair value can be determined during the measurement period. If the fair value of the contingency cannot be determined during the measurement period, FSP No. FAS 141R-1 requires the contingency be recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 5 and FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 14, Reasonable Estimation of the Amount of a Loss, if it meets the criteria for recognition in that guidance. SFAS No. 141R and FSP No. FAS 141R-1 are effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and will be adopted by the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2010. Although the Company will continue to evaluate the application of SFAS No. 141R and FSP No. FAS 141R-1, management does not currently believe adoption of these accounting pronouncements will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table presents selected financial information and statistics as of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008 (in millions):

 

          June 27, 2009         September 27, 2008

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities

   $ 31,121    $ 24,490

Accounts receivable, net

   $ 2,686    $ 2,422

Inventories

   $ 380    $ 509

Working capital

   $ 18,509    $ 18,219

As of June 27, 2009, the Company had $31.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, an increase of $6.6 billion from September 27, 2008. The principal component of this net increase was the cash generated by operating activities of $7.0 billion, which was partially offset by payments for acquisitions of property, plant, and equipment of $685 million. The Company’s cash generated by operating activities significantly exceeded its net income due primarily to the increase in deferred revenue, net of deferred costs, associated with subscription accounting for iPhone.

The Company’s marketable securities investment portfolio is invested primarily in highly rated securities with a minimum rating of single-A. As of June 27, 2009 and September 27, 2008, $15.5 billion and $11.3 billion, respectively, of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were held by foreign subsidiaries and are generally based in U.S. dollar-denominated holdings. The Company believes its existing balances of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to satisfy its working capital needs, capital asset purchases, outstanding commitments, and other liquidity requirements associated with its existing operations over the next 12 months.

 

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Capital Assets

The Company’s cash payments for capital asset purchases were $685 million during the first nine months of 2009, consisting of approximately $202 million for Retail store facilities and $483 million for corporate facilities and infrastructure, including information systems enhancements. The Company anticipates utilizing approximately $1.2 billion for capital asset purchases during 2009, including approximately $360 million for Retail facilities and approximately $840 million for corporate facilities and infrastructure.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Company has not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities whereby the Company has financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements that expose the Company to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities, or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company.

Lease Commitments

As of September 27, 2008, the Company had total outstanding commitments on noncancelable operating leases of $1.8 billion, $1.4 billion of which related to the lease of retail space and related facilities. The Company’s major facility leases are generally for terms of 3 to 20 years and generally provide renewal options for terms of 1 to 5 years. Leases for retail space are generally for terms of 5 to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years, and often contain multi-year renewal options. As of June 27, 2009, total outstanding commitments on noncancelable operating leases related to leases of retail space was $1.4 billion.

Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Component Suppliers

The Company utilizes several contract manufacturers to manufacture sub-assemblies for the Company’s products and to perform final assembly and test of finished products. These contract manufacturers acquire components and build product based on demand information supplied by the Company, which typically covers periods ranging from 30 to 150 days. The Company also obtains individual components for its products from a wide variety of individual suppliers. Consistent with industry practice, the Company acquires components through a combination of purchase orders, supplier contracts, and open orders based on projected demand information. Such purchase commitments typically cover the Company’s forecasted component and manufacturing requirements for periods ranging from 30 to 150 days. In addition, the Company has an off-balance sheet warranty obligation for products accounted for under subscription accounting pursuant to SOP No. 97-2 whereby the Company recognizes warranty expense as incurred. As of June 27, 2009, the Company had outstanding off-balance sheet third-party manufacturing commitments, component purchase commitments, and estimated warranty commitments of $3.5 billion.

The Company has entered into prepaid long-term supply agreements to secure the supply of certain inventory components. During the first quarter of 2009, a long-term supply agreement with Intel Corporation was terminated and the remaining prepaid balance of $167 million was repaid to the Company. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company made a prepayment of $500 million to LG Display for the purchase of LCD panels. As of June 27, 2009, the Company had a total of $759 million of inventory component prepayments outstanding.

Subsequent to June 27, 2009, the Company entered into a four-year supply agreement with Toshiba to purchase NAND flash memory. As part of the agreement, the Company made a prepayment of $500 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company’s asset retirement obligations are associated with commitments to return property subject to operating leases to original condition upon lease termination. As of June 27, 2009, the Company estimated that gross expected future cash flows of approximately $32 million would be required to fulfill these obligations.

Other Obligations

Other outstanding obligations were approximately $266 million as of June 27, 2009, primarily related to advertising, research and development, Internet and telecommunications services, and other obligations.

 

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As of June 27, 2009, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $680 million and an additional $283 million for gross interest and penalties classified as non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that tax audit resolutions could reduce its unrecognized tax benefits by between $105 million and $145 million in the next 12 months. At this time, the Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of payments in individual years due to uncertainties in the timing of tax audit outcomes.

Indemnifications

The Company generally does not indemnify end-users of its operating system and application software against legal claims that the software infringes third-party intellectual property rights. Other agreements entered into by the Company sometimes include indemnification provisions under which the Company could be subject to costs and/or damages in the event of an infringement claim against the Company or an indemnified third-party. However, the Company has not been required to make any significant payments resulting from such an infringement claim asserted against it or an indemnified third-party and, in the opinion of management, does not have a liability related to unresolved infringement claims subject to indemnification that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operating results.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company’s market risk profile has not changed significantly during the first nine months of 2009.

Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Risk Management

The Company regularly reviews its foreign exchange forward and option positions, both on a stand-alone basis and in conjunction with its underlying foreign currency and interest rate related exposures. However, given the effective horizons of the Company’s risk management activities and the anticipatory nature of the exposures, there can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in either foreign exchange or interest rates. In addition, the timing of the accounting for recognition of gains and losses related to mark-to-market instruments for any given period may not coincide with the timing of gains and losses related to the underlying economic exposures and, therefore, may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Interest Rate Risk

While the Company is exposed to interest rate fluctuations in many of the world’s leading industrialized countries, the Company’s interest income and expense is most sensitive to fluctuations in the general level of U.S. interest rates. As such, changes in U.S. interest rates affect the interest earned on the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, the fair value of those marketable securities, as well as costs associated with foreign currency hedges.

The Company’s investment policy and strategy are focused on preservation of capital and supporting the liquidity requirements of the Company. A portion of the Company’s cash is managed by external managers within the guidelines of the Company’s investment policy and to objective market benchmarks. The Company’s internal portfolio is benchmarked against external manager performance.

The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company typically invests in highly rated securities and its policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The Company’s investment policy requires investments to be rated single-A or better with the objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. All highly liquid investments with initial maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. The Company classifies its marketable securities as either short-term or long-term based on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date. All short-term marketable securities have maturities less than 12 months, while all long-term marketable securities have maturities ranging from one to five years. The Company may sell its investments prior to their stated maturities for strategic purposes, in anticipation of credit deterioration, or for duration management. The Company recognized no material net gains or losses during the three- and nine-month periods ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008 related to such sales.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk

In general, the Company is a net receiver of currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates, and in particular a strengthening of the U.S. dollar, will negatively affect the Company’s net sales and gross margins as expressed in U.S. dollars. There is also a risk that the Company will have to adjust local currency product pricing due to competitive pressures when there has been significant volatility in foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company may enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts with financial institutions to protect against foreign exchange risks associated with certain existing assets and liabilities, certain firmly committed transactions, forecasted future cash flows, and net investments in foreign subsidiaries. Generally, the Company’s practice is to hedge a majority of its material foreign exchange exposures, typically for three to six months. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain foreign exchange exposures for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to immateriality, accounting considerations, and the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act were effective as of June 27, 2009 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter of 2009, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

As of June 27, 2009, the end of the quarterly period covered by this report, the Company was subject to the various legal proceedings and claims discussed below, as well as certain other legal proceedings and claims that have not been fully resolved and that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company does not have a potential liability related to any current legal proceedings and claims that would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operating results. However, the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Should the Company fail to prevail in any of these legal matters or should several of these legal matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, the operating results of a particular reporting period could be materially adversely affected. The Company settled certain matters during the third quarter of 2009 that did not individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

Bader v. Anderson, et al.

Plaintiff filed this purported shareholder derivative action against the Company and each of its then current executive officers and members of its Board of Directors on May 19, 2005 in Santa Clara County Superior Court asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty, material misstatements and omissions and violations of California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition). The complaint alleged that the Company’s March 14, 2005, proxy statement was false and misleading for failure to disclose certain information relating to the Apple Computer, Inc. Performance Bonus Plan, which was approved by shareholders at the annual meeting held on April 21, 2005. Plaintiff, who ostensibly brought suit on the Company’s behalf, made no demand on the Board of Directors and alleged that such demand was excused. The complaint sought injunctive and other relief for purported injury to the Company. On July 27, 2005, plaintiff filed an amended complaint alleging that, in addition to the purported derivative claims, adoption of the bonus plan and distribution of the proxy statement describing that plan also inflicted injury on her directly as an individual shareholder. On January 10, 2006, the Court sustained defendants’ demurrer to the amended complaint, with leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a second amended complaint on February 7, 2006, and the Company filed a demurrer. After a hearing on June 13, 2006, the Court sustained the demurrer without leave to amend as to the non-director officers and with leave to amend as to the directors. On July 24, 2006, plaintiff filed a third amended complaint, which purported to bring claims derivatively as well as directly on behalf of a class of common stockholders who have been or will be harmed by virtue of the allegedly misleading proxy statement. In addition to reasserting prior causes of action, the third amended complaint included a claim that the Company violated the terms of the plan, and a claim for waste related to restricted stock unit grants to certain officers in 2003 and 2004 and an option grant to the Company’s CEO in January 2000. The Company filed a demurrer to the third amended complaint. On January 30, 2007, the Court sustained the Company’s demurrer with leave to amend. On May 8, 2007, plaintiff filed a fourth amended complaint. The Company filed a demurrer to the fourth amended complaint, which the Court sustained, without leave to amend, on October 12, 2007. On October 25, 2007, the Court entered a final judgment in favor of defendant and ordered the case dismissed with prejudice. On November 26, 2007, plaintiff filed a notice of appeal. Plaintiff’s appeal is pending.

Birdsong v. Apple Computer, Inc.

This action alleges that the Company’s iPod music players, and the ear bud headphones sold with them, are inherently defective in design and are sold without adequate warnings concerning the risk of noise-induced hearing loss by iPod users. The Birdsong action was initially filed on January 30, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana asserting Louisiana causes of action on behalf of a purported Louisiana class of iPod purchasers. A similar action (Patterson v. Apple Computer, Inc.) was filed on January 31, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California asserting California causes of action on behalf of a purported class of all iPod purchasers within the four-year period before January 31, 2006. The Birdsong action was transferred to the Northern District of California, and the Patterson action was dismissed. An amended complaint was subsequently filed in Birdsong, dropping the Louisiana law-based claims and adding California law-based claims equivalent to those in Patterson. After the Company filed a motion to dismiss on November 3, 2006, plaintiffs agreed not to oppose the motion and filed a second amended complaint on January 16, 2007. That complaint alleges California law-based claims for breaches of implied and express warranties, violations of California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition), California Business & Professions Code §17500 (false advertising), the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and negligent misrepresentation on behalf of a putative nationwide class and a

 

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Louisiana law-based claim for redhibition for a Louisiana sub-class. On March 1, 2007, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the California law-based claims, which was heard on June 4, 2007. On December 14, 2007, the Court issued an order granting the Company’s motion, with leave to amend the complaint. Plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint on January 11, 2008. On February 15, 2008, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the third amended complaint. On June 16, 2008, the Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the third amended complaint with prejudice. On July 11, 2008, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal. Plaintiffs’ appeal is pending.

A similar complaint, Royer-Brennan v. Apple Computer, Inc. and Apple Canada, Inc., was filed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on February 1, 2006, seeking authorization to institute a class action on behalf of iPod purchasers in Quebec. Plaintiffs filed a motion to amend their complaint to add a minor plaintiff and claims regarding alleged risks of hearing loss to young people. The hearing on the motion to amend took place on April 24, 2009. The Court has not issued a ruling.

Boston Retirement Board v. Apple Computer, Inc.

On November 3, 2006, the Boston Retirement Board, a purported shareholder, filed a petition for writ of mandate in Santa Clara County Superior Court to compel the inspection of records relating to the Company’s option practices and the Special Committee’s investigation (Boston Retirement Board v. Apple Computer Inc.). Following a September 24, 2007 trial, the Court granted the petition but narrowed the scope of the records to be produced. On April 14, 2008, the Boston Retirement Board filed a derivative action against certain current and former officers and directors in Santa Clara County Superior Court. The Boston Retirement Board filed a motion for fees on November 6, 2008. By stipulation filed December 10, 2008, the Boston Retirement Board agreed to dismiss the derivative action with prejudice upon a final order regarding its fees motion. On January 15, 2009, the Court denied the Boston Retirement Board’s motion for fees. On April 8, 2009, the Court entered the parties’ Stipulation and Proposed Order of Dismissal with Prejudice. The derivative action is now concluded.

Branning et al. v. Apple Computer, Inc.

Plaintiffs originally filed this purported class action in San Francisco County Superior Court on February 17, 2005. The initial complaint alleged violations of California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition) and violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act regarding a variety of purportedly unfair and unlawful conduct including, but not limited to, allegedly selling used computers as new and failing to honor warranties. Plaintiffs also brought causes of action for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract and violation of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Plaintiffs requested unspecified damages and other relief. On May 2, 2005, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding two new named plaintiffs and three new causes of action including a claim for treble damages under the Cartwright Act (California Business & Professions Code §16700 et seq.) and a claim for false advertising. On May 9, 2005, the Court granted the Company’s motion to transfer the case to Santa Clara County Superior Court. The Company filed a demurrer to the amended complaint, which the Court sustained in its entirety on November 10, 2005. The Court granted plaintiffs leave to amend and they filed an amended complaint on December 29, 2005. Plaintiffs’ amended complaint added three plaintiffs and alleged many of the same factual claims as the previous complaints, such as alleged selling of used equipment as new, alleged failure to honor warranties and service contracts for the consumer plaintiffs, and alleged fraud related to the opening of the Apple retail stores. Plaintiffs continued to assert causes of action for unfair competition (§17200), violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, violations of the Cartwright Act, and alleged new causes of action for fraud, conversion, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The Company filed a demurrer to the amended complaint on January 31, 2006, which the Court sustained on March 3, 2006 on sixteen of seventeen causes of action. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding one new plaintiff. The Company filed a demurrer, which was granted in part on September 9, 2006. Plaintiffs filed a further amended complaint on September 21, 2006. On October 2, 2006, the Company filed an answer denying all allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. On November 30, 2007, the Company filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings, which the Court denied. Plaintiffs filed a Fifth Amended Complaint on March 19, 2008 and a Corrected Fifth Amended Complaint on April 1, 2008. The Company filed an answer to the Corrected Fifth Amended Complaint on April 18, 2008. The Company filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings for an order dismissing plaintiffs’ fraud claim based upon the statute of limitations, which was granted by the Court on June 24, 2008, with leave to amend. Plaintiffs filed a Sixth Amended Complaint on July 14, 2008 and a Seventh Amended Complaint on August 22, 2008, adding three new reseller plaintiffs. On August 22, 2008, plaintiffs also filed a motion to certify the consumer class. On September 22, 2008, the Company filed its answer to the consumer-related claims denying all allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses, and also filed a demurrer to the new reseller claims, which the Court heard on January 30, 2009. The Court sustained the demurrer as to all plaintiffs

 

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except one, with leave to amend. Plaintiffs filed an Eighth Amended Complaint further amending the reseller claims on February 24, 2009, and on March 26, 2009, the Company filed a demurrer which was overruled, and a motion to strike which was denied. The Company filed motions for summary adjudication for certain claims of two named plaintiffs, which the Court granted on November 10, 2008. Plaintiffs petitioned the Court of Appeal for a writ of certiorari from the summary adjudication ruling and a motion to stay the class certification hearing, which the Court of Appeal denied on December 17, 2008. On December 19, 2008, the Court held a hearing on plaintiffs’ class certification motion. The Court requested further briefing and an additional hearing, which did not take place because on February 23, 2009, Hon. Jamie A. Jacobs-May disqualified herself from the case. The Company filed a petition for a writ of mandate from this order, which the Court of Appeal denied on May 19, 2009. The case has been reassigned to Hon. Joseph H. Huber. The class certification hearing on the consumer-related claims is scheduled for July 14, 2009. The Company has filed two additional motions for summary adjudication as to certain named plaintiffs’ claims. The Company has also filed a motion to sever the consumer class and the reseller class for the purpose of trial.

Harvey v. Apple Inc.

Plaintiff filed this action on August 6, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, alleging infringement by the Company of U.S. Patent No. 6,753,671 entitled “Recharger for use with a portable electronic device and which includes a proximally located light emitting device” and U.S. Patent No. 6,762,584 entitled “Recharger for use with a portable electronic device and which includes a connector terminus for communicating with rechargeable batteries contained within the device.” The complaint seeks unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed an answer on October 12, 2007 denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. The Company also asserted counterclaims for declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity. On April 7, 2008, plaintiff filed an amended complaint further alleging infringement of the reissue patent of U.S. Patent No. 6,753,671. On April 28, 2008, the Company filed an answer denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. The Company also asserted counterclaims for declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity. The Markman hearing is set for October 28, 2009, and trial is scheduled for April 5, 2010. On February 3, 2009, the Court stayed the proceedings pending the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s allowance of the ‘671 reissue patent. On July 7, 2009, the Company filed a motion to transfer the case to the Northern District of California.

Honeywell International, Inc., et al. v. Apple Computer, Inc., et al.

Plaintiffs Honeywell International, Inc. and Honeywell Intellectual Properties, Inc. filed this action on October 6, 2004 in the United States District Court in Delaware alleging infringement by the Company and other defendants of U.S. Patent No. 5,280,371 entitled “Directional Diffuser for a Liquid Crystal Display.” Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed an answer on December 21, 2004 denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. The Company has tendered the case to several liquid crystal display manufacturer suppliers. On May 18, 2005 the Court stayed the case against the Company and the other non-manufacturer defendants. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on November 7, 2005 adding additional defendants and expanding the scope of the accused products. The Company’s response to the amended complaint is not yet due. On April 2, 2008, the Court lifted the stay for the purpose of determining whether the liquid crystal display manufacturer suppliers used by the Company and certain other defendants are licensed under the ‘371 patent. On October 31, 2008, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment of non-infringement based on the contention that its suppliers are licensed under the ‘371 patent. A hearing on the motion has been postponed and has not been rescheduled.

In re Apple iPod Nano Products Liability Litigation (formerly Wimmer v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Moschella, et al., v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Calado, et al. v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Kahan, et al., v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Jennings, et al., v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Rappel v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Mayo v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Valencia v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Williamson v. Apple Computer, Inc.; Sioson v. Apple Computer, Inc.

Beginning on October 19, 2005, eight complaints were filed in various United States District Courts and two complaints were filed in California State Court alleging that the Company’s iPod nano was defectively designed so that it scratches excessively during normal use, rendering the screen unreadable.

The federal actions were coordinated in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and assigned to the Hon. Ronald Whyte pursuant to an April 17, 2006 order of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Plaintiffs filed a First Consolidated and Amended Master Complaint on September 21, 2006, alleging violations of California and other states’ consumer protection and warranty laws and claiming unjust enrichment.

 

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The Master Complaint alleges two putative plaintiff classes: (1) all U.S. residents (excluding California residents) who purchased an iPod nano that was not manufactured or designed using processes necessary to ensure normal resistance to scratching of the screen; and (2) all iPod nano purchasers other than U.S. residents who purchased an iPod nano that was not manufactured or designed using processes necessary to ensure normal resistance to scratching of the screen. The Company answered the Master Complaint on November 20, 2006.

The two California State Court actions were coordinated on May 4, 2006, and assigned to the Hon. Carl West in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint on June 8, 2006, alleging violations of California state consumer protection, unfair competition, false advertising and warranty laws and claiming unjust enrichment. The Consolidated Complaint alleges a putative plaintiff class of all California residents who own an iPod nano containing a manufacturing defect that results in the nano being susceptible to excessive scratching. The Company answered the Consolidated Amended Complaint on October 6, 2006. The parties have reached a settlement and on April 28, 2009, the Court granted final approval of the settlement. On May 21, 2009, an objector filed a notice of appeal.

Individual Networks, LLC v. Apple, Inc.

Plaintiff filed this action against the Company on April 24, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,117,516, entitled “Method and System for Providing a Customized Media List.” Plaintiff alleges certain features of the iTunes store infringe the patent. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed an answer on July 2, 2007, denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. The Company also asserted counterclaims for declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity, as well as a counterclaim against Individual Networks LLC for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,724,567. The trial is scheduled for November 9, 2009. The Company has filed a petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office requesting reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 7,117,516. The Markman hearing took place on October 8, 2008, and the Court issued its Markman ruling on January 12, 2009. The Company filed a motion for summary judgment of inequitable conduct on April 10, 2009, and filed motions for summary judgment of invalidity and lack of written description on April 30, 2009. The Company has also filed a motion to exclude portions of plaintiff’s expert’s report and testimony regarding damages. Plaintiff has filed a motion to exclude damages testimony relating to U.S. Patent No. 5,724,567.

Mediostream, Inc. v. Acer America Corp. et al.

Plaintiff filed this action against the Company, Acer America Corp., Dell, Inc. and Gateway, Inc. on August 28, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,009,655, entitled “Method and System for Direct Recording of Video Information onto a Disk Medium.” An amended complaint was served on November 7, 2007. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and other relief. On January 25, 2008, the Company filed an answer to the complaint denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses and also filed a motion to transfer the case to the Northern District of California, which the Court denied. On December 4, 2008, the Company moved for reconsideration of the Court’s denial of the motion to transfer. The Markman hearing is set for August 4, 2010 and trial is scheduled for January 4, 2011.

OPTi Inc. v. Apple Inc.

Plaintiff filed this action against the Company on January 16, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,710,906, 5,813,036 and 6,405,291, all entitled “Predictive Snooping of Cache Memory for Master-Initiated Accesses.” The complaint seeks unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed an answer on April 17, 2007 denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. The Company also asserted counterclaims for declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity. The Markman hearing took place on November 26, 2008 and the Court issued its Markman ruling on December 5, 2008. On April 3, 2009, the Court ruled that the accused computers sold between 2005 and 2007 infringed the ‘291 patent. A trial regarding validity, damages and willfulness commenced on April 17, 2009. On April 23, 2009, the jury returned a verdict that the patent was valid and willfully infringed, and awarded $19 million in damages. On May 1, 2009, plaintiff filed a motion for entry of judgment, including a request for enhanced damages based on the willfulness finding, seeking a total of $31 million plus attorneys’ fees. The Company has opposed that motion and has filed its own motions for judgment as a matter of law or, alternatively, for a new trial and/or remittitur, on the issues of validity, willfulness and damages. The Court has not entered a judgment and has not set hearing dates for any of the pending motions.

 

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Saito Shigeru Kenchiku Kenkyusho (Shigeru Saito Architecture Institute) v. iPod; Apple Japan Inc. v. Shigeru Saito Architecture Institute

Plaintiff Saito filed a petition in the Japan Customs Office in Tokyo on January 23, 2007 alleging infringement by the Company of Japanese Patent No. 3852854, entitled “Touch Operation Input Device and Electronic Parts Thereof.” The petition sought an order barring the importation into Japan of fifth generation iPods and second generation iPod nanos. The Customs Office held a hearing on March 22, 2007. The Customs Office rejected the petition to bar importation and dismissed plaintiff’s case.

Apple Japan, Inc. filed a Declaratory Judgment action against Saito on February 6, 2007 in the Tokyo District Court, seeking a declaration that the ‘854 patent is invalid and not infringed. Saito filed a Counter Complaint for infringement seeking damages.

St-Germain v. Apple Canada, Inc.

Plaintiff filed this case in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on August 5, 2005, seeking authorization to institute a class action for the refund by the Company of the Canadian Private Copying Levy that was applied to the iPod purchase price in Quebec between December 12, 2003 and December 14, 2004 but later declared invalid by the Canadian Court. The Company has completed a refund program for this levy. A class certification hearing took place January 13, 2006. On February 24, 2006, the Court granted class certification and notice was published during the last week of March 2006. The trial was conducted on October 15 and 16, 2007. On January 11, 2008, the Court issued a ruling in plaintiff’s favor. The Court ruled that despite the Company’s good faith efforts with the levy refund program, the Company must pay the amount claimed, and that the class is comprised of 20,000 persons who purchased an iPod in Quebec between December 12, 2003 and December 14, 2004. The Court ordered the Company to submit a statement of account showing the amount received by the Canadian Private Copying Collective, and the amount that has already been paid to class members in Quebec under the Company’s levy refund program. The Court also ordered the parties to submit further briefing regarding the collective recovery award by February 23, 2008. On February 11, 2008, the Company filed an appeal. A hearing on the appeal is set for October 27, 2009.

The Apple iPod iTunes Antitrust Litigation (formerly Charoensak v. Apple Computer, Inc. and Tucker v. Apple Computer, Inc.); Somers v. Apple Inc.

The first-listed action is a consolidated case combining two cases previously pending under the names Charoensak v. Apple Computer Inc. (formerly Slattery v. Apple Computer Inc.) and Tucker v. Apple Computer, Inc. The original plaintiff (Slattery) in the Charoensak case filed a purported class action on January 3, 2005 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging various claims including alleged unlawful tying of music purchased on the iTunes Store with the purchase of iPods and unlawful acquisition or maintenance of monopoly market power. Plaintiff’s complaint alleged violations of §§1 and 2 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§1 and 2), California Business & Professions Code §16700 et seq. (the Cartwright Act), California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition), common law unjust enrichment and common law monopolization. Plaintiff sought unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed a motion to dismiss on February 10, 2005. On September 9, 2005, the Court denied the motion in part and granted it in part. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 23, 2005 and the Company filed an answer on October 18, 2005. In August 2006, the Court dismissed Slattery without prejudice and allowed plaintiffs to file an amended complaint naming two new plaintiffs (Charoensak and Rosen). On November 2, 2006, the Company filed an answer to the amended complaint denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses.

The Tucker case was filed as a purported class action on July 21, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging various claims including alleged unlawful tying of music and videos purchased on the iTunes Store with the purchase of iPods and vice versa and unlawful acquisition or maintenance of monopoly market power. The complaint alleges violations of §§1 and 2 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§1 and 2), California Business & Professions Code §16700 et seq. (the Cartwright Act), California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition) and the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Plaintiff sought unspecified damages and other relief. On November 3, 2006, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On December 20, 2006, the Court denied the motion to dismiss. On January 11, 2007, the Company filed an answer denying all material allegations and asserting numerous defenses.

 

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On March 20, 2007, the Court consolidated the two cases. Plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on April 19, 2007. On June 6, 2007, the Company filed an answer to the consolidated complaint denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. On July 17, 2008, plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification and on October 17, 2008, the Company filed its opposition to plaintiffs’ motion. The class certification hearing took place on December 16, 2008. On December 22, 2008, the Court granted certification of the monopolization claims and denied without prejudice certification of the tying claims pending reconsideration of its denial of the Company’s motion to dismiss. On February 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings as to plaintiffs’ tying claims. On May 15, 2009, the Court issued an order granting the Company’s motion in part, dismissing the federal per se tying claim and related state court tying claims and inviting the Company to file another motion for judgment on the pleadings if plaintiffs pursue a rule of reason tying claim. On July 17, 2009, the Court invited the Company to file a motion for reconsideration of the certification of an injunctive-relief class or a motion to strike plaintiffs’ prayer for the type of injunctive relief sought.

A related complaint, Somers v. Apple Inc., was filed on December 31, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers, alleging various claims including alleged unlawful tying of music and videos purchased on the iTunes Store with the purchase of iPods and vice versa and unlawful acquisition or maintenance of monopoly market power. The complaint alleges violations of §§1 and 2 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§1 and 2), California Business & Professions Code §16700 et seq. (the Cartwright Act), California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition), the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and California monopolization law. Plaintiff seeks unspecified damages and other relief. On February 21, 2008, the Company filed an answer denying all material allegations and asserting numerous defenses. On February 23, 2009, plaintiff filed a motion for class certification and on April 20, 2009, the Company filed its opposition to that motion. An evidentiary hearing on the class certification motion took place on June 30, 2009. On July 17, 2009, the Court denied certification of plaintiff’s damage claims and deferred ruling on certification of plaintiff’s injunctive claims pending resolution of the additional briefing requested by the Court, which is described above.

Tse v. Apple Computer, Inc. et al.

Plaintiff Ho Keung Tse filed this action against the Company and other defendants on August 5, 2005 in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,665,797 entitled “Protection of Software Again [sic] Against Unauthorized Use.” The complaint seeks unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed an answer on October 31, 2005 denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defenses. On October 28, 2005, the Company and the other defendants filed a motion to transfer the case to the Northern District of California, which was granted on August 31, 2006. On July 24, 2007, the Company filed a petition for reexamination of the patent, which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted. On July 25, 2007, the Company filed a motion to stay the litigation pending the outcome of the reexamination, which the Court granted on October 4, 2007.

Union Fédérale des Consummateurs - Que Choisir v. Apple Computer France S.à.r.l. and iTunes S.à.r.l.

Plaintiff, a consumer association in France, filed this complaint on February 9, 2005 alleging that the above-listed entities are violating consumer law by (1) omitting to mention that the iPod is allegedly not compatible with music from online music services other than the iTunes Store and that the music from the iTunes Store is only compatible with the iPod and (2) allegedly tying the sales of iPods to the iTunes Store and vice versa. Plaintiff seeks damages, injunctive relief and other relief. The first hearing on the case took place on May 24, 2005. The Company’s response to the complaint was served on November 8, 2005. Plaintiff’s responsive pleading was filed on February 10, 2006. The Company filed a reply on June 6, 2006 and UFC filed a response on September 19, 2006. On April 7, 2009, the Court ordered the case withdrawn from its docket.

Vitt v. Apple Computer, Inc.

Plaintiff filed this purported class action on November 7, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of a purported nationwide class of all purchasers of the iBook G4 alleging that the computer’s logic board fails at an abnormally high rate. The complaint alleges violations of California Business & Professions Code §17200 (unfair competition) and California Business & Professions Code §17500 (false advertising). Plaintiff seeks unspecified damages and other relief. The Company filed a motion to dismiss on January 19, 2007, which the Court granted on March 13, 2007. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on March 26, 2007. The Company filed a motion to dismiss on August 16, 2007, which was heard on October 4, 2007. The Court has not yet issued a ruling.

 

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Vogel v. Jobs et al. (2006 Action)

Plaintiffs filed this purported class action on August 24, 2006, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company and certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors alleging improper backdating of stock option grants to maximize certain defendants’ profits, failing to properly account for those grants and issuing false financial statements. On January 19, 2007, the Court appointed the New York City Employees’ Retirement System as lead plaintiff. On March 23, 2007, plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint. The Consolidated Complaint purports to be brought on behalf of several classes of holders of the Company’s stock and asserts claims under Section 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act as well as state law. The Consolidated Complaint seeks rescission of amendments to various stock option and other incentive compensation plans, an accounting and damages in an unspecified amount. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss on June 8, 2007, which was heard on September 7, 2007. On November 14, 2007, the Court issued an order dismissing all securities claims with prejudice, and held that any amended complaint could only be styled as a derivative case. On December 14, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file a first amended consolidated class action complaint. On January 23, 2008, defendants filed an opposition to plaintiff’s motion. Plaintiff’s motion was heard on March 21, 2008. On May 14, 2008, the Court issued an order denying plaintiffs’ motion for leave to amend. The court entered judgment dismissing the case on June 12, 2008. On June 17, 2008, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal. Plaintiffs’ appeal is pending.

Vogel v. Apple Inc., et al. (2008 Action)

Plaintiff filed this purported class action on June 27, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company and certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors. The allegations, which arise out of the Company’s past stock option practices, are similar to those in the 2006 Vogel v. Jobs et al. action that was dismissed on June 12, 2008, as described above. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of several classes of holders of the Company’s stock and asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The complaint seeks rescission of amendments to various stock option and other incentive compensation plans, an accounting and damages in an unspecified amount. On July 22, 2008, the Court stayed this case pending the appeal in the 2006 Action.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting the Company’s financial condition and operating results, past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

Economic conditions could materially adversely affect the Company.

The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on worldwide economic conditions. Uncertainty about current global economic conditions poses a risk as consumers and businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values, which could have a material negative effect on demand for the Company’s products and services. Demand also could differ materially from the Company’s expectations since the Company generally raises prices on goods and services sold outside the U.S. to offset the effect of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, a trend that has been very pronounced recently. Other factors that could influence demand include continuing increases in fuel and other energy costs, conditions in the residential real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence, and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending behavior. These and other economic factors could have a material adverse effect on demand for the Company’s products and services and on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The current financial turmoil affecting the banking system and financial markets and the possibility additional financial institutions may consolidate or go out of business have resulted in a tightening in the credit markets, a low level of liquidity in many financial markets, and extreme volatility in fixed income, credit, currency, and equity markets. There could be a number of follow-on effects from the credit crisis on the Company’s business, including the insolvency of key suppliers or their inability to obtain credit to finance development and/or manufacture products resulting in product delays; inability of customers, including channel partners, to obtain credit to finance purchases of the Company’s products and/or customer, including channel partner, insolvencies; and failure of derivative counterparties and other financial institutions negatively impacting the Company’s treasury operations. Other income and expense also could vary materially from expectations depending on gains or losses realized on the sale or exchange of financial instruments; impairment charges resulting from revaluations of debt and equity securities and other investments; interest rates; cash balances; and changes in fair value of derivative instruments. The current volatility in the financial markets and overall economic uncertainty increase the risk the actual amounts realized in the future on the Company’s financial instruments could differ significantly from the fair values currently assigned to them.

 

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Uncertainty about current global economic conditions could also continue to increase the volatility of the Company’s stock price.

The matters relating to the Company’s past stock option practices and its restatement of consolidated financial statements may result in additional litigation.

The Company’s investigation into its past stock option practices and its restatement of prior financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 gave rise to litigation and government investigations. As described in Part II, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings,” several derivative and class action complaints regarding stock options were filed against the Company and current and former officers and directors. These actions have been dismissed following a comprehensive settlement. Two former officers of the Company were also named as defendants in an SEC enforcement action, which has been settled.

No assurance can be given that additional actions will not be filed against the Company and current and former officers and directors as a result of past stock option practices. If such actions are filed and result in adverse findings, the remedies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Global markets for personal computers, digital music devices, mobile communication devices, and related peripherals and services are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. If the Company is unable to compete effectively in these markets, its financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

The Company competes in global markets that are highly competitive and characterized by aggressive price cutting, with resulting downward pressure on gross margins, frequent introduction of new products, short product life cycles, evolving industry standards, continual improvement in product price/performance characteristics, rapid adoption of technological and product advancements by competitors, and price sensitivity on the part of consumers.

The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends heavily on its ability to ensure a continuing and timely introduction of innovative new products and technologies to the marketplace. The Company believes it is unique in that it designs and develops nearly the entire solution for its personal computers, consumer electronics, and mobile communication devices, including the hardware, operating system, numerous software applications, and related services. As a result, the Company must make significant investments in research and development and as such, the Company currently holds a significant number of patents and copyrights and has registered and/or has applied to register numerous patents, trademarks and service marks. By contrast, many of the Company’s competitors seek to compete primarily through aggressive pricing and very low cost structures. If the Company is unable to continue to develop and sell innovative new products with attractive margins or if other companies infringe on the Company’s intellectual property, the Company’s ability to maintain a competitive advantage could be negatively affected and its financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

In the market for personal computers and peripherals, the Company faces a significant number of competitors, many of which have broader product lines, lower priced products, and larger installed customer bases. Consolidation in this market has resulted in larger and potentially stronger competitors. Price competition has been particularly intense as competitors selling Windows-based personal computers have aggressively cut prices and lowered product margins. The Company also faces increased competition in key market segments, including consumer, SMB, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. An increasing number of Internet devices that include software applications and are smaller and simpler than traditional personal computers compete for market share with the Company’s existing products.

The Company is currently the only authorized maker of hardware using the Mac OS. The Mac OS has a minority market share in the personal computer market, which is dominated by makers of computers using competing operating systems, most notably Windows. The Company’s financial condition and operating results depend substantially on the Company’s ability to continually improve the Mac platform to maintain functional and design advantages. Use of unauthorized copies of the Mac OS on other companies’ hardware products may result in decreased demand for the Company’s hardware products, and could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

 

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The Company is currently focused on certain mobile communication devices, such as iPhone, consumer electronic devices, including the iPod family of digital music players, and third-party digital content and applications distribution. The Company faces substantial competition from companies that have significant technical, marketing, distribution, and other resources, as well as established hardware, software, and digital content supplier relationships. The Company also competes with illegitimate ways to obtain third-party digital content and applications. The Company has only recently entered the mobile communications market, and many of its competitors in the mobile communications market have significantly greater experience, product breadth, and distribution channels than the Company. Because some current and potential competitors have substantial resources and experience and a lower cost structure, they may be able to provide such products and services at little or no profit or even at a loss. The Company also expects competition to intensify as competitors attempt to imitate the Company’s approach to providing these components seamlessly within their individual offerings or work collaboratively to offer integrated solutions.

The Company currently receives subsidies from its exclusive and non-exclusive carriers providing cellular network service for iPhone. There is no assurance that such subsidies will be continued at all or in the same amounts upon renewal of the Company’s agreements with these carriers or in agreements the Company enters into with new carriers.

There can be no assurance the Company will be able to continue to provide products and services that compete effectively.

To remain competitive and stimulate customer demand, the Company must successfully manage frequent product introductions and transitions.

Due to the highly volatile and competitive nature of the personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communication industries, the Company must continually introduce new products, services and technologies, enhance existing products and services, and effectively stimulate customer demand for new and upgraded products. The success of new product introductions depends on a number of factors, including timely and successful product development, market acceptance, the Company’s ability to manage the risks associated with new products and production ramp issues, the availability of application software for new products, the effective management of purchase commitments and inventory levels in line with anticipated product demand, the availability of products in appropriate quantities and costs to meet anticipated demand, and the risk that new products may have quality or other defects in the early stages of introduction. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine in advance the ultimate effect of new product introductions and transitions on its financial condition and operating results.

The Company faces substantial inventory and other asset risk.

The Company records a write-down for product and component inventories that have become obsolete or exceed anticipated demand or net realizable value and accrues necessary cancellation fee reserves for orders of excess products and components. The Company also reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changed circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that impairment has occurred, it records a write-down equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair market value. Although the Company believes its inventory, asset, and related provisions are currently adequate, no assurance can be given that, given the rapid and unpredictable pace of product obsolescence in the global personal computer, consumer electronics, and mobile communication industries, the Company will not incur additional inventory or asset related charges. Such charges have had, and could have, a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company must order components for its products and build inventory in advance of product announcements and shipments. Consistent with industry practice, components are normally acquired through a combination of purchase orders, supplier contracts, and open orders based on projected demand. Such purchase commitments typically cover forecasted component and manufacturing requirements for 30 to 150 days. Because the Company’s markets are volatile, competitive and subject to rapid technology and price changes, there is a risk the Company will forecast incorrectly and order or produce excess or insufficient inventories of components or products. The Company’s financial condition and operating results have been in the past and could be in the future materially adversely affected by the Company’s ability to manage its inventory levels and respond to short-term shifts in customer demand patterns.

 

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Future operating results depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, NAND flash memory, DRAM and LCDs at favorable prices and in sufficient quantities.

Because the Company currently obtains certain key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, enclosures, certain LCDs, certain optical drives, and ASICs, from single or limited sources, the Company is subject to significant supply and pricing risks. Many of these and other key components that are available from multiple sources including, but not limited to NAND flash memory, DRAM and certain LCDs, are subject at times to industry-wide shortages and significant commodity pricing fluctuations. The Company has entered into certain agreements for the supply of key components including, but not limited to microprocessors, NAND flash memory, DRAM and LCDs at favorable pricing, but there is no guarantee that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar favorable terms, or at all, upon expiration or otherwise obtain favorable pricing in the future. The follow-on effects from the credit crisis on the Company’s key suppliers, referred to in “Economic conditions could materially adversely affect the Company above, which is incorporated herein by reference, also could affect the Company’s ability to obtain key components. Therefore, the Company remains subject to significant risks of supply shortages and/or price increases that can have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and operating results. The Company expects to experience decreases in its gross margin percentage in future periods, as compared to levels achieved during 2008 and 2007, due largely to the anticipated impact of product transitions, flat or reduced pricing on new and innovative products that have higher cost structures, both expected and potential future cost increases for key components, and higher logistical costs. For additional information refer to Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the subheading “Gross Margin,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company and other participants in the personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communication industries compete for various components with other industries that have experienced increased demand for their products. The Company uses some custom components that are not common to the rest of the personal computer, consumer electronics or mobile communication industries. The Company’s new products often utilize custom components available from only one source until the Company has evaluated whether there is a need for, and subsequently qualifies, additional suppliers. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured. Continued availability of these components at acceptable prices, or at all, may be affected if those suppliers decided to concentrate on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet the Company’s requirements. If the supply of a key single-sourced component for a new or existing product were delayed or constrained, if such components were available only at significantly higher prices, or if a key manufacturing vendor delayed shipments of completed products to the Company, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

The Company depends on component and product manufacturing and logistical services provided by third parties, many of whom are located outside of the U.S.

Most of the Company’s components and products are manufactured in whole or in part by a few third-party manufacturers. Many of these manufacturers are located outside of the U.S., and are concentrated in several general locations. The Company has also outsourced much of its transportation and logistics management. While these arrangements may lower operating costs, they also reduce the Company’s direct control over production and distribution. It is uncertain what effect such diminished control will have on the quality or quantity of products or services, or the Company’s flexibility to respond to changing conditions. In addition, the Company relies on third-party manufacturers to adhere to the Company’s supplier code of conduct. Although arrangements with such manufacturers may contain provisions for warranty expense reimbursement, the Company may remain responsible to the consumer for warranty service in the event of product defects. Any unanticipated product defect or warranty liability, whether pursuant to arrangements with contract manufacturers or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, financial condition and operating results.

 

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Final assembly of the Company’s products is currently performed in the Company’s manufacturing facility in Ireland, and by external vendors in Texas, Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. Currently, the supply and manufacture of many critical components is performed by sole-sourced third-party vendors in the U.S., China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore. Sole-sourced third-party vendors in China perform final assembly of substantially all of the Company’s portable products, including MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iPods, iPhones, and most of the Company’s iMacs. If manufacturing or logistics in these locations is disrupted for any reason, including natural disasters, information technology system failures, military actions or economic, business, labor, environmental, public health, or political issues, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

The Company relies on third-party digital content and applications, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

The Company contracts with certain third parties to offer their digital content and applications through the Company’s iTunes Store. The Company pays substantial fees to obtain the rights to audio and video content. The Company’s licensing arrangements with these third parties are short-term and do not guarantee the continuation or renewal of these arrangements on reasonable terms, if at all. Some third-party content providers currently or in the future may offer competing products and services, and could take action to make it more difficult or impossible for the Company to license their content in the future. Other content owners, providers or distributors may seek to limit the Company’s access to, or increase the total cost of, such content. If the Company is unable to continue to offer a wide variety of content at reasonable prices with acceptable usage rules, or continue to expand its geographic reach, the Company’s financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

Many third-party content providers require that the Company provide certain digital rights management (“DRM”) and other security solutions. If these requirements change, the Company may have to develop or license new technology to provide these solutions. There is no assurance the Company will be able to develop or license such solutions at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner. In addition, certain countries have passed or may propose legislation that would force the Company to license its DRM, which could lessen the protection of content and subject it to piracy and also could affect arrangements with the Company’s content providers.

The Company relies on access to third-party patents and intellectual property, and the Company’s future results could be materially adversely affected if it is alleged or found to have infringed intellectual property rights.

Many of the Company’s products are designed to include third-party intellectual property, and in the future the Company may need to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of its products and business methods. Although the Company believes that, based on past experience and industry practice, such licenses generally could be obtained on reasonable terms, there is no assurance that the necessary licenses would be available on acceptable terms or at all.

Because of technological changes in the global personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile communication industries, current extensive patent coverage, and the rapid issuance of new patents, it is possible that certain components of the Company’s products and business methods may unknowingly infringe the patents or other intellectual property rights of third parties. From time to time, the Company has been notified that it may be infringing such rights. Regardless of merit, responding to such claims can consume significant time and expense. At present, the Company is vigorously defending more than 37 patent infringement cases, 19 of which were filed during fiscal 2009, and several pending claims are in various stages of evaluation. In certain cases, the Company may consider the desirability of entering into licensing agreements, although no assurance can be given that such licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or that litigation will not occur. If the Company is found to be infringing such rights, it may be required to pay substantial damages. If there is a temporary or permanent injunction prohibiting the Company from marketing or selling certain products or a successful claim of infringement against the Company requires it to pay royalties to a third party, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected, regardless of whether it can develop non-infringing technology. While in management’s opinion the Company does not have a potential liability for damages or royalties from any known current legal proceedings or claims related to the infringement of patent or other intellectual property rights that would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and operating results, the results of such legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Should the Company fail to prevail in any of the matters related to infringement of patent or other intellectual property rights of others or should several of these matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

 

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With the June 2007 introduction of iPhone, the Company has begun to compete with mobile communication device companies that hold significant patent portfolios. Regardless of the scope or validity of such patents or the merits of any potential patent claims by competitors, the Company may have to engage in protracted litigation, enter into expensive agreements or settlements and/or modify its products. Any of these events could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company’s future performance depends on support from third-party software developers. If third-party software applications and services cease to be developed and maintained for the Company’s products, customers may choose not to buy the Company’s products.

The Company believes decisions by customers to purchase its hardware products, including its Macs, iPods, and iPhones, are often based to a certain extent on the availability of third-party software applications and services. There is no assurance that third-party developers will continue to develop and maintain applications and services for the Company’s products on a timely basis or at all, and discontinuance or delay of these applications and services could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

With respect to its Mac products, the Company believes the availability of third-party software applications and services depends in part on the developers’ perception and analysis of the relative benefits of developing, maintaining, and upgrading such software for the Company’s products compared to Windows-based products. This analysis may be based on factors such as the perceived strength of the Company and its products, the anticipated revenue that may be generated, continued acceptance by customers of Mac OS X, and the costs of developing such applications and services. If the Company’s minority share of the global personal computer market causes developers to question the Company’s prospects, developers could be less inclined to develop or upgrade software for the Company’s products and more inclined to devote their resources to developing and upgrading software for the larger Windows market. The Company’s development of its own software applications and services may also negatively affect the decisions of third-party developers, such as Microsoft, Adobe, and Google, to develop, maintain, and upgrade similar or competitive software and services for the Company’s products. Mac OS X Leopard, which became available in October 2007, includes a new feature that enables Intel-based Mac systems to run Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. This feature may deter developers from creating software applications for Mac OS X if such applications are already available for the Windows platform.

With respect to iPhone and iPod touch, the Company relies on the continued availability and development of compelling and innovative software applications. Unlike third-party software applications for Mac products, the software applications for the iPhone and iPod touch platforms are distributed through a single distribution channel, the iTunes Store. The absence of multiple distribution channels, which are available for competing platforms, may limit the availability and acceptance of third-party applications by the Company’s customers, thereby causing developers to curtail significantly, or stop, development for the Company’s platforms. In addition, iPhone and iPod touch are subject to rapid technological change, and, if third-party developers are unable to keep up with this pace of change, third-party applications might not successfully operate and may result in dissatisfied customers. Further, if the Company develops its own software applications and services, such development may negatively affect the decisions of third-party developers to develop, maintain, and upgrade similar or competitive applications for the iPhone and iPod touch platforms. As with applications for the Company’s Mac products, the availability and development of these applications also depend on developers’ perceptions and analysis of the relative benefits of developing software for the Company’s products rather than its competitors’ products, including devices that use competing platforms. If developers focus their efforts on these competing platforms, the availability and quality of applications for the Company’s devices may suffer.

The Company’s products and services experience quality problems from time to time that can result in decreased sales and operating margin.

The Company sells highly complex hardware and software products and services that can contain defects in design and manufacture. Sophisticated operating system software and applications, such as those sold by the Company, often contain “bugs” that can unexpectedly interfere with the software’s intended operation. Defects may also occur in components and products the Company purchases from third parties. There can be no assurance the Company will

 

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be able to detect and fix all defects in the hardware, software and services it sells. Failure to do so could result in lost revenue, harm to reputation, and significant warranty and other expenses, and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company expects its quarterly revenue and operating results to fluctuate for a variety of reasons.

The Company’s profit margins vary among its products and its distribution channels. The Company’s software, accessories, and service and support contracts generally have higher gross margins than certain of the Company’s other products. Gross margins on the Company’s hardware products vary across product lines and can change over time as a result of product transitions, pricing and configuration changes, and component, warranty, and other cost fluctuations. The Company’s direct sales generally have higher associated gross margins than its indirect sales through its channel partners. In addition, the Company’s gross margin and operating margin percentages, as well as overall profitability, may be materially adversely impacted as a result of a shift in product, geographic or channel mix, new products, component cost increases, strengthening U.S. dollar, or price competition. The Company has typically experienced greater net sales in the first and fourth fiscal quarters compared to the second and third fiscal quarters due to seasonal demand related to the holiday season and the beginning of the school year, respectively. Furthermore, the Company sells more products from time-to-time during the third month of a quarter than it does during either of the first two months. Developments late in a quarter, such as lower-than-anticipated demand for the Company’s products, an internal systems failure, or failure of one of the Company’s key logistics, components supply, or manufacturing partners, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

In certain countries, including the U.S., the Company relies on a single cellular network carrier to provide service for iPhone.

In each of the U.S., U.K., Germany, Spain, Ireland, and certain other countries, the Company has contracted with a single carrier to provide cellular network services for iPhone on an exclusive basis. If these exclusive carriers cannot successfully compete with other carriers in their markets on any basis, including but not limited to the quality and coverage of wireless voice and data services, performance and timely build-out of advanced wireless networks, and pricing and other terms of conditions of end-user contracts, or if these exclusive carriers fail to promote iPhone aggressively or favor other handsets in their promotion and sales activities or service plans, sales may be materially adversely affected.

The Company is subject to risks associated with laws, regulations and industry-imposed standards related to mobile communications devices.

Laws and regulations related to mobile communications devices in the many jurisdictions in which the Company operates are extensive and subject to change. Such changes, which could include but are not limited to restrictions on production, manufacture, distribution, and use of the device, locking the device to a carrier’s network, or mandating the use of the device on more than one carrier’s network, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Mobile communication devices, such as iPhone, are subject to certification and regulation by governmental and standardization bodies, as well as by cellular network carriers for use on their networks. These certification processes are extensive and time consuming, and could result in additional testing requirements, product modifications or delays in product shipment dates, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company may be subject to information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches in data security.

Information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches of data security could disrupt the Company’s operations by causing delays or cancellation of customer, including channel partner, orders, negatively affecting the Company’s online offerings and services, impeding the manufacture or shipment of products, processing transactions and reporting financial results, resulting in the unintentional disclosure of customer or Company information, or damage to the Company’s reputation. While management has taken steps to address these concerns by implementing sophisticated network security and internal control measures, there can be no assurance that a system failure or data security breach will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

 

52


The Company’s stock price continues to be volatile.

The Company’s stock has at times experienced substantial price volatility due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, variations between its actual and anticipated financial results, announcements by the Company and its competitors, and uncertainty about current global economic conditions. The stock market as a whole also has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many technology companies in ways that may have been unrelated to these companies’ operating performance. Furthermore, the Company believes its stock price reflects high future growth and profitability expectations. If the Company fails to meet these expectations its stock price may significantly decline.

Political events, war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters and other circumstances could materially adversely affect the Company.

War, terrorism, geopolitical uncertainties, public health issues, and other business interruptions have caused and could cause damage or disruption to international commerce and the global economy, and thus could have a strong negative effect on the Company, its suppliers, logistics providers, manufacturing vendors and customers, including channel partners. The Company’s business operations are subject to interruption by natural disasters, fire, power shortages, terrorist attacks, and other hostile acts, labor disputes, public health issues, and other events beyond its control. Such events could decrease demand for the Company’s products, make it difficult or impossible for the Company to make and deliver products to its customers, including channel partners, or to receive components from its suppliers, and create delays and inefficiencies in the Company’s supply chain. Should major public health issues, including pandemics, arise, the Company could be negatively affected by more stringent employee travel restrictions, additional limitations in freight services, governmental actions limiting the movement of products between regions, delays in production ramps of new products, and disruptions in the operations of the Company’s manufacturing vendors and component suppliers. The majority of the Company’s research and development activities, its corporate headquarters, information technology systems, and other critical business operations, including certain component suppliers and manufacturing vendors, are located near major seismic faults. Because the Company does not carry earthquake insurance for direct quake-related losses and significant recovery time could be required to resume operations, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected in the event of a major earthquake.

The Company’s success depends largely on the continued service and availability of key personnel.

Much of the Company’s future success depends on the continued availability and service of key personnel, including its CEO, its executive team and highly skilled employees in technical, marketing and staff positions. Experienced personnel in the technology industry are in high demand and competition for their talents is intense, especially in the Silicon Valley, where most of the Company’s key personnel are located. There can be no assurance that the Company will continue to attract and retain key personnel. The Company’s CEO recently returned from a medical leave of absence.

In addition, the Company has relied on equity awards in the form of stock options and restricted stock units as one means for recruiting and retaining highly skilled talent. Significant adverse volatility in the Company’s stock price could result in a stock option’s exercise price exceeding the underlying stock’s market value or a significant deterioration in the value of restricted stock units granted, thus lessening the effectiveness of stock-based awards for retaining employees.

Unfavorable results of legal proceedings could materially adversely affect the Company.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen out of the ordinary conduct of its business and are not yet resolved and additional claims may arise in the future. Results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Regardless of its merit, litigation may be both time-consuming and disruptive to the Company’s operations and cause significant expense and diversion of management attention. In recognition of these considerations, the Company may enter into material settlements. Should the Company fail to prevail in certain matters, or should several of these matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, the Company may be faced with significant monetary damages or injunctive relief against it that would materially adversely affect a portion of its business and might materially affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

 

53


The Company’s business is subject to the risks of international operations.

The Company derives a large and growing portion of its revenue and earnings from its international operations. As a result, its financial condition and operating results could be significantly affected by risks associated with international activities, including economic and labor conditions, political instability, tax laws (including U.S. taxes on foreign subsidiaries), and changes in the value of the U.S. dollar versus local currencies. Margins on sales of the Company’s products in foreign countries, and on sales of products that include components obtained from foreign suppliers, could be materially adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and by international trade regulations, including tariffs and antidumping penalties.

The Company’s primary exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates relate to non-U.S. dollar denominated sales in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and certain parts of Asia, as well as non-U.S. dollar denominated operating expenses incurred throughout the world. Weakening of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings, and generally will lead the Company to raise international pricing, potentially reducing demand for the Company’s products. In some circumstances, due to competition or other reasons, the Company may decide not to raise local prices to the full extent of the dollar’s strengthening, or at all, which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency denominated sales and earnings. Conversely, a strengthening of foreign currencies, while generally beneficial to the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings, could cause the Company to reduce international pricing, thereby limiting the benefit. Additionally, strengthening of foreign currencies may also increase the Company’s cost of product components denominated in those currencies, thus adversely affecting gross margins.

The Company has used derivative instruments, such as foreign exchange forward and option positions, to hedge certain exposures to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The use of such hedging activities may not offset any or more than a portion of the adverse financial effects of unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates over the limited time the hedges are in place.

The Company’s retail business has required and will continue to require a substantial investment and commitment of resources and is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties.

Through June 27, 2009, the Company had opened 258 retail stores. The Company’s retail stores have required substantial fixed investment in equipment and leasehold improvements, information systems, inventory, and personnel. The Company also has entered into substantial operating lease commitments for retail space with terms ranging from 5 to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years. Certain stores have been designed and built to serve as high-profile venues to promote brand awareness and serve as vehicles for corporate sales and marketing activities. Because of their unique design elements, locations and size, these stores require substantially more investment than the Company’s more typical retail stores. Due to the high fixed cost structure associated with the Retail segment, a decline in sales or the closure or poor performance of individual or multiple stores could result in significant lease termination costs, write-offs of equipment and leasehold improvements, and severance costs that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Many factors unique to retail operations, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, pose risks and uncertainties that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, macro-economic factors that could have a negative effect on general retail activity, as well as the Company’s inability to manage costs associated with store construction and operation, inability to sell third-party products at adequate margins, failure to manage relationships with existing retail channel partners, more challenging environment in managing retail operations outside the U.S., costs associated with unanticipated fluctuations in the value of retail inventory, and inability to obtain and renew leases in quality retail locations at a reasonable cost.

 

54


Investment in new business strategies and initiatives could disrupt the Company’s ongoing business and present risks not originally contemplated.

The Company has invested, and in the future may invest, in new business strategies or acquisitions. Such endeavors may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including distraction of management from current operations, insufficient revenue to offset liabilities assumed and expenses associated with the strategy, inadequate return of capital, and unidentified issues not discovered in the Company’s due diligence. Because these new ventures are inherently risky, no assurance can be given that such strategies and initiatives will be successful and will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company’s future operating performance depends on the performance of distributors, carriers, and other resellers.

The Company distributes its products through wholesalers, resellers, national and regional retailers, value-added resellers, and cataloguers, many of whom distribute products from competing manufacturers. The Company also sells many of its products and resells third-party products in most of its major markets directly to end-users, certain education customers, and certain resellers through its online and retail stores. iPhone is distributed through the Company, its cellular network carriers’ distribution channels, and certain third-party resellers.

Many resellers operate on narrow product margins and have been negatively affected in the past by weak economic conditions. Some resellers have perceived the expansion of the Company’s direct sales as conflicting with their business interests as distributors and resellers of the Company’s products. Such a perception could discourage resellers from investing resources in the distribution and sale of the Company’s products or lead them to limit or cease distribution of those products. The Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected if the financial condition of these resellers weakens, if resellers stopped distributing the Company’s products, or if uncertainty regarding demand for the Company’s products caused resellers to reduce their ordering and marketing of the Company’s products. The Company has invested and will continue to invest in programs to enhance reseller sales, including staffing selected resellers’ stores with Company employees and contractors and improving product placement displays. These programs could require a substantial investment while providing no assurance of return or incremental revenue.

Changes in the Company’s tax rates, the adoption of new U.S. tax legislation or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could affect its future results.

The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s future effective tax rates could be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws or their interpretation. In addition, the current administration and Congress have recently announced proposals for new U.S. tax legislation that, if adopted, could adversely affect the Company’s tax rate. Any of these changes could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s profitability. The Company is also subject to the continual examination of its income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these examinations will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company is exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in the market values of its investment portfolio.

Although the Company has not recognized any material losses on its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, future declines in their market values could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results. Given the global nature of its business, the Company has investments both domestically and internationally. Additionally, the Company’s overall investment portfolio has concentrations in the financial sector, which has been negatively impacted by the recent market liquidity conditions. Credit ratings and pricing of these investments can be negatively impacted by liquidity, credit deterioration or losses, financial results, or other factors. As a result, the value or liquidity of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities could decline and result in a material impairment, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

 

55


The Company is exposed to credit risk on its accounts receivable and prepayments related to long-term supply agreements. This risk is heightened during periods when economic conditions worsen.

A substantial majority of the Company’s outstanding trade receivables are not covered by collateral or credit insurance. The Company also has unsecured non-trade receivables resulting from purchases of components by contract manufacturers and other vendors that manufacture sub-assemblies or assemble final products for the Company. In addition, the Company has made prepayments associated with long-term supply agreements to secure supply of certain inventory components. While the Company has procedures to monitor and limit exposure to credit risk on its trade and non-trade receivables as well as long-term prepayments, there can be no assurance such procedures will effectively limit its credit risk and avoid losses, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company is subject to risks associated with laws and regulations related to health, safety and environmental protection.

The Company’s products and services, and the production and distribution of those goods and services, are subject to a variety of laws and regulations. These may require the Company to offer customers the ability to return a product at the end of its useful life and place responsibility for environmentally safe disposal or recycling with the Company. Such laws and regulations have been passed in several jurisdictions in which the Company operates, including various countries within Europe and Asia, certain Canadian provinces and certain states within the U.S. Although the Company does not anticipate any material adverse effects based on the nature of its operations and the thrust of such laws, there is no assurance such existing laws or future laws will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company is subject to risks associated with the availability and coverage of insurance.

For certain risks, the Company does not maintain insurance coverage because of cost and/or availability. Because the Company retains some portion of its insurable risks, and in some cases self-insures completely, unforeseen or catastrophic losses in excess of insured limits could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

56


Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Index to Exhibits

 

         

Incorporated by
Reference

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  

Form

  

Filing Date/

Period End

Date

    3.1**

   Restated Articles of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of California on July 10, 2009.      

    3.2

   By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended through May 27, 2009.    8-K    6/2/09

    4.1

   Form of Stock Certificate of the Registrant.    10-Q    12/30/06

  10.1*

   Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended through May 10, 2007.    8-K    5/16/07

  10.2**

   Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each director and executive officer of the Registrant.      

  10.3*

   1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, as amended through October 19, 2001.    10-K    9/28/02

  10.4*

   1997 Director Stock Option Plan, as amended through May 10, 2007.    8-K    5/16/07

  10.5*

   2003 Employee Stock Plan, as amended through May 10, 2007.    8-K    5/16/07

  10.6*

   Reimbursement Agreement dated as of May 25, 2001 by and between the Registrant and Steven P. Jobs.    10-Q    6/29/02

  10.7*

   Form of Option Agreement.    10-K    9/24/05

  10.8*

   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement effective as of August 28, 2007.    10-K    9/29/07

  10.9*

   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement effective as of November 11, 2008.    10-Q    12/27/08

  10.10*

   Transition Agreement and Settlement Agreement and Release dated as of November 3, 2008 by and between the Registrant and Anthony Fadell.    10-Q    12/27/08

  14.1

   Business Conduct Policy of the Registrant dated February 2009.    10-Q    3/28/09

  31.1**

   Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.      

  31.2**

   Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.      

  32.1***

  

Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer

and Chief Financial Officer.

     

101.INS****

   XBRL Instance Document      

101.SCH****

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document      

101.CAL****

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document      

101.LAB****

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document      

101.PRE****

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document      

 

*

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

**

Filed herewith.

 

***

Furnished herewith.

 

57


****

Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, the Company is deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and is not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as the Company has made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amends the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fails to comply with the submission requirements. Users of this data are advised that, pursuant to Rule 406T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed and otherwise are not subject to liability.

 

58


SIGNATURE

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.

 

July 22, 2009

   

APPLE INC.

    By:   

/s/ Peter Oppenheimer

       

Peter Oppenheimer

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

59