QUANTUM CORP /DE/ - Annual Report: 2012 (Form 10-K)

QUANTUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ¨   NO x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. YES ¨   NO x

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 checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by checkmark 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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  YES ¨   NO x

The aggregate market value of Quantum Corporation’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, held by nonaffiliates of the registrant was approximately $248.4 million on September 30, 2011 the last day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based on the closing sales price of the registrant’s common stock on that date on the New York Stock Exchange. For purposes of this disclosure, shares of common stock held by persons who hold more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock and shares held by officers and directors of the registrant have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily conclusive for other purposes.

As of the close of business on June 8, 2012, there were approximately 236.7 million shares of the registrant’s common stock issued and outstanding.

INDEX

PART I

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this report usually contain the words “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “project” or similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words. All such forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, (1) our goals for future operating performance; (2) our research and development plans and focuses; (3) our expectation that we will continue to derive a substantial portion of our revenue from products based on tape technology; (4) our belief that our existing cash and capital resources will be sufficient to meet all currently planned expenditures, debt service and sustain our operations for at least the next 12 months; (5) our expectations regarding our ongoing efforts to control our cost structure; (6) our belief that our ultimate liability in any infringement claims made by any third parties against us will not be material to us and (7) our business goals, objectives, key focuses, opportunities and prospects which are inherently uncertain as they are based on management’s expectations and assumptions concerning future events, and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, about which we speak only as of the date hereof. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include, but are not limited to: (1) the amount of orders received in future periods; (2) our ability to timely ship our products; (3) uncertainty regarding information technology spending and the corresponding uncertainty in the demand for our products and services; (4) our ability to maintain supplier relationships; (5) general economic, political and fiscal conditions in the U.S. and internationally, particularly in light of Greek and EU sovereign debt concerns and the uncertainty in the U.S. regarding fiscal and tax policies; (6) our ability to successfully introduce new products; (7) our ability to capitalize on market demand; (8) our ability to achieve anticipated gross margin levels and (9) those factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to update information in any forward-looking statement.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Business Description

Quantum Corporation (“Quantum”, the “Company”, “us” or “we”), founded in 1980, is a global expert in data protection and big data management. We provide solutions for storing and protecting information in physical, virtual, cloud and big data environments that are designed to help customers be certain they are maximizing the value of their data over its entire lifecycle. With our solutions, customers can better adapt in a world of continuing change by keeping and protecting more data for a longer period of time while reducing costs and increasing return on investment. We work closely with a broad network of distributors, value-added resellers (“VARs”), direct marketing resellers (“DMRs”), original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and other suppliers to meet customers’ evolving data protection and big data management needs. Our stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol QTM.

Our data protection solutions include DXi^® deduplication systems and Scalar^® automated tape libraries that optimize backup and recovery, simplify management and lower cost and our vmPRO^TM virtual server backup and disaster recovery offerings that protect virtual environments while minimizing the impact to servers and storage. For big data environments, we provide StorNext^® tiered storage and wide area storage solutions designed to help maximize revenue and results by enabling customers to extract the full value from their digital assets. In addition, we also offer software for cloud backup and disaster recovery of physical and virtual servers. We have a full range of services and the global scale and scope to support our worldwide customer base.

We are a member of the consortium that develops and has licensed LTO^® media technology to tape media manufacturing companies. We receive royalty payments for both LTO and DLT^® media technology sold under licensing agreements. We have also entered into various licensing agreements with respect to our technology, patents and similar intellectual property which provide licensing revenues in certain cases and may expand the market for products and solutions using these technologies.

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In recent years we have transformed Quantum through acquisitions and organic growth into a systems and solutions company. Our strategy is to grow the independent channel for Quantum branded solutions by offering products with superior performance and value. We plan to continue to expand and improve our product and solution offerings, with emphasis on branded disk systems, software solutions, virtual offerings and cloud solutions.

Industry Background

Information Technology (“IT”) departments face an environment of change. There is increasing focus on the economics of data as these departments not only address continued data growth but also identify solutions to store more data for longer periods of time as data becomes more valuable. With new ways to analyze and reuse data for additional revenue streams, new ideas and operational breakthroughs, IT managers are looking to ensure the organization can take full advantage of the information and knowledge from that data. For these reasons, data protection and big data management are important to businesses and organizations and consistently are reflected as top priorities in end user research studies.

Another change that has occurred over the last several years is the emergence of new architectures and technologies that reduce costs and increase efficiency. These include data deduplication, scale-out storage, virtualization and cloud storage. The challenge is that these technologies can also introduce disruption for IT, so it takes careful planning and smart solutions to enable organizations to move forward.

In the face of these changes, IT departments also confront continued constraints. Resources and budgets remain tight, which is one of the main reasons reducing data acquisition costs and ongoing operational costs is a top priority. In addition, even as they look to capitalize on new technologies and solutions, many IT managers still have to support legacy environments and applications. Finally, there is often built-in inertia or risk aversion when it comes to changing architectures or existing vendors. As a result, there is significant opportunity for storage specialists such as Quantum to assist organizations through transition.

Products

Big Data Management and Archive

With new digital technologies creating larger data files that can generate greater business value, there is a growing need to retain data for progressively longer periods while maintaining visibility and access to it. IT departments are increasingly focused on managing this big data. Generally, big data refers to relatively new data types that produce large files, often measured in petabytes, such as video, imaging and audio. Big data also refers to large collections of small data, such as retail purchasing information, underwater photos of the ocean floor and feeds from traffic cameras that when combined, create meaning and increasingly, competitive advantage. In addition, in managing big data, organizations are increasingly recognizing that they need efficient and cost-effective ways to archive it. We offer StorNext software and appliance-based solutions to address this growing need for managing and archiving big data.

StorNext Software

Designed for data-intensive environments, our StorNext software reduces the time and total cost of managing data for end users with large data sets and challenging distributed environments. The StorNext File System software provides high-performance shared access to data across different networks, operating systems and storage platforms. In addition, our StorNext Storage Manager^TM software automatically copies and migrates data between different tiers of storage based on user-defined policies. The result is a highly scalable, high-performance data management solution designed to optimize the use of storage while enabling the long-term protection and recoverability of data.

Our StorNext software helps businesses with big data to benefit from workflow efficiencies, automated tiered storage and policy-based archive management. Designed for open system data-intensive environments, StorNext software products allow multiple users to rapidly access a single data set, increasing productivity and storage utilization. They also transparently move data, reducing storage costs while simultaneously providing embedded data protection. For several years, organizations within rich media production and broadcasting, the federal government, life sciences and other disciplines have utilized our data management software to derive more value from their data while controlling costs. Many of these customers now rely on our software as a key technology enabler for their business processes and workflow.

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StorNext Appliances

Our StorNext appliances leverage the power of StorNext software and market-leading hardware to offer predictable high-performance file sharing and archiving in purpose-built configurations of metadata controllers, expansion appliances and disk, and archive enabled libraries. They are simple to deploy and architected to deliver scalable, industry-leading performance, drive lower operational costs and provide a flexible open system for enabling third party applications. These appliances also work seamlessly with traditional StorNext software and partner hardware offerings to provide additional options for building a shared storage area network (“SAN”) and scale out network-attached storage (“NAS”) environment. They are intended to serve a wide range of markets, such as film editing, seismic processing or genome sequencing and balance the highest performance with the lowest long-term cost for sharing big data files in data intensive operations.

Data Protection

DXi Disk Systems

Our DXi disk-based backup systems meet the needs of a broad range of customers, from small businesses and remote offices to large distributed enterprise data center environments, seeking high speed recovery and extreme reliability beyond what a tape-only environment can deliver. These solutions offer functionality normally reserved for enterprise class data centers, such as data deduplication, virtual tape, snapshot, data recovery and replication capabilities. Our disk-based backup appliances are designed for easy implementation and integration into existing environments and provide industry-leading performance, capacity and price-performance.

Our DXi disk systems use deduplication technology to expand the amount of backup data users can retain on traditional disk systems. The result is a cost-effective means for IT departments to store backup data on disk for months instead of days, providing high-speed restores, increasing available data recovery points and reducing media management. For disaster recovery in distributed environments, the DXi-Series^TM also makes wide area network (“WAN”) replication practical because of the greatly reduced bandwidth required with data deduplication. By greatly increasing effective disk capacity, data deduplication enables users to retain backup data on fast recovery disk much longer than possible using conventional disk and significantly reduces the bandwidth needed to move data between sites. We hold a key patent in one of the most efficient methods of data deduplication, known as variable-length data deduplication.

Our DXi-Series systems provide a combination of high performance and advanced functionality. In addition to data deduplication, the core set of advanced features of the DXi-Series includes a high performance embedded file system, support for high speed data compression, asynchronous replication, direct tape creation and built-in monitoring and diagnostic tools.

vmPRO For Virtual Environments

Our virtual environment offerings include vmPRO software and vmPRO appliances. Our vmPRO software provides virtualization data protection software with advanced utilities designed to dramatically improve and simplify virtual data protection in midrange and larger data centers. It works with our DXi family of deduplication products to accelerate backup, restore and disaster recovery protection in data center virtual environments while reducing IT costs. We also offer vmPRO appliances that provide an integrated data protection solution designed to simplify backups in virtual environments. These appliances include both backup software and integrated storage with deduplication in a single solution for small to medium-size businesses and remote offices. The vmPRO appliances optimize virtual machines and accelerate performance by filtering out unassigned, expired and inactive data to reduce overhead on servers, networks and storage.

Scalar Tape Automation Systems

We are the leading named supplier of tape automation shipments and we continue to expand features and capabilities of our tape library offerings to increase storage capacity and improve performance. Our Scalar tape automation portfolio includes a range of products, from autoloaders with one tape drive and up to sixteen cartridges to large enterprise-class libraries which can hold hundreds of drives and thousands of cartridges. Our tape libraries intelligently manage and protect business critical data in workgroup, medium size business and enterprise data center environments. With an emphasis on ease of use, management features and investment optimization, Scalar tape libraries are designed to grow with business needs. These products integrate tape drives into a system with automation technology, advanced connectivity and sophisticated management tools, including integrated media integrity analysis in tape drives and library diagnostic systems. We also offer the SuperLoader^®3 autoloader designed to maximize data density and performance.

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Tying our libraries together from entry-level to enterprise is a common, integrated software called iLayer^TM, which provides monitoring, alerts and proactive diagnostics, thereby reducing service calls, shortening issue resolution time and decreasing the time users spend managing their tape automation solutions. In addition, we believe the growth in archiving of unstructured data represents a substantial opportunity for tape automation systems. To capitalize on this trend and the changing role of tape automation systems in data protection, we have invested in our enterprise Scalar i6000 and midrange Scalar i500 platforms to provide increased redundancy capabilities. These platforms can be implemented on their own or in an appliance configuration with our StorNext archiving software.

Devices and Media

Our device and media products include removable disk drives and libraries, NAS appliances and tape drives and media. Our RDX^® removable and ruggedized disk backup devices combine attributes of disk and tape, with deduplication technology offered in our RDX disk libraries. Our NAS appliance has built-in backup software and deduplication technology, designed to enable businesses to significantly reduce storage requirements and network traffic.

We offer tape drives and media based on the LTO format. The latest generation LTO tape drive technology is capable of storing nearly twice the capacity of the previous generation, while consuming less power. Our LTO family of devices is designed to deliver outstanding performance, capacity and reliability, combining the advantages of linear multi-channel, bidirectional formats with enhancements in servo technology, data compression, track layout and error correction. These LTO tape drives are designed to provide midrange and enterprise customers with disaster recovery and cost-effective backup solutions.

We also sell a full range of storage media offerings to complement each tape drive technology and satisfy a variety of specific media requirements. Our media includes DLTtape^®, LTO Ultrium^®, DAT and DDS data cartridges. Our media is compatible with our drives, autoloaders and libraries as well as other industry products.

Cloud Solutions

We offer a software platform to help customers take advantage of cloud-based data protection through a highly optimized, flexible approach designed to overcome the limitations of other cloud offerings. This platform is centered on our vmPRO technology and our virtual deduplication appliance, the DXi V1000^TM. Our cloud-based data protection platform leverages our expertise in data protection to deliver a highly efficient, cost-effective foundation for cloud-based backup, restore and data recovery that helps customers transition easily and practically to the cloud on their terms and timeframe. Our approach is based on knowledge that most customers continue to use both disk and tape for data protection on a mix of physical and virtual servers and are more comfortable with a hybrid cloud strategy. This focus on flexibility is reflected in the benefits provided by our cloud-optimized software platform, including fast restores; cost-effective disaster recovery and business continuity; secure, multi-tenant cloud support; significant data reduction and WAN-optimized replication.

Global Services and Warranty

Our global services strategy is an integral component of our total customer solution. Service is typically a significant purchase factor for customers considering either big data management or data protection and storage solutions, and our ability to provide comprehensive service and support can present us with a noteworthy competitive advantage to attract new customers and retain existing customers. In addition, we believe that our ability to retain long-term customer relationships and secure repeat business is frequently tied directly to our service capabilities and performance.

Our extensive use of technology and innovative, built-in product intelligence allows us to scale our global services operations to meet the needs of our expanding installed base. We are currently able to provide service to customers in more than 100 countries, supported by 24-hour, multi-language technical support centers located in North America, Europe and Asia. We provide our customers with warranty coverage on all of our products. Customers with high availability requirements may also purchase additional service to extend the warranty period, obtain faster response times, or both, on our disk systems, tape automation and software products. We offer this additional support coverage at a variety of response levels up to 24-hours a day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year, for customers with stringent high-availability needs. We provide support ranging from repair and replacement to 24-hour rapid exchange to on-site service support for our midrange and enterprise-class products.

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We generally warrant our hardware products against defects for periods ranging from one to three years from the date of sale. We provide warranty and non-warranty services from our Colorado Springs, Colorado facility and, for certain products, through third party service providers. In addition, we utilize various other third party service providers throughout the world to perform repair and warranty services for us to reach additional geographic areas and industries in order to provide quality services in a cost-effective manner.

Research and Development

We compete in an industry characterized by rapid technological change and evolving customer requirements. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to introduce new products and features to meet end user needs. Our research and development teams are working on the next generation disk, tape automation, data deduplication, virtual systems, cloud solutions and big data technologies as well as software solutions to advance these technologies for the big data and archive and the data protection markets to meet changing customer requirements. We continue to focus our efforts on software solutions and integrated software and hardware solutions that offer improvements in the efficiency and cost of storing, moving, managing and protecting large amounts of data and closely integrating our products to provide compelling solutions for our customers.

We continue to invest in research and development to improve and expand our product lines and introduce new product lines, striving to provide superior data protection, including cloud environments, and big data and archive solutions. Research and development costs were $74.3 million, $73.0 million and $69.9 million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Sales and Distribution Channels

Quantum Branded Sales Channels

For Quantum-branded products, we utilize distributors, VARs and direct marketing resellers. Our integrated Quantum Alliance™ Reseller Program provides our channel partners the option of purchasing products directly or through distribution and provides them access to a more comprehensive product line. Additionally, we sell directly to a select number of large corporate entities and government agencies.

OEM Relationships

We sell our products to several OEM customers that resell our hardware products under their own brand names and typically assume responsibility for product sales, end user service and support. We also license software to certain OEM customers that include this software in their own brand name products. These OEM relationships enable us to reach end users not served by our branded distribution channels or our direct sales force. They also allow us to sell to select geographic or vertical markets where specific OEMs have exceptional strength.

Customers

Our sales are concentrated with several key customers because under our business model, as is typical for our industry, we sell to OEMs, distributors, VARs and DMRs to reach end user customers. Sales to our top five customers represented 34% of revenue in fiscal 2012, 33% of revenue in fiscal 2011 and 37% of revenue in fiscal 2010. In fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, sales to Dell comprised 10% and 13% of revenue, respectively. Through our Quantum Alliance Reseller Program and our emphasis on growing our branded business, including increasing the independent channel, we are expanding our customer base and continue to distribute our products and services across a larger number of customers.

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Competition

The markets in which we participate are highly competitive, characterized by rapid technological change and changing customer requirements. In some cases, our competitors in one market area are customers or suppliers in another. Our competitors often have greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing or other resources than we do. Additionally, the competitive landscape continues to change due to merger and acquisition activity as well as new entrants into the market.

Our StorNext software and appliance products primarily face competition from EMC Corporation (“EMC”) and International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”). Our virtual solutions, vmPRO software and appliances, primarily compete with virtualization startups and traditional backup application vendors. Our cloud solutions face competition from a large number of businesses that provide hardware, software and virtual solutions as well as companies that offer cloud services based on other technology.

Our disk solutions primarily compete with products sold by EMC, Hewlett-Packard Company (“HP”), IBM and NetApp, Inc. (“NetApp”). Additionally, a number of software companies that have traditionally been partners with us have deduplication features in their products and will, at times, compete with us. A number of our competitors also license technology from other competing companies.

In the tape automation market, we primarily compete for midrange and enterprise reseller and end user business with Dell, IBM and Oracle as well as HP through its OEM relationship with other tape automation suppliers. Competitors for entry-level and OEM tape automation business include BDT Products, Inc. and several others that supply or manufacture similar products. In addition, disk backup products are a competitive alternative to tape products and solutions.

At the storage device level, our main competitors are HP and IBM. Both HP and IBM develop and sell their own LTO tape drives, which compete with our device offerings. We also face competition from disk alternatives, including removable disk drives in the entry-level market. Although we have our own removable disk drive offerings, several other companies sell removable disk drives, such as Dell, HP and Imation Corporation.

For a discussion of risks associated with competing technologies, see the Risk Factor in Item 1A titled, “We derive the majority of our revenue from products incorporating tape technology. If competition from new or alternative storage technologies continues or increases, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.”

Manufacturing

We utilize contract manufacturers to produce a number of our products and we manufacture various other products in our own facilities. We manufacture our disk products, vmPRO appliances, StorNext appliances and certain tape automation systems and perform device and system configuration for our North American customers from our Colorado Springs, Colorado facility. In addition, we perform test and repair for these products in that same facility.

We outsource the manufacture of certain tape automation systems, tape devices and service parts from contract manufacturers. Tape drives used in our products are primarily sourced from Hungary and Malaysia. Disk drives used in our products are largely sourced from Thailand and China. Certain tape automation system materials and assemblies as well as certain disk system materials and assemblies are sourced in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S.

Our recording tape media is manufactured by one or more tape media manufacturing companies, which are qualified and licensed to manufacture, use and sell media products. In most cases, the media is produced in Japan and multi-sourced on a worldwide basis.

Technology

We develop and protect our technology and know-how, principally in the field of data storage. As of March 31, 2012, we hold over 400 U.S. patents and have nearly 100 pending U.S. patent applications. In general, these patents have a 20-year term from the first effective filing date for each patent. We also hold a number of foreign patents and patent applications for certain of our products and technologies. Although we believe that our patents and applications have significant value, rapidly changing technology in our industry means that our future success will also depend heavily on the technical competence and creative skills of our employees.

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From time to time, third parties have asserted that the manufacture and sale of our products have infringed on their patents. We conduct ongoing investigations into the assertions and presently believe that either licenses are not required or that any licenses ultimately determined to be required could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. However, we cannot provide assurance that such licenses are presently obtainable, or if later determined to be required, could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. See Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” for additional disclosures regarding an on-going lawsuit alleging patent infringement.

On occasion, we have entered into various patent licensing and cross-licensing agreements with other companies. We may enter into patent cross-licensing agreements with other third parties in the future as part of our normal business activities. These agreements, when and if entered into, would enable these third parties to use certain patents that we own and enable us to use certain patents owned by these third parties. We have also sold certain patents, retaining a royalty-free license for these patents.

Seasonality

As is typical in our industry, we have the greatest demand for our products and services in the fourth quarter of each calendar year, or our fiscal third quarter. We usually experience the lowest demand for our products and services in the first and second quarters of each calendar year, or our fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal first quarter, respectively.

Backlog

We manufacture our products based on forecasts of customer demand. We also place inventory in strategic locations in order to enable certain key customers to obtain products on demand. Orders are generally placed by customers on an as-needed basis. Product orders are confirmed and, in most cases, shipped to customers within one week. More complex systems and product configurations often have longer lead times and may include on-site integration or customer acceptance. We ship most of the backlog that we accumulate during any particular fiscal quarter in the same quarter in which the backlog initially occurs. Therefore, our backlog generally grows during each fiscal quarter and shrinks during the latter part of the quarter to reach its lowest levels at the end of that same quarter, by which time significant shipments have occurred. As a result, our backlog as of the end of any fiscal quarter is not material and is not a predictor of future sales.

Employees

We had approximately 1,820 employees worldwide as of March 31, 2012.

Available Information

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on our website at http://www.quantum.com generally when such reports are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) website. The contents of our website are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 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.

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Management Team

Following are the names and positions of our management team, including a brief account of his or her business experience.

Mr. Gacek became President and Chief Executive Officer and was also appointed to the Board of Directors in April 2011. He was President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2011 through March 2011. He joined Quantum as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2006, upon Quantum’s acquisition of Advanced Digital Information Corporation (“ADIC”) and was promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer in June 2009. Previously, he served as the Chief Financial Officer at ADIC from 1999 to 2006 and also led Operations during his last three years at ADIC. Prior to ADIC, Mr. Gacek was an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and led the Technology Practice in the firm’s Seattle office. While at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, he assisted several private equity investment firms with a number of mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and other transactions. Mr. Gacek serves on the board of directors for Market Leader, Inc. and Power-One, Inc.

Ms. Breard joined Quantum as Vice President of Finance in August 2006, upon Quantum’s acquisition of ADIC. In May 2009, she was promoted to Senior Vice President and assumed responsibility for IT and Facilities in addition to Finance. In January 2011, Ms. Breard was promoted to Chief Financial Officer, and in April 2012 added Human Resources and Corporate Communications to her portfolio. Prior to Quantum, she spent eight years at ADIC, serving as Vice President of Finance and Accounting and in other leadership positions, where she was deeply involved in the company’s merger and acquisition activity and success in driving growth. Earlier in her career, Ms. Breard worked in public accounting for six years.

Mr. Britts joined Quantum as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing in August 2006, upon Quantum’s acquisition of ADIC. He served in this position until June 2011, when he assumed the role of Senior Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, Service and Business Development. In April 2012, Mr. Britts added Operations to his portfolio and now serves as Senior Vice President, Operations and Global Services, with continued responsibility for Worldwide Marketing and Business Development. Prior to Quantum, he spent 12 years at ADIC, where he held numerous leadership positions, including Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Director of Marketing. Before ADIC, Mr. Britts served in a number of marketing and sales positions at Raychem Corp. and its subsidiary, Elo TouchSystems.

Mr. Clark joined Quantum as Director of Tape Products in August 2006, upon Quantum’s acquisition of ADIC. In March 2009, he was promoted to Vice President with responsibility for various product lines, as well as business operations and OEM sales. In April 2010, he was named Senior Vice President, Tape and OEM Product Group, subsequently reorganized as the Data Protection Group. Prior to Quantum, Mr. Clark was at HP for 10 years in various engineering and sales positions.

Mr. Hall joined Quantum in 1999 as Corporate Counsel, became Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in 2001 and was promoted to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in May 2009. Prior to Quantum, Mr. Hall worked at the law firms of Skadden, Arps and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where he practiced in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance, representing numerous public and private technology companies.

Ms. Lee joined Quantum in October 2007 as Vice President, Marketing and in April 2010 was promoted to Senior Vice President, Disk and Software Products, subsequently reorganized as File System and Archive. She has more than 30 years experience in the storage industry, including 10 years working with a variety of companies in data reduction and file system software and hardware. Previously, she was Chief Executive Officer at TimeSpring Software Corporation, Vice President of Product, Marketing and Business Development at Avamar Technologies, and a senior sales and marketing executive at both Legato Systems, Inc. and IBM.

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Mr. Martella joined Quantum as Vice President, Automation Engineering in August 2006, upon Quantum’s acquisition of ADIC. In June 2010, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Platform Engineering, and in April 2011 assumed his current role. Before joining Quantum, Mr. Martella served as a Vice President of Engineering and Quality at ADIC, where he spent five years in various leadership positions. Previously, he held engineering positions in the storage and process control industries.

Mr. Mudd joined Quantum in December 2000. Prior to assuming his current role, he served as Vice President, Supply Chain and, before that, Director of Materials. Mr. Mudd has 30 years of manufacturing experience with high tech companies in the electronic, medical and data storage industries. He has an extensive background in manufacturing operations, having served in executive level positions at companies including Visicom/Coors Ceramics, Telectronics, Inc. and Monolythic Power Systems, Inc.

Mr. Rosendahl joined Quantum as Vice President, Virtualization Systems in June 2011, upon Quantum’s acquisition of Pancetera Software, Inc. (“Pancetera”) and in April 2012 assumed responsibility for cloud solutions, becoming Vice President, Cloud Solutions. Mr. Rosendahl served as Chief Executive Officer at Pancetera from January 2010 until acquired by Quantum. He was the Director of Application Virtualization at VMware, Inc. (“VMware”) from January 2008 to December 2009 and Chief Executive Officer at Thinstall, Inc., from October 2006 until its acquisition by VMware. Previously, Mr. Rosendahl held executive and senior leadership positions at several technology companies in the U.S. and Europe.

Mr. Stinson joined Quantum as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales in June 2011. Previously, he spent seven years at Symantec Corporation and Veritas Software Corp., prior to its acquisition by Symantec. His most recent position there was Vice President, America Sales – Advanced Technologies, where he led the sales organization responsible for a portfolio of high-growth solutions that included data loss prevention, deduplication and archiving. Mr. Stinson also served as Vice President, Strategic Operations at Symantec, where he oversaw business development, alliances, pricing, strategy and strategic marketing organizations for the Data Center Management Group. Before joining Veritas, Mr. Stinson held key senior sales, marketing and product leadership roles at Embark.com, Inc., a SaaS-based solution provider.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED BELOW, TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K. THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DESCRIBED BELOW ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES FACING QUANTUM. ADDITIONAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES NOT PRESENTLY KNOWN TO US OR THAT ARE CURRENTLY DEEMED IMMATERIAL MAY ALSO IMPAIR OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS. THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CONTAINS “FORWARD-LOOKING” STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. PLEASE SEE PAGE 1 OF THIS REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OF THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

We rely on indirect sales channels to market and sell our branded products. Therefore, the loss of or deterioration in our relationship with one or more of our resellers or distributors, or our inability to establish new indirect sales channels to drive growth of our branded revenue, especially for disk systems and software solutions, could negatively affect our operating results.

We sell the majority of our branded products to value-added resellers, or VARs, and to direct marketing resellers such as CDW Corporation, who in turn sell our products to end users, and to distributors such as Avnet, Inc., Ingram Micro, Inc. and others. The success of these sales channels is hard to predict, particularly over time, and we have no purchase commitments or long-term orders from them that assure us of any baseline sales through these channels. Several of our resellers carry competing product lines that they may promote over our products. A reseller might not continue to purchase our products or market them effectively, and each reseller determines the type and amount of our products that it will purchase from us and the pricing of the products that it sells to end user customers. Establishing new indirect sales channels is an important part of our strategy to drive growth of our branded revenue.

As we introduce new products and solutions, we could negatively impact our relationship with channel partners that historically have sold other products and solutions that now compete with our new offerings. For example, we introduced various StorNext appliance solutions in fiscal 2012 causing us to more directly compete for hardware sales with channel partners that sold other hardware products in conjunction with our StorNext software. 

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Certain of our contracts with customers contain “most favored nation” pricing provisions mandating that we offer our products to these customers at the lowest price offered to other similarly situated customers. In addition, sales of our enterprise products, and the revenue associated with the on-site service of those products, are somewhat concentrated in specific customers, including government agencies and government-related companies. Our operating results could be adversely affected by any number of factors including:

• A change in competitive strategy that adversely affects a reseller’s willingness or ability to distribute our products;
• The reduction, delay or cancellation of orders or the return of a significant amount of products;
• Our inability to gain traction in developing new indirect sales channels for our branded products;
• The loss of one or more of such distributors or resellers;
• Any financial difficulties of such distributors or resellers that result in their inability to pay amounts owed to us; or
• Changes in requirements or programs that allow our products to be sold by third parties to government customers.

Our operating results depend on a limited number of products and on new product introductions, which may not be successful, in which case our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.

A limited number of products comprise a significant majority of our sales, and due to rapid technological change in the industry, our future operating results depend on our ability to develop and successfully introduce new products. To compete effectively, we must continually improve existing products and introduce new ones. We have devoted and expect to continue to devote considerable management and financial resources to these efforts. We cannot provide assurance that:

• We will introduce new products in the timeframe we are forecasting;
• We will not experience technical, quality, performance-related or other difficulties that could prevent or delay the introduction and market acceptance of new products;
• Our new products will achieve market acceptance and significant market share, or that the markets for these products will continue or grow as we have anticipated;
• Our new products will be successfully or timely qualified with our customers by meeting customer performance and quality specifications which must occur before customers will place large product orders; or
• We will achieve high volume production of these new products in a timely manner, if at all.

If we are not successful in timely completion of our new product qualifications and then ramping sales to our key customers, our revenue and results of operations could be adversely impacted. In addition, if the quality of our products is not acceptable to our customers, this could result in customer dissatisfaction, lost revenue and increased warranty and repair costs.

Competition may intensify in the data protection market as a result of competitors introducing products based on new technology standards and merger and acquisition activity, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our competitors in the data protection market for disk systems and virtual machine solutions are aggressively trying to advance and develop new technologies and products to compete against our technologies and products, and we face the risk that customers could choose competitor products over ours due to these features and technologies. Competition in these markets is characterized by technological innovation and advancement. As a result of competition and new technology standards, our sales or gross margins could decline, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Technological developments and competition over the years in the tape automation market has resulted in decreased prices for tape automation products and product offerings. Pricing pressure is more pronounced in the tape automation market for entry-level products and least pronounced for enterprise products. Similar to our competitors, our products may be priced lower and often incorporate new and/or different features and technologies than prior years. We face risks that customers could choose competitor products over ours due to these features and technologies or due to pricing differences. We have managed pricing pressure by reducing production costs and/or adding features to increase value to maintain a certain level of gross margin for our tape automation systems. If competition further intensifies, or if there is additional industry consolidation, our sales and gross margins for tape automation systems could decline, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

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Industry consolidation and competing technologies with device products, which include tape drives and removable hard drives, have resulted in decreased prices and increasingly commoditized device products. Our response has been to manage our device business at the material margin level and we have chosen not to compete for sales in intense price-based situations or if we would be unable to maintain a certain gross margin level. Our focus has shifted to higher margin opportunities in other product lines. Although revenue from devices has decreased in recent years, our material margins have remained relatively stable over this period. We have exited certain portions of the device market and have anticipated decreased sales of devices. We face risk of reduced shipments of our devices beyond our plans, and could have reduced margins on these products, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, the competitive landscape could change due to merger and acquisition activity in the data protection market. Such transactions may impact us in a number of ways. For instance, they could result in:

• Smaller number of competitors having greater resources and becoming more competitive with us;
• Companies that we have not historically competed against entering into one or more of our primary markets and increasing competition in that market(s); and
• Customers that are also competitors becoming more competitive with us and/or reducing their purchase of our products.

These transactions also create uncertainty and disruption in the market, given that it is often unknown whether a pending transaction will be completed, the timing of such a transaction, and its degree of impact. Given these factors and others, such merger and acquisition activity may materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Competition may intensify in the big data and archive market as a result of competitors introducing products based on new technology standards and merger and acquisition activity, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Competition in the big data and archive market is characterized by technological innovation and advancement, including performance and scale features, and our competitors are aggressively trying to advance and develop new technologies and solutions. We face the risk that customers could choose competitor solutions over ours due to these features and technologies. As a result of competition and new technology standards, our sales from software solutions and appliances could decline, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, the competitive landscape could change due to merger and acquisition activity, such as the acquisition of Isilon Systems, Inc. by EMC. Transactions such as these may impact us in a number of ways. For instance, they could result in:

• Smaller number of competitors having greater resources and becoming more competitive with us;
• Companies that we have not historically competed against entering into one or more of our primary markets and increasing competition in that market(s); and
• Customers that are also competitors becoming more competitive with us and/or reducing their purchase of our products.

These transactions also create uncertainty and disruption in the market, given that it is often unknown whether a pending transaction will be completed, the timing of such a transaction, and its degree of impact. Given these factors and others, such merger and acquisition activity may materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Our royalties, branded software and OEM deduplication software revenues are relatively profitable and can significantly impact total company profitability. A significant decline in royalty, branded software or OEM deduplication software revenues could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We receive royalty revenue based on tape media cartridges sold by various tape media manufacturers and resellers. Under our license agreements with these companies, each of the licensees determines the pricing and number of units of tape media cartridges that it sells. Our royalty revenue varies depending on the level of sales of the various media cartridge offerings sold by the licensees and other factors, including:

• The size of the installed base of devices and similar products that use tape media cartridges;
• The performance of our strategic licensing partners, which sell tape media cartridges;
• The relative growth in units of newer device products, since the associated media cartridges for newer products typically sell at higher prices than the media cartridges associated with older products;
• The media consumption habits and rates of end users;
• The pattern of device retirements; and
• The level of channel inventories.

Our media royalties depend on royalty rates and the quantity of media consumed in the market. We do not control licensee sales of these tape media cartridges. Reduced royalty rates, or a reduced installed device base using tape media cartridges, would result in further reductions in our royalty revenue and could reduce gross margins. This could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our branded software revenues are also dependent on many factors, including the success of competitive offerings, our ability to execute on our product roadmap and our effectiveness at marketing and selling our branded software solutions directly or through our channel partners.

Our OEM deduplication software revenues also depend on many factors, including the success of competitive offerings, our ability to execute on our product roadmap with our OEM deduplication software partners, the effort of our OEM deduplication software partners in marketing and selling the resulting products, the market acceptance of the resulting products and changes in the competitive landscape such as that which occurred with EMC’s purchase of Data Domain. Our relationship with EMC changed from partner to competitor in deduplication as a result of their acquisition of Data Domain. Following this acquisition, except for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 when significant revenue was recognized in accordance with contractual requirements, our OEM deduplication software revenue has significantly declined, which has negatively impacted our results.

We derive the majority of our revenue from products incorporating tape technology. If we are unable to compete with new or alternative storage technologies, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

We derive the majority of our revenue from products that incorporate some form of tape technology and we expect to continue to derive significant revenue from these products in the next several years. As a result, our future operating results depend in part on continued market acceptance and use of products employing tape technology. Disk products as well as various software solutions and alternative technologies continue to gain broader market acceptance. We face risks that our tape customers migrate toward these products and solutions.

We are addressing this risk through our own targeted investment in disk systems and other alternative technologies; however, these markets are characterized by rapid innovation, evolving customer demands and strong competition, including competition with several companies who are also significant customers. If we are not successful in our efforts, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

A large percentage of our sales come from a few customers, some of which are also competitors, and these customers generally have no minimum or long-term purchase commitments. The loss of, or a significant reduction in demand from, one or more key customers could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our sales have been and continue to be concentrated among a few customers because under our business model, we sell to OEMs, distributors, VARs and DMRs to reach end user customers. Furthermore, customers are not obligated to purchase any minimum product volume and our relationships with customers are terminable at will. Revenue from OEM customers has decreased in recent years. If we experience further declines in revenue from OEM customers or any of our other large customers, we could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, certain of our large customers are also our competitors, and such customers could decide to reduce or terminate their purchases of our products for competitive reasons. 

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Some of our tape and disk products are incorporated into larger storage systems or solutions that are marketed and sold to end users by our large OEM customers as well as our VARs, channel partners and other distributors. Because of this, we have limited market access to these end users, limiting our ability to reach and influence their purchasing decisions. These market conditions further our reliance on these OEM and other large customers such as distributors and VARs. Thus if they were to significantly reduce, cancel or delay their orders with us, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We continue to face risks related to the slow economic recovery.

The economic crisis in the U.S. and global financial markets in 2008 and 2009 had a material and adverse impact on our business and our financial condition, including reduced demand for our products and concerns about our ability to access capital markets. The initial impact of this economic crisis was reflected in our results for the third quarter of fiscal 2009. We continue to face risks related to the slow economic recovery, including risks related to economic conditions in Europe. In addition, concerns about the potential default of various national bonds and debt backed by individual countries as well the politics impacting these, could negatively impact the U.S. and global economies and adversely affect our financial results. Uncertainty about economic conditions poses a risk as businesses may further reduce or postpone spending in response to reduced budgets, tight credit, negative financial news and declines in income or asset values which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our ability to access capital markets may be restricted which could have an impact on our ability to react to changing economic and business conditions and could also adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

If our products fail to meet our or our customers’ specifications for quality and reliability, our results of operations may be adversely impacted and our competitive position may suffer.

Although we place great emphasis on product quality, we may from time to time experience problems with the performance of our products, which could result in one or more of the following:

• Increased costs related to fulfillment of our warranty obligations;
• The reduction, delay or cancellation of orders or the return of a significant amount of products;
• Focused failure analysis causing distraction of the sales, operations and management teams; or
• The loss of reputation in the market and customer goodwill.

These factors could cause our business, financial condition and results of operations to be materially and adversely affected.

We have taken considerable steps towards reducing our cost structure and may take further cost reduction actions. The steps we have taken and may take in the future may not reduce our cost structure to a level appropriate in relation to our future sales and therefore, these anticipated cost reductions may be insufficient to result in consistent profitability.

In the last several years, we have recorded significant restructuring charges and made cash payments in order to reduce our cost of sales and operating expenses to rationalize our operations following past acquisitions, to respond to adverse economic and industry conditions and from strategic management decisions. We may take future steps to further reduce our operating costs, including future cost reduction steps or restructurings in response to strategic decisions, adverse changes in our business or industry or future acquisitions. We may be unable to reduce our cost of sales and operating expenses at a rate and to a level appropriate in relation to our future sales, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

If we are unable to attract and retain skilled employees, our business could be adversely impacted.

We may be subject to increased turnover in our employee base or the inability to fill open headcount requisitions due to competition, concerns about our operational performance or other factors. In addition, we may rely on the performance of employees whose skill sets are not sufficiently developed to completely realize the expected fulfillment of their job responsibilities. Either of these situations could impair or delay our ability to realize operational and strategic objectives and cause increased expenses and lost sales opportunities.

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Economic or other business factors may lead us to write down the carrying amount of our goodwill or long-lived assets, such as the goodwill impairment charge in fiscal 2009, which could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations.

We evaluate our goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, or more frequently when indicators of impairment are present. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate impairment might exist. We continue to monitor relevant market and economic conditions, including the price of our stock, and perform appropriate impairment reviews when conditions deteriorate such that we believe the value of our goodwill could be further impaired or an impairment exists in our long-lived assets. It is possible that conditions could deteriorate due to economic or other factors that affect our business, resulting in the need to write down the carrying amount of our goodwill or long-lived assets to fair value at the time of such assessment. As a result, our operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Third party intellectual property infringement claims could result in substantial liability and significant costs, and, as a result, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.

From time to time, third parties allege our infringement of and need for a license under their patented or other proprietary technology, such as our current litigation with CTS Solutions described in Item 3 below. While we currently believe the amount of ultimate liability, if any, with respect to any such actions will not materially affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity, the ultimate outcome of any license discussion or litigation is uncertain. Adverse resolution of any third party infringement claim could subject us to substantial liabilities and require us to refrain from manufacturing and selling certain products. In addition, the costs incurred in intellectual property litigation can be substantial, regardless of the outcome. As a result, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

In addition, certain products or technologies acquired or developed by us may include “open source” software. Open source software is typically licensed for use at no initial charge. Certain open source software licenses, however, require users of the open source software to license to others any software that is based on, incorporates or interacts with, the open source software under the terms of the open source license. Although we endeavor to comply fully with such requirements, third parties could claim that we are required to license larger portions of our software than we believe we are required to license under open source software licenses. If such claims were successful, they could adversely impact our competitive position and financial results by providing our competitors with access to sensitive information that may help them develop competitive products. In addition, our use of open source software may harm our business and subject us to intellectual property claims, litigation or proceedings in the future because:

• Open source license terms may be ambiguous and may subject us to unanticipated obligations regarding our products, technologies and intellectual property;
• Open source software generally cannot be protected under trade secret law; and
• It may be difficult for us to accurately determine the origin of the open source code and whether the open source software infringes, misappropriates or violates third party intellectual property or other rights.

As a result of our global manufacturing and sales operations, we are subject to a variety of risks that are unique to businesses with international operations of a similar scope, any of which could, individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on our business.

A significant portion of our manufacturing and sales operations and supply chain occurs in countries other than the U.S. We also have sales outside the U.S. We utilize contract manufacturers to produce certain of our products and have suppliers for various components, several of which have operations located in foreign countries including China, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Because of these operations, we are subject to a number of risks including:

• Shortages in component parts and raw materials;
• Import and export and trade regulation changes that could erode our profit margins or restrict our ability to transport our products;
• The burden and cost of complying with foreign and U.S. laws governing corporate conduct outside the U.S.;

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• Adverse movement of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar (the currency in which our results are reported) and global economic conditions generally;
• Inflexible employee contracts and employment laws that may make it difficult to terminate or change the compensation structure for employees in some foreign countries in the event of business downturns;
• Potential restrictions on the transfer of funds between countries;
• Political, military, social and infrastructure risks, especially in emerging or developing economies;
• Import and export duties and value-added taxes; and
• Natural disasters, including earthquakes, flooding, typhoons and tsunamis.

Any or all of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our quarterly operating results could fluctuate significantly, and past quarterly operating results should not be used to predict future performance.

Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and could fluctuate significantly in the future. As a result, our quarterly operating results should not be used to predict future performance. Quarterly operating results could be materially and adversely affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

• Failure to complete shipments in the last month of a quarter during which a substantial portion of our products are typically shipped;
• Customers canceling, reducing, deferring or rescheduling significant orders as a result of excess inventory levels, weak economic conditions or other factors;
• Customer fiscal year-ends and budget availability impacting customer demand for our products;
• Declines in royalty revenues;
• Declines in software revenues;
• Product development and ramp cycles and product performance or quality issues;
• Poor execution of and performance against expected sales and marketing plans and strategies;
• Reduced demand from our OEM or distribution, VAR, DMR and other large customers; and
• Increased competition.

If we fail to meet our projected quarterly results, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

If we fail to protect our intellectual property or if others use our proprietary technology without authorization, our competitive position may suffer.

Our future success and ability to compete depends in part on our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secrets laws and nondisclosure agreements to establish and protect our proprietary technology. However, we cannot provide assurance that patents will be issued with respect to pending or future patent applications that we have filed or plan to file or that our patents will be upheld as valid or will prevent the development of competitive products or that any actions we have taken will adequately protect our intellectual property rights. We generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, customers, potential customers and others as required, in which we strictly limit access to, and distribution of, our software, and further limit the disclosure and use of our proprietary information.

Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain or use our products or technology. Enforcing our intellectual property rights can sometimes only be accomplished through the use of litigation, such as in the litigation with Riverbed Technology, Inc. settled in fiscal 2009. Our competitors may also independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technology. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the U.S.

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Because we may order components from suppliers in advance of receipt of customer orders for our products which include these components, we could face a material inventory risk, which could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.

Although we use third parties to manufacture certain of our products, we also manufacture products in-house. Managing our in-house manufacturing capabilities presents a number of risks that could materially and adversely affect our financial condition. For instance, as part of our component planning, we place orders with or pay certain suppliers for components in advance of receipt of customer orders. We occasionally enter into negotiated orders with vendors early in the manufacturing process of our products to ensure that we have sufficient components for our products to meet anticipated customer demand. Because the design and manufacturing process for these components can be complicated, it is possible that we could experience a design or manufacturing flaw that could delay or even prevent the production of the components for which we previously committed to pay. We also face the risk of ordering too many components, or conversely, not enough components, since supply orders are generally based on forecasts of customer orders rather than actual customer orders. In addition, in some cases, we make non-cancelable order commitments to our suppliers for work-in-progress, supplier’s finished goods, custom sub-assemblies, discontinued (end-of-life) components and Quantum-unique raw materials that are necessary to meet our lead times for finished goods. If we cannot change or be released from supply orders, we could incur costs from the purchase of unusable components, either due to a delay in the production of the components or other supplies or as a result of inaccurately predicting supply orders in advance of customer orders. These same risks exist with our third party contract manufacturing partners. Our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected if we incur increased costs, or are unable to fulfill customer orders.

In addition, several of our disk drive suppliers as well as suppliers of other components for our tape automation products with operations in Thailand were impacted by flooding in October 2011, which has affected those suppliers’ ability to manufacture a sufficient number of drives and components in order to meet the demands of their customers, including us. Certain suppliers have also announced anticipated price increases for available drives. Continued supply shortages and pricing complexities could materially and adversely affect our supply chain, customer relationships and results of operations. Although we have purchased a supply of hard disk drives to meet estimated demand for the near term, our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected if we incur increased costs or are unable to meet customer demand.

Some of our manufacturing, component production and service repair are outsourced to third party contract manufacturers, component suppliers and service providers. If we cannot obtain products, parts and services from these third parties in a cost effective and timely manner that meets our customers’ expectations, this could materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Many aspects of our supply chain and operational results are dependent on the performance of third party business partners. We face a number of risks as a result of these relationships, including, among others:

• Sole source of product supply
  In many cases, our business partner may be the sole source of supply for the products or parts they manufacture, or the services they provide, for us. Because we are relying on one supplier, we are at greater risk of experiencing shortages, reduced production capacity or other delays in customer deliveries that could result in customer dissatisfaction, lost sales and increased expenses, each of which could materially damage customer relationships and result in lost revenue.
   
• Cost and purchase commitments
  We may not be able to control the costs for the products our business partners manufacture for us or the services they provide to us. They procure inventory to build our products based upon a forecast of customer demand that we provide. We could be responsible for the financial impact on the contract manufacturer, supplier or service provider of any reduction or product mix shift in the forecast relative to materials that they had already purchased under a prior forecast. Such a variance in forecasted demand could require us to pay them for finished goods in excess of current customer demand or for excess or obsolete inventory and generally incur higher costs. As a result, we could experience reduced gross margins and operating losses based on these purchase commitments. With respect to service providers, although we have contracts for most of our third party repair service vendors, the contract period may not be the same as the underlying service contract with our customer. In such cases, we face risks that the third party service provider may increase the cost of providing services over subsequent periods contracted with our customer.

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• Financial condition and stability
  Our third party business partners may suffer adverse financial or operational results or may be negatively impacted by global and local economic conditions. Therefore, we may face interruptions in the supply of product components or service as a result of financial or other volatility affecting our supply chain. We could suffer production downtime or increased costs to procure alternate products or services as a result of the possible inadequate financial condition of one or more of our business partners.
   
• Quality and supplier conduct
  We have limited control over the quality of products and components produced and services provided by our supply chain business partners. Therefore, the quality of the products, parts or services may not be acceptable to our customers and could result in customer dissatisfaction, lost revenue and increased warranty costs. In addition, we have limited control over the manner in which our business partners conduct their business. Sub-tier suppliers selected by the primary third party could have process control issues or could select components with latent defects that manifest over a longer period of time. Therefore, we may face negative consequences or publicity as a result of a third party’s failure to comply with applicable compliance, trade, environmental or employment regulations.

Any or all of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business. In the past we have successfully transitioned products or component supply from one supplier to another existing supplier of different products or to our own facilities without significant financial or operational impact, but there is no guarantee of our continued ability to do so.

If we do not successfully manage the changes that we have made and may continue to make to our infrastructure and management, our business could be disrupted, and that could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Managing change is an important focus for us. In recent years, we have implemented several significant initiatives involving our sales and marketing, engineering and operations organizations, aimed at increasing our efficiency and better aligning these groups with our corporate strategy. In addition, we have reduced headcount to streamline and consolidate our supporting functions as appropriate following past acquisitions and in response to market or competitive conditions. Our inability to successfully manage the changes that we implement, and detect and address issues as they arise could disrupt our business and adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Our stock price could become more volatile if certain institutional investors were to increase or decrease the number of shares they own. In addition, there are other factors and events that could affect the trading prices of our common stock.

A small number of institutional investors have owned a significant portion of our common stock at various times in recent years. If any or all of these investors were to decide to purchase significant additional shares or to sell significant amounts or all of the common shares they currently own, that may cause our stock price to be more volatile. For example, there have been instances in the past where a shareholder with a significant equity position began to sell shares, putting downward pressure on our stock price for the duration of their selling activity. In these situations, selling pressure outweighed buying demand and our stock price declined. This situation has occurred due to our stock price falling below institutional investors’ price thresholds and our volatility increasing beyond investors’ volatility parameters causing even greater sell pressure. The opposite has also occurred whereby a shareholder purchases a significant equity position, creating demand for our common stock and an increased stock price.

Trading prices of our common stock may fluctuate in response to a number of other events and factors, such as:

• General economic conditions;
• Changes in interest rates;
• Fluctuations in the stock market in general and market prices for technology companies in particular;
• Quarterly variations in our operating results;

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• New products, services, innovations and strategic developments by our competitors or us, or business combinations and investments by our competitors or us;
• Changes in financial estimates by us or securities analysts and recommendations by securities analysts;
• Changes in our capital structure, including issuance of additional debt or equity to the public; and
• Strategic acquisitions.

Any of these events and factors may cause our stock price to rise or fall and may adversely affect our business and financing opportunities.

Our design and production processes are subject to safety and environmental regulations which could lead to increased costs, or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations relating to, among other things, the use, storage, discharge and disposal of materials and substances used in our facilities and manufacturing processes as well as the safety of our employees and the public. Directives first introduced in the European Union impose a “take back” obligation on manufacturers for the financing of the collection, recovery and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment and restrict the use of certain potentially hazardous materials, including lead and some flame retardants, in electronic products and components. Other jurisdictions in the U.S. and internationally have since introduced similar requirements, and we anticipate that future regulations might further restrict allowable materials in our products, require the establishment of additional recycling or take back programs or mandate the measurement and reduction of carbon emissions into the environment. We have implemented procedures and will likely continue to introduce new processes to comply with current and future safety and environmental legislation. However, measures taken now or in the future to comply with such legislation may adversely affect our manufacturing or personnel costs or product sales by requiring us to acquire costly equipment or materials, redesign production processes or to incur other significant expenses in adapting our manufacturing programs or waste disposal and emission management processes. Furthermore, safety or environmental claims or our failure to comply with present or future regulations could result in the assessment of damages or imposition of fines against us, or the suspension of affected operations, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to many laws and regulations, and violation of or changes in those requirements could materially and adversely affect our business.

We are subject to numerous U.S. and international laws regarding corporate conduct, fair competition, preventing corruption and import and export practices, including requirements applicable to U.S. government contractors. While we maintain a rigorous corporate ethics and compliance program, we may be subject to increased regulatory scrutiny, significant monetary fines or penalties, suspension of business opportunities or loss of jurisdictional operating rights as a result of any failure to comply with those requirements. We may also be exposed to potential liability resulting from our business partners’ violation of these requirements. In addition, U.S. regulatory agencies have recently introduced new enforcement efforts that may proactively seek conduct-related information from companies operating in certain targeted industries or locations, without regard for whether potential violations have been identified. If we were to receive such an information request, we may incur increased personnel and legal costs in order to adequately review and respond to the request. Further our U.S. and international business models are based on currently applicable regulatory requirements and exceptions. Changes in those requirements or exceptions could necessitate changes to our business model. Any of these consequences could materially and adversely impact our business and operating results.

We may be sued by our customers as a result of failures in our products.

We face potential liability for performance problems of our products because our end users employ our storage technologies for the storage and backup of important data and to satisfy regulatory requirements. Although we maintain technology errors and omissions insurance, our insurance may not cover potential claims of this type or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. Any imposition of liability or accrual of litigation costs that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of our insurance coverage could harm our business. In addition, we could potentially face claims for product liability from our customers if our products cause property damage or bodily injury. Although we maintain general liability insurance, our insurance may not cover potential claims of this type or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. Any imposition of liability or accrual of litigation costs that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of our insurance coverage could harm our business.

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We must maintain appropriate levels of service parts inventories. If we do not have sufficient service parts inventories, we may experience increased levels of customer dissatisfaction. If we hold excessive service parts inventories, we may incur financial losses.

We maintain levels of service parts inventories to satisfy future warranty obligations and also to earn service revenue by providing enhanced and extended warranty and repair service during and beyond the warranty period. We estimate the required amount of service parts inventories based on historical usage and forecasts of future warranty requirements, including estimates of failure rates and costs to repair, and out of warranty revenue. Given the significant levels of judgment inherently involved in the process, we cannot provide assurance that we will be able to maintain appropriate levels of service parts inventories to satisfy customer needs and to avoid financial losses from excess service parts inventories. If we are unable to maintain appropriate levels of service parts inventories, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely impacted.

Because we rely heavily on distributors and other resellers to market and sell our products, if one or more distributors were to experience a significant deterioration in its financial condition or its relationship with us, this could disrupt the distribution of our products and reduce our revenue, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

In certain product and geographic segments we heavily utilize distributors and value added resellers to perform the functions necessary to market and sell our products. To fulfill this role, the distributor must maintain an acceptable level of financial stability, creditworthiness and the ability to successfully manage business relationships with the customers it serves directly. Under our distributor agreements with these companies, each of the distributors determines the type and amount of our products that it will purchase from us and the pricing of the products that it sells to its customers. If the distributor is unable to perform in an acceptable manner, we may be required to reduce the amount of sales of our product to the distributor or terminate the relationship. We may also incur financial losses for product returns from distributors or for the failure or refusal of distributors to pay obligations owed to us. Either scenario could result in fewer of our products being available to the affected market segments, reduced levels of customer satisfaction and/or increased expenses, which could in turn have a material and adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

From time to time we have made acquisitions. The failure to successfully integrate future acquisitions could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

As a part of our business strategy, we have in the past and may make acquisitions in the future, subject to certain debt covenants. We may also make significant investments in complementary companies, products or technologies. If we fail to successfully integrate such acquisitions or significant investments, it could harm our business, financial condition and operating results. Risks that we may face in our efforts to integrate any recent or future acquisitions include, among others:

• Failure to realize anticipated savings and benefits from the acquisition;
• Difficulties in assimilating and retaining employees;
• Potential incompatibility of business cultures;
• Coordinating geographically separate organizations;
• Diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns;
• Coordinating infrastructure operations in a rapid and efficient manner;
• The potential inability to maximize our financial and strategic position through the successful incorporation of acquired technology and rights into our products and services;
• Failure of acquired technology or products to provide anticipated revenue or margin contribution;
• Insufficient revenues to offset increased expenses associated with the acquisition;
• Costs and delays in implementing or integrating common systems and procedures;
• Reduction or loss of customer orders due to the potential for market confusion, hesitation and delay;
• Impairment of existing customer, supplier and strategic relationships of either company;
• Insufficient cash flows from operations to fund the working capital and investment requirements;
• Difficulties in entering markets in which we have no or limited direct prior experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger market positions;
• The possibility that we may not receive a favorable return on our investment, the original investment may become impaired, and/or we may incur losses from these investments;
• Dissatisfaction or performance problems with the acquired company;

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• The assumption of risks of the acquired company that are difficult to quantify, such as litigation;
• The cost associated with the acquisition, including restructuring actions, which may require cash payments that, if large enough, could materially and adversely affect our liquidity; and
• Assumption of unknown liabilities or other unanticipated adverse events or circumstances.

Acquisitions present many risks, and we may not realize the financial and strategic goals that were contemplated at the time of any transaction. We cannot provide assurance that we will be able to successfully integrate any business, products, technologies or personnel that we may acquire in the future, and our failure to do so could negatively impact our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our capital structure includes debt, which imposes upon us debt service obligations and our credit facility contains various operating and financial covenants that limit our discretion in the operation of our business. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet these debt obligations or remain in compliance with the covenants our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Our level of indebtedness presents risks to investors, both in terms of the constraints that it places on our ability to operate our business and because of the possibility that we may not generate sufficient cash to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness as it becomes due.

Potential consequences of having debt include:

• Requiring that we dedicate a portion of our cash flow from operations and other capital resources to debt service, thereby reducing our ability to fund working capital, capital expenditures, research and development and other cash requirements;
• Limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes and opportunities in the markets in which we compete, such as limiting our ability to engage in mergers and acquisitions activity, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage;
• Mandatory field audits and control of cash receipts by the lender if we do not maintain average liquidity above certain thresholds;
• Increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;
• Making it more difficult or impossible for us to make payments on other indebtedness or obligations; and
• Limiting our ability to incur additional debt on acceptable terms, if at all.

Our credit facility agreement contains restrictive covenants that require us to comply with and maintain certain financial tests and ratios, as well as restrict our ability, subject to certain thresholds, to:

• Incur debt;
• Incur liens;
• Make acquisitions of businesses or entities or sell certain assets;
• Make investments, including loans, guarantees and advances;
• Engage in transactions with affiliates;
• Pay dividends or engage in stock repurchases; and
• Enter into certain restrictive agreements.

Our ability to comply with covenants contained in this credit agreement may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions.

Our credit facility agreement is collateralized by a pledge of all of our assets. If we were to default and were unable to obtain a waiver for such a default, the lender would have a right to foreclose on our assets in order to satisfy our obligations under the credit agreement. Any such action on the part of the lender against us could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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If the future outcomes related to the estimates used in recording tax liabilities to various taxing authorities result in higher tax liabilities than estimated, then we would have to record tax charges, which could be material.

We have provided amounts and recorded liabilities for probable and estimable tax adjustments that may be proposed by various taxing authorities in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. If events occur that indicate payments of these amounts will be less than estimated, then reversals of these liabilities would create tax benefits being recognized in the periods when we determine the liabilities have reduced. Conversely, if events occur which indicate that payments of these amounts will be greater than estimated, then tax charges and additional liabilities would be recorded. In particular, various foreign jurisdictions could challenge the characterization or transfer pricing of certain intercompany transactions. In the event of an unfavorable outcome of such challenge, there exists the possibility of a material tax charge and adverse impact on the results of operations in the period in which the matter is resolved or an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and estimable.

Certain changes in stock ownership could result in a limitation on the amount of net operating loss and tax credit carryovers that can be utilized each year. Should we undergo such a change in stock ownership, it would severely limit the usage of these carryover tax attributes against future income, resulting in additional tax charges, which could be material.

We are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and an adverse change in foreign currency exchange rates relative to our position in such currencies could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We do not currently use derivative financial instruments for foreign currency hedging or speculative purposes. We have used in the past, and may use in the future, foreign currency forward contracts to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. To the extent that we have assets or liabilities denominated in a foreign currency that are inadequately hedged or not hedged at all, we may be subject to foreign currency losses, which could be significant.

Our international operations can act as a natural hedge when both operating expenses and sales are denominated in local currencies. In these instances, although an unfavorable change in the exchange rate of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar would result in lower sales when translated to U.S. dollars, operating expenses would also be lower in these circumstances. An increase in the rate at which a foreign currency is exchanged for U.S. dollars would require more of that particular foreign currency to equal a specified amount of U.S. dollars than before such rate increase. In such cases, and if we were to price our products and services in that particular foreign currency, we would receive fewer U.S. dollars than we would have received prior to such rate increase for the foreign currency. Likewise, if we were to price our products and services in U.S. dollars while competitors priced their products in a local currency, an increase in the relative strength of the U.S. dollar would result in our prices being uncompetitive in those markets. Such fluctuations in currency exchange rates could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our headquarters are located in San Jose, California. We lease facilities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The following is a summary of the significant locations and primary functions of those facilities as of March 31, 2012:

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On September 12, 2011, Compression Technology Solutions LLC (“CTS”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against a group of companies, consisting of Quantum, CA., Inc., EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, International Business Machines Corp., NetApp, Inc. and Quest Software, Inc., in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri, alleging that certain unspecified products of the defendants, characterized as “deduplication software systems,” and, in the case of Quantum, including Quantum’s “DXi Series Deduplication software,” fall within the scope of patent 5,414,650. CTS is seeking injunctive relief, as well as the recovery of monetary damages, including treble damages for willful infringement. We do not believe we infringe the CTS patent; we believe that the CTS patent is invalid, and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously. In April 2012, our motion to transfer venue was granted and the lawsuit was transferred to the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California. Due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, we cannot identify probable or estimable damages related to the lawsuit.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

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PART II

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “QTM.” As of June 8, 2012, the closing price of our common stock was $1.99 per share. The prices per share reflected in the following table represent the range of high and low sales prices of our common stock for the quarters indicated:

Historically, we have not paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. Our ability to pay dividends is restricted by the covenants in our senior secured revolving credit agreement unless we meet certain defined thresholds. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 7 and also Note 7 “Long-Term Debt and Convertible Subordinated Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

As of June 8, 2012, there were 1,532 Quantum stockholders of record, including the Depository Trust Company, which holds shares of Quantum common stock on behalf of an indeterminate number of beneficial owners. The information required by this item regarding equity compensation plans is provided in Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”

Performance Graph

The following graph compares the cumulative total return to stockholders of Quantum common stock at March 31, 2012 for the period since March 31, 2007 to the cumulative total return over such period of (i) the NASDAQ Composite Index and (ii) the S & P Computer Storage & Peripherals Index. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on March 31, 2007 in our common stock and in each of the indices listed on the graph and reflects the change in the market price of our common stock relative to the changes in the noted indices at March 31, 2008, March 31, 2009, March 31, 2010, March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012. The performance shown below is based on historical data and is not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, future price performance of our common stock.

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COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Quantum Corporation, the NASDAQ Composite Index,
and the S&P Computer Storage & Peripherals Index

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

This summary of selected consolidated financial information of Quantum for fiscal 2008 to 2012 should be read together with our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have certain items that affect the comparability of the selected financial information. Fiscal 2010 results included a $12.9 million gain on debt extinguishment, net of costs. Fiscal 2009 results included $11.0 million of royalty revenue from a legal settlement and a $339.0 million goodwill impairment charge. We had a $12.6 million loss on debt extinguishment, net of costs in fiscal 2008.

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OVERVIEW

Quantum Corporation (“Quantum”, the “Company”, “us” or “we”), founded in 1980, is a global expert in data protection and big data management. We provide solutions for storing and protecting information in physical, virtual, cloud and big data environments that are designed to help customers be certain they are maximizing the value of their data over its entire lifecycle. With our solutions, customers can better adapt in a world of continuing change by keeping and protecting more data for a longer period of time while reducing costs and increasing return on investment. We work closely with a broad network of distributors, value-added resellers (“VARs”), direct marketing resellers (“DMRs”), original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and other suppliers to meet customers’ evolving data protection and big data management needs. Our stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol QTM.

We offer a comprehensive range of solutions for data protection and big data management challenges providing performance and value to end user customers of all sizes, from small businesses to multinational enterprises. We believe our combination of expertise, innovation and platform independence allows us to solve data protection and big data management issues more easily, cost-effectively and securely. Our open systems solutions are designed to provide significant storage efficiencies, scalability and cost savings while protecting customers’ prior investments. They include DXi^® deduplication systems for high speed recovery and reliability, Scalar^® tape automation products for disaster recovery and long-term data retention, StorNext^® data management software and appliances for high-performance big data file sharing and archiving and vmPRO^™ solutions for protecting virtual machine data. We also offer cloud solutions for cloud-based backup, fast restore, data recovery and business continuity. In addition, we have the global scale and scope to support our worldwide customer base.

Business

We earn our revenue from the sale of products, systems and services through an array of channel partners and our sales force to reach end user customers of all sizes. Our products are sold under both the Quantum brand name and the names of various OEM customers. We have a broad portfolio of disk systems, software solutions, tape automation systems, tape drives and other devices and media. Our data management software provides technology for shared workflow applications and multi-tiered archiving in high-performance, large-scale storage environments. We also offer vmPRO software, a virtualization data protection software with advanced utilities designed to dramatically improve and simplify virtual data protection in midrange and larger data centers. We have introduced a cloud-based data protection technology platform for public and private clouds. The majority of our disk systems and tape automation systems include software features that provide disk and tape integration capabilities with our core deduplication and replication technologies. In addition, our service offerings include a broad range of coverage options to provide the level of support for the widest possible range of information technology (“IT”) environments.

We have been transforming the company into a systems and solutions provider over the past few years, introducing offerings in the significant growth markets of disk and software data protection and big data and archive and introducing strategic enhancements and offerings in the tape automation market while continuing to provide service and support to new and existing customers. We have implemented a number of initiatives in an effort to drive branded revenue growth. One key initiative for fiscal 2012 was to grow the independent channel for Quantum branded products. Another key area of focus for fiscal 2012 was continuing to expand and improve our products and solutions, with emphasis on branded disk systems and software solutions, including introducing and ramping sales of the StorNext appliance family and virtual offerings.

Our efforts in fiscal 2012 were reflected in increased total branded revenue and record revenue in disk systems and software solutions in fiscal 2012. Total branded revenue increased for the second consecutive fiscal year and revenue from disk systems and software solutions increased 8% from fiscal 2011. In addition, branded disk systems revenue and branded software solutions revenue were both records, increasing 19% and 15%, respectively, compared to the prior year. Growth of the independent channel contributed to this revenue growth. We added a significant number of new disk systems and software solutions customers, and in the mature tape automation market, we added a considerable number of new customers for midrange and enterprise tape automation products. This past fiscal year we implemented initiatives that improved our sales team, our channel team and our technical sales team. In addition, we improved the training and alignment with our top channel partners on our products and solutions.

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We continued our technology and product innovation in fiscal 2012. We enhanced our DXi product line, introduced a new family of StorNext appliances and added new management, security and availability features to our Scalar tape libraries. Following the acquisition of Pancetera Software, Inc. (“Pancetera”) in June 2011, we integrated the technology into our portfolio with the launch of the vmPRO virtual server protection solutions and laid the groundwork for our cloud-based data protection platform. The strength, value and quality of our products were recognized with several industry awards and honors, notably for the DXi6700 and vmPRO 4000, in addition to our enterprise and midrange tape automation libraries.

We offer products and solutions in several high growth markets, namely the markets for disk-based back up, big data, virtual data protection and cloud based solutions. Our opportunity and goal in these markets is to increase our product and solution offerings and to significantly grow revenue from sales of our disk systems and software solutions to increase total revenue. We project total revenue in the tape automation market will be essentially the same over the next few years with growth in demand for tape automation products used as a storage tier in the big data and archive market offset by declines in demand for tape automation products in the data protection market. Our opportunity and goal for tape automation systems is to grow our market share with our innovative products.

Our goal for fiscal 2013 is to grow total revenue, driven primarily by increased revenue from our disk systems and software solutions, with minimal expected growth in branded tape automation revenue. We expect this revenue growth to be tempered by declines in tape automation revenue from OEM customers and a decline in royalty revenue.

Results

In fiscal 2012, we saw improved revenue momentum with our partners, especially for midrange disk systems, and our continued efforts to increase revenue from disk systems and software solutions resulted in an 8% increase in disk systems and software solutions revenue. We invested significantly in our product portfolio in fiscal 2012, introducing a number of new products, including our StorNext software appliances and virtual systems software and data protection solutions. In fiscal 2012, we also continued to develop new technologies that will be the framework for future new product introductions.

We had total revenue of $652.4 million in fiscal 2012, a 3% decrease from fiscal 2011 primarily due to expected reductions in OEM sales, including OEM deduplication software revenue and royalty revenue. Our product revenue from OEM customers decreased 14% while revenue from branded products increased 3% from fiscal 2011 primarily due to increased disk systems and software solutions revenue. Service revenue decreased primarily due to lower hardware service contract revenues from certain legacy branded tape automation products that reached end of service life. Our focus on growing the branded business during the fiscal year is reflected in the greater proportion of non-royalty revenue from our branded business, at 81% in fiscal 2012, compared to 79% in fiscal 2011 and 74% in fiscal 2010. Royalty revenue decreased 12% primarily due to declining royalties from older DLT media and, to a lesser extent, from lower LTO royalties.

Our gross margin percentage decreased 10 basis points from fiscal 2011 to 42.0% largely due to a shift in our sales mix that was comprised of less high margin OEM deduplication software revenue and royalty revenue than the prior year, mostly offset by decreased intangible amortization.

Operating expenses increased $11.9 million, or 5%, primarily due to increased sales and marketing expenses, largely due to growing our branded sales force to increase branded revenue and expand our position with existing and new channel partners to drive future growth. We had $5.2 million in income from operations in fiscal 2012, down from $24.7 million in fiscal 2011.

Interest expense decreased in fiscal 2012 largely due to a decrease in average interest rates from refinancing subordinated term debt in fiscal 2011. In addition during fiscal 2012, we refinanced our senior secured term debt with a revolving credit facility with terms that are financially more beneficial and provide additional flexibility to run our business. During fiscal 2012, we paid $104.3 million in principal to fully repay the senior secured term debt and borrowed $49.5 million on a new revolving credit line. We continued to generate cash from operating activities, with $45.7 million in fiscal 2012 compared to $52.3 million in fiscal 2011.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR FISCAL 2012, 2011 AND 2010

Revenue

Total revenue decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to expected reductions in OEM and royalty revenue. The largest decreases in OEM revenue were from lower deduplication software, tape automation products, devices and service revenue. Partially offsetting these decreases were increased sales of branded disk systems and software solutions in fiscal 2012.

Total revenue decreased in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 primarily due to expected reductions in OEM, service and royalty revenue. We had a slight increase in product revenue in fiscal 2011 primarily due to increased sales of disk systems and software solutions revenue, largely offset by expected reductions in OEM devices and media revenue from a number of devices reaching end of life and expected decreases in OEM tape automation systems revenue.

Product Revenue

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Our product revenue, which includes sales of our hardware and software products sold through both our Quantum branded and OEM channels, decreased slightly from fiscal 2011, primarily due to decreased sales of tape automation systems and devices and media, mostly offset by increased revenue from disk systems and software solutions. Revenue from sales of branded products increased 3% in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to increased sales of disk systems and software solutions.

A primary goal for fiscal 2012 was to grow revenue from disk systems and software solutions. We introduced new disk products, a new product line of StorNext appliances and released upgrades to both disk systems and to software solutions in fiscal 2012, all of which contributed to fiscal 2012 revenue. We continued our efforts to expand engagement with our channel partners to increase sales of disk systems and software solutions. Revenue from disk systems and software solutions increased 8% to $119.0 million in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, primarily due to increased midrange disk product sales followed by the addition of StorNext appliances. Midrange disk systems revenue increases were primarily due to the addition of revenue from our DXi6701 and DXi6702 products. Tempering these increases was an expected decrease in OEM deduplication software revenue due to our primary OEM deduplication software customer becoming a competitor in fiscal 2010 and revenue recognized in accordance with contractual requirements in fiscal 2011 that was not repeated.

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Tape automation systems sales decreased $9.1 million, or 4%, in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011. This decrease was primarily due to expected declines in OEM revenue, followed by decreased branded enterprise and entry-level tape automation systems revenue.

Product revenue from devices, including tape drives and removable hard drives, and non-royalty media sales decreased 5% to $87.3 million primarily due to anticipated decreases in sales of older branded and OEM device technologies that reached, or are nearing, end of life. Largely offsetting the decrease was an increase in branded media revenue primarily due to the events in Japan in March 2011 and resulting concern of shortages and supply disruption in the market. We continue to be strategic with media sales and have chosen to not pursue opportunities that do not provide sufficient margins.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

Product revenue in fiscal 2011 increased slightly from fiscal 2010, primarily due to increased sales of disk systems and software solutions, mostly offset by anticipated decreases in devices and media and tape automation systems. Revenue from sales of branded products increased 7% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 also primarily due to increased sales of disk systems and software solutions.

A primary goal for fiscal 2011 was to grow revenue from disk systems and software solutions. We introduced new disk products and upgrades to both disk systems and to software solutions in fiscal 2011, and we also worked to expand engagement with our channel partners to increase sales of disk systems and software solutions. Revenue from disk systems and software solutions increased 33% to $110.7 million in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, primarily due to increased midrange disk product sales. Midrange disk systems revenue nearly tripled from fiscal 2010 primarily due to the addition of revenue from our DXi6700 product family and increased sales of the DXi6500 product family. In addition, StorNext software revenue also continued to increase compared to prior years. As a result of these revenue increases, disk systems and software solutions comprised a greater proportion of both product revenue and total revenue in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.

Tape automation systems sales decreased $9.8 million, or 4%, in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. This decrease was primarily due to expected declines in OEM revenues from our decision to exit portions of this market in prior years as well as declining demand in the overall tape automation market. We had a smaller decrease in branded tape automation systems revenue due to declines in enterprise and midrange product sales mostly offset by increased entry-level product sales from the addition of the Scalar i40 and i80 products.

Product revenue from devices and non-royalty media sales decreased 15% to $92.1 million primarily due to anticipated decreases in sales of older OEM device technologies that reached, or are nearing, end of life. We continued to be strategic with media sales in fiscal 2011 and chose to not pursue opportunities that would not provide sufficient margins. Media revenues were approximately the same as fiscal 2010.

Service Revenue

Service revenue includes revenue from sales of hardware service contracts, product repair, installation and professional services. Hardware service contracts are typically purchased by our customers to extend the warranty or to provide faster service response time, or both. Service revenue decreased 4% to $144.4 million in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to lower hardware service contract revenues from end of service life on higher revenue service contracts for certain legacy branded tape automation products and to a lesser extent from decreased OEM product repair services. Service contracts on certain newer technology branded products provide lower revenue than service contracts on older technology branded products nearing end of service life. OEM service revenue decreases are primarily due to a number of our device products that reached end of service life in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012.

Service revenue decreased 3% to $151.1 million in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 primarily due to planned decreases in OEM product repair services and, to a lesser extent, reduced hardware service contracts from our OEM customers. OEM service revenue decreases are due to many of our device products that reached, or are nearing, end of service life. Service revenue from our branded products was approximately the same as fiscal 2010.

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Royalty Revenue

Royalty revenue declined 12%, or $7.6 million, in fiscal 2012 and decreased 7%, or $4.6 million, in fiscal 2011 primarily due to expected decreases of maturing DLT media unit sales by media licensees in both fiscal years. Royalties from LTO media decreased 4% in fiscal 2012 primarily due to decreased LTO media unit sales by media licensees. In fiscal 2011, the DLT royalty decrease was partially offset by increased royalties from LTO media.

Gross Margin

* Fiscal 2012 total gross margin includes a $0.3 million restructuring benefit related to cost of revenue and fiscal 2011 total gross margin includes $0.6 million of restructuring charges related to cost of revenue.

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

The 10 basis point decrease in gross margin percentage in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 was due to largely offsetting factors. Gross margin decreased due to less high margin revenue in our product mix, largely from decreased OEM deduplication software revenue and royalty revenue. Both OEM deduplication software and royalty revenue provide among the highest margins of our portfolio. Gross margin was favorably impacted by lower intangible amortization from certain intangibles becoming fully amortized in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

The 100 basis point increase in gross margin percentage in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 was largely due to lower intangible amortization from certain intangibles becoming fully amortized in the first half of fiscal 2011. In addition, gross margin was favorably impacted by the continued shift in sales mix toward higher margin products and services. Product sales through our branded channels comprised a higher percentage of non-royalty revenue in fiscal 2011 than fiscal 2010. Branded sales comprised 79% of non-royalty revenue in fiscal 2011, compared to 74% for fiscal 2010. Sales of branded products typically generate higher gross margins than sales to our OEM customers; however, as noted above, OEM deduplication software revenue provides one of our highest product margins. Contributing to the change in our revenue mix in fiscal 2011 was our emphasis on sales growth of our disk systems and software solutions which increased to 17% of revenue in fiscal 2011 compared to 12% of revenue in the prior year. The gross margin percentage increase was tempered by the $4.6 million decrease in royalty revenue.

Product Gross Margin

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Product gross margin dollars decreased 1% in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to the 1% decrease in product revenue. However, product gross margin percentage improved slightly from fiscal 2011. The product gross margin increase was primarily due to a $7.1 million decrease in intangible amortization in fiscal 2012, mostly offset by the decrease in high margin OEM deduplication software revenue compared to fiscal 2011.

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Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

Product gross margin dollars increased $7.0 million, or 5%, and product gross margin percentage improved approximately 150 basis points from fiscal 2010 although product revenue was approximately the same in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. These margin increases were primarily due to a $7.4 million decrease in intangible amortization in fiscal 2011. Product gross margin was also favorably impacted by the change in our product revenue mix compared to fiscal 2010. Revenue from branded product sales increased 7% in fiscal 2011. In addition, revenue from disk systems and software solutions increased to 24% of product revenue in fiscal 2011, compared to 18% of product revenue in fiscal 2010. Offsetting the change in product revenue mix was increased warranty expense due to warranty benefits in fiscal 2010 compared to warranty expense in fiscal 2011. Warranty benefits in the prior year were attributable to decreasing overall service and repair costs, a declining number of in-warranty units repaired and numerous products reaching the end of their warranty coverage.

Service Gross Margin

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Service gross margin dollars decreased $0.9 million, or approximately 2%, in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011. Our service gross margin percentage increased 110 basis points to 38.7% in fiscal 2012, largely due to decreased external provider expenses and inventory allowance expense. External service provider expense decreased due to a combination of bringing repair of additional product lines in-house and negotiating lower rates on the renewals of contracts with certain service providers in fiscal 2012. We had higher inventory allowance expense in fiscal 2011 due to end of service life plans for several products. In addition, we had a change in the mix of services for OEM repairs and for our branded products under contract. Our service activities for fiscal 2012 reflected a greater proportion of revenue from branded products under contract, which have relatively higher margins than margins for OEM repair services.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

Service gross margin dollars increased $1.1 million, or approximately 2%, despite a 3% reduction in service revenue in fiscal 2011 compared to the prior year. Additionally, our service gross margin percentage increased 200 basis points to 37.6% in fiscal 2011 from 35.6% in fiscal 2010, primarily due to expense reductions in our service delivery model. In addition, branded service revenue comprised a larger proportion of service revenue in fiscal 2011 than in fiscal 2010 primarily due to declines in repairs for OEM customers. We reduced expense in our service delivery model by repairing certain product lines in our facilities at a lower cost in fiscal 2011 than we incurred with external service providers in prior years.

Research and Development Expenses

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

The increase in research and development expenses for fiscal 2012 was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in salaries and benefits from investment in our disk systems software and hardware and our virtual systems engineering teams to support new product development efforts. Partially offsetting this increase was a $0.5 million decrease in travel expenses compared to the prior year.

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Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

The increase in research and development expenses for fiscal 2011 was primarily due to a $3.7 million increase in salaries and benefits from investment in our disk systems and software engineering teams to support new product development efforts. Partially offsetting this increase was a $0.8 million decrease in project materials due to the types of products under development and related testing material requirements compared to the prior year.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Sales and marketing expenses increased in fiscal 2012 primarily due to a $7.2 million increase in salaries and benefits, including commissions. Commissions increased due to increased branded product revenue and salaries and benefits increased largely due to growing our branded sales force. In addition, travel expenses increased $1.0 million due in part to increased airfare and fuel costs, incremental travel by our sales engineers to support customer sales and increased travel for sales training events to expand our position with existing and new channel partners to drive future growth.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

Sales and marketing expenses increased in fiscal 2011 primarily due to a $5.4 million increase in salaries and benefits from growing our branded sales force and marketing team. In addition, advertising and marketing expenditures increased by $1.8 million from supporting new product introductions and efforts to expand our position with existing and new channel partners to drive future growth.

General and Administrative Expenses

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $2.2 million increase in salaries and benefits primarily from increased stock compensation expense due to equity grants related to promotions and merit increases. In addition, we had $1.4 million in credits in fiscal 2011 primarily due to accounts receivable recoveries and a litigation settlement that were not repeated.

We may incur higher than typical legal costs in fiscal 2013 to defend ourselves while a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Compression Technology Solutions LLC (“CTS”) is ongoing. The CTS lawsuit is discussed in more detail in Note 13 “Commitments and Contingencies” under Legal Proceedings. Due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, we cannot identify probable or estimable damages related to the lawsuit at this time.

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Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $1.0 million decrease in net VAT expense primarily due to provisions for VAT audits during fiscal 2010 that were not repeated in fiscal 2011. In addition, we had a $0.8 million decrease in legal expenses compared to fiscal 2010.

Restructuring Charges

Our restructuring actions are steps undertaken to reduce costs in an effort to return to consistent profitability. In fiscal 2011 and 2012, restructuring actions to consolidate operations supporting our business were the result of strategic management decisions. In fiscal 2010, restructuring actions to consolidate operations supporting our business were primarily in response to the global recession. For additional information and disclosure of restructuring charges refer to Note 8 “Restructuring Charges” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Until we achieve consistent and sustainable levels of profitability, we may incur restructuring charges in the future from additional cost reduction efforts.

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

The decrease in restructuring charges in fiscal 2012 was due to a $2.0 million decrease in severance charges due to fewer positions eliminated during the year as a result of strategic management decisions and a $0.9 million decrease in restructuring charges related to cost of revenue due to lower actual costs than estimated to exit a supplier relationship. Partially offsetting these decreases was a $0.9 million increase in facility restructuring charges due to negotiating a $0.3 million settlement for a lease liability on a vacated facility in India in fiscal 2012 and $0.6 million in credits in fiscal 2011 primarily due to negotiating settlements for lease liabilities for amounts lower than the outstanding lease contracts.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

The decrease in restructuring charges in fiscal 2011 was primarily due to a $5.3 million decrease in facility restructuring charges from vacating and accruing the remaining contractual lease payments on four facilities in fiscal 2010 as well as negotiating settlements for lease liabilities on two vacated facilities in the U.S. for amounts lower than the outstanding lease contracts in fiscal 2011. Partially offsetting this decrease was a $3.0 million increase in severance and benefits expense as a result of strategic management decisions to consolidate operations supporting our business in fiscal 2011. The restructuring charges related to cost of revenue were costs from exiting a supplier relationship in fiscal 2011.

Gain on Sale of Patents

During fiscal 2012, we had a $1.5 million gain on the sale of patents. Under the patent sale agreement, we retain a royalty-free license for these patents. We may enter into similar transactions in the future.

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Other Income and Expense

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Other income and expense decreased primarily due to a $1.6 million net decrease in investment gains from fiscal 2011, largely due to gains from private technology venture limited partnerships that were not repeated. In addition, we had a $0.4 million net increase in foreign exchange losses primarily due to the U.S. dollar strengthening against the euro in fiscal 2012. These were partially offset by $0.9 million in fees for an amendment to our senior secured credit agreement in fiscal 2011 that were not repeated.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

Other income and expense was relatively unchanged in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 from the net result of offsetting changes. We had a $1.2 million decrease from fair value gains on an interest rate collar in fiscal 2010 that expired in fiscal 2010 and $0.9 million in fees for an amendment to our senior secured credit agreement in fiscal 2011. These were offset by a $0.9 million net increase in foreign exchange gains primarily due to the U.S. dollar weakening against the Australian dollar and the euro in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 and a net increase of $0.9 million in investment gains on private technology venture limited partnerships.

Interest Expense

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Interest expense decreased in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to decreased average interest rates from refinancing subordinated term debt that had a 12% interest rate with 3.5% convertible subordinated notes issued in November 2010. In addition, we had a lower senior secured term debt balance in fiscal 2012 than fiscal 2011 which also contributed to decreased interest expense.

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010

Interest expense decreased in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 primarily due to decreased average interest rates from refinancing subordinated term debt with 3.5% convertible subordinated notes issued in November 2010. In addition, we reduced our outstanding senior secured term debt balance by $81.7 million and this term debt had lower interest rates compared to fiscal 2010, both of which contributed to decreased interest expense.

In addition to the items noted above, interest expense includes the amortization of debt issuance costs for debt facilities. For further information, refer to Note 7 “Long-Term Debt and Convertible Subordinated Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Gain (Loss) on Debt Extinguishment, Net

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we fully repaid our senior secured term loan with Credit Suisse using cash on hand and borrowings of $49.5 million from a new credit facility with Wells Fargo. In connection with this debt extinguishment, we wrote off $2.3 million of unamortized debt costs related to the Credit Suisse credit agreement.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we fully repaid outstanding subordinated term loans by issuing $135 million aggregate principal of 3.50% convertible subordinated notes. In connection with this debt extinguishment, we wrote off $1.2 million of unamortized debt costs related to the subordinated term loans.

During fiscal 2010, we refinanced $137.9 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 4.75% convertible subordinated debt, consisting of $87.2 million through a tender offer and $50.7 million in a private transaction. In connection with these transactions, we recorded a gain on debt extinguishment, net of costs, of $12.9 million comprised of a gross gain of $15.6 million, reduced by $2.1 million in expenses and $0.6 million of unamortized debt costs related to the refinanced notes.

Income Taxes

The $0.9 million increase in tax expense in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 was primarily due to the release in fiscal 2011 of $0.9 million in tax liabilities in foreign jurisdictions that were not repeated. The $1.3 million decrease in tax expense in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to the release of $0.9 million in tax liabilities in foreign jurisdictions in fiscal 2011. Tax expense in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2010 was primarily comprised of foreign income taxes and state taxes. Tax expense in fiscal 2011 was primarily comprised of foreign income taxes and state taxes, offset by the release of tax liabilities in foreign jurisdictions due to a favorable settlement and expiration of statutes of limitation.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

The following table details intangible asset amortization expense by classification within our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):

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The decreased intangible asset amortization in fiscal 2012 and 2011 compared to the respective prior years was due to certain intangible assets becoming fully amortized. Refer to Note 5 “Intangible Assets and Goodwill” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our amortizable intangible assets.

Share-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes share-based compensation within our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):

The increase in share-based compensation expense in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 was primarily due to a $3.7 million increase in expense related to restricted stock units due to more restricted stock units granted for employee performance merit increases at a higher grant-date stock price in fiscal 2012 than fiscal 2011. In addition we had a $0.6 million increase in expense related to the employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) due to increased participation in fiscal 2012. This was partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in expense related to options due to more options vesting in fiscal 2012 than were replaced by new option grants.

The increase in share-based compensation expense in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily due to the reinstatement of the ESPP in January 2010. Share-based compensation expense related to the ESPP increased $1.2 million in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 due to the cancellation of the ESPP for the majority of fiscal 2010. The increase was partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in expense related to our restricted stock units as more restricted stock vested in fiscal 2011 than was replaced by new restricted stock unit grants.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Recent Accounting Pronouncements in Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements including the respective expected dates of adoption and effects on our results of operations and financial condition.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Fiscal 2012

The $54.5 million difference between reported net loss and cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2012 was primarily due to $60.4 million of non-cash expenses, including $23.1 million in amortization, $13.7 million in share-based compensation, $11.8 million in depreciation and $10.7 million in service parts lower of cost or market adjustment. In addition, we had an $8.1 million increase in deferred revenue primarily due to increased sales of service contracts. Partially offsetting these was a $21.4 million use of cash from increased manufacturing inventories primarily due to purchasing materials to build and configure new products and securing hard disk drives in light of supply constraints from flooding in Thailand earlier in the fiscal year.

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Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2012 was primarily due to $11.4 million in purchases of property and equipment and $8.2 million of cash paid, net of cash acquired, for our acquisition of Pancetera. Equipment purchases were primarily for engineering equipment and testing hardware to support product development activities.

Cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2012 was primarily due to net debt repayments of $55.8 million, including $104.3 million to fully repay our senior secured term debt. We refinanced a portion of the senior secured term debt with a new revolving credit facility in fiscal 2012. This refinancing is described in more detail below in Capital Resources and Financial Condition. Partially offsetting cash used in financing activities was $10.4 million in proceeds received from the exercise of stock options and issuance of shares under the employee stock purchase plan.

Fiscal 2011

The $47.8 million difference between reported net income and cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2011 was primarily due to $67.5 million of non-cash expenses, including $30.3 million in amortization, $13.8 million in service parts lower of cost or market adjustment, $11.7 million in depreciation and $10.4 million in share-based compensation. These noncash expenses were partially offset by a $14.9 million increase in accounts receivable primarily due to increased sales of products and service billings in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2011 was primarily due to $12.3 million in purchases of property and equipment. Equipment purchases were primarily for engineering test equipment to support product development activities.

Cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2011 was primarily due to net debt repayments of $95.5 million, including $81.7 million of principal on our senior secured term debt. We refinanced subordinated term loans with 3.50% convertible subordinated debt in fiscal 2011, and the repayment of this long-term debt was offset by borrowings of convertible subordinated debt, net. For additional information regarding this refinancing, see Note 7 “Long-Term Debt and Convertible Subordinated Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, we received $16.5 million from the issuance of common stock.

Fiscal 2010

The $83.5 million difference between reported net income and cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2010 was primarily due to $71.3 million of non-cash expenses comprised of $38.5 million in amortization, $12.1 million in depreciation, $11.4 million in service parts lower of cost or market adjustment and $9.8 million in share-based compensation. These non-cash expenses were partially offset by a $15.6 million non-cash gain on debt extinguishment. Cash provided by operating activities was also due to an $11.5 million increase in accounts payable from the timing of payments and from increased purchases at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. In addition, we had a $9.5 million increase in deferred revenue primarily from prepaid license fees under an OEM agreement.

Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2010 was primarily due to $8.6 million in purchases of property and equipment. Equipment purchases were comprised of engineering, IT and marketing equipment to support product development initiatives. We also upgraded a data center and invested in leasehold improvements in another facility in fiscal 2010.

Cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2010 was primarily due to repaying $61.9 million of our senior secured term debt. We refinanced a majority of our 4.375% convertible subordinated debt during the first half of fiscal 2010, and repayments of these notes were offset by borrowings of long-term debt, net, under two subordinated term loan agreements.

Capital Resources and Financial Condition

We continue to focus on improving our operating performance, including increasing revenue in higher margin areas of the business and continuing to improve margins in an effort to return to consistent profitability and to generate positive cash flows from operating activities. We believe that our existing cash and capital resources will be sufficient to meet all currently planned expenditures, debt service, contractual obligations and sustain operations for at least the next 12 months. This belief is dependent upon our ability to achieve revenue and gross margin projections and to continue to control operating expenses in order to provide positive cash flow from operating activities. Should any of the above assumptions prove incorrect, either in combination or individually, it would likely have a material negative effect on our cash balances and capital resources.

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The following is a description of our existing capital resources including outstanding balances, funds available to borrow, and primary repayment terms including interest rates. For additional information, see Note 7 “Long-Term Debt and Convertible Subordinated Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

On March 29, 2012, we refinanced the senior secured credit agreement with Credit Suisse (“CS credit agreement”) by entering into a senior secured credit agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC (“Wells Fargo”) providing a revolving credit facility up to $75 million (“WF credit agreement”). The WF credit agreement matures March 29, 2017, or August 16, 2015 if our convertible subordinated notes remain outstanding on that date. We borrowed $49.5 million on March 29, 2012 to repay all borrowings under the CS credit agreement.

Under the WF credit agreement, we may borrow on a revolving basis amounts to be used to refinance all debts under our CS credit agreement as well as for general purposes. The maximum principal amount that may be borrowed is the lesser of $75 million, reduced by $1.0 million per quarter commencing July 1, 2012, or the amount of the monthly borrowing base. The monthly borrowing base is comprised of a cash component, an accounts receivable component and an inventory component. We may prepay all or a portion of any amounts borrowed without penalty or premium.

The interest rate on amounts borrowed is based on an election by us of an annual rate equal to (1) a base rate established by Wells Fargo plus an applicable margin of 1.0% to 1.5%, based on availability levels under the WF credit agreement or (2) the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.0% and 2.5%, based on availability levels under the WF credit agreement. The base rate is defined in the WF credit agreement.

At March 31, 2012, we had $49.5 million outstanding borrowings at an interest rate of 4.50%, and subsequently elected the LIBOR rate plus applicable margin on April 5, 2012, bringing the interest rate to 2.72%. In addition, we have letters of credit totaling $0.1 million, reducing the amount available to borrow on the revolver to $25.4 million at March 31, 2012. Quarterly, we are required to pay a 0.375% commitment fee on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit facility.

The WF credit agreement contains customary covenants, including cross-default provisions, as well as financial covenants that require the fixed charge coverage ratio to be greater than 1.20 for the 12 month period ending on the last day of any month and average liquidity for the most recently completed month of at least $15 million during the period commencing on March 29, 2012 and ending on September 30, 2012, increasing to $20 million on October 1, 2012. In addition, to avoid triggering mandatory field audits and Wells Fargo controlling our cash receipts, we must maintain average liquidity of at least $20 million during the period commencing on March 29, 2012 and ending on September 30, 2012, increasing to $25 million on October 1, 2012. There is also a blanket lien on all of our assets under a security agreement with Wells Fargo. As of March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all covenants.

In addition we have $135 million aggregate principal amount of 3.50% convertible subordinated notes due November 15, 2015 outstanding, the terms of which are governed by an agreement between Quantum and U.S. Bank National Association. We are required to make semi-annual interest payments on these notes.

Generation of positive cash flow from operating activities has historically been, and will continue to be, an important source of cash to fund operating needs and meet our current and long-term obligations. We have taken many actions in recent years to offset the negative impact of the recession and slow economic recovery and their impact on the data protection and big data and archive markets. We cannot provide assurance that the actions we have taken in the past or any actions we may take in the future will ensure a consistent, sustainable and sufficient level of net income and positive cash flow from operating activities to fund, sustain or grow our business. Certain events that are beyond our control, including prevailing economic, competitive and industry conditions, as well as various legal and other disputes, may prevent us from achieving these financial objectives. Any inability to achieve consistent and sustainable net income and cash flow could result in:

• Provide a waiver or amendment for any covenant violations we may experience in future periods, thereby triggering a default under, or termination of, the revolving credit line, or
• Approve any amendments to the credit agreement we may seek to obtain in the future.

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Any of the above mentioned items, individually or in combination, could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations, available cash and cash flows, financial condition, access to capital and liquidity.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

Lease Commitments

We lease certain facilities under non-cancelable lease agreements. Some of the leases have renewal options ranging from one to ten years and others contain escalation clauses and provisions for maintenance, taxes or insurance. We also have equipment leases for computers and other office equipment. Future minimum lease payments under these operating leases are shown below in the “Contractual Obligations” section.

Commitments to Purchase Inventory

We use contract manufacturers for certain manufacturing functions. Under these arrangements, the contract manufacturer procures inventory to manufacture products based upon our forecast of customer demand. We have similar arrangements with certain other suppliers. We are responsible for the financial impact on the supplier of any reduction or product mix shift in the forecast relative to materials that the supplier had already purchased under a prior forecast. Such a variance in forecasted demand could require a cash payment for inventory in excess of current customer demand or for costs of excess or obsolete inventory. As of March 31, 2012, we had issued non-cancelable purchase commitments for $34.3 million to purchase inventory from our suppliers.

Stock Repurchases

As of March 31, 2012, there was $87.9 million remaining under our authorization to repurchase Quantum common stock. No stock repurchases were made during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. Our ability to repurchase our common stock is restricted unless we meet certain thresholds under the terms of the WF credit agreement.

Contractual Obligations

The table below summarizes our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

The contractual commitments shown above include $25.6 million in interest payments on our various debt obligations based on current interest rates. The interest rate on the long-term debt can vary over the term of the loan.

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As of March 31, 2012, we had $5.2 million of long-term tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions, for which we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of when payments are likely to occur.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES

Our discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations is based on the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. The preparation of these statements requires us to make significant estimates and judgments about future uncertainties that affect reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our significant accounting policies are presented within Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our critical accounting estimates require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments and are described below. An accounting estimate is considered critical if it requires estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain when the estimate is made, if different estimates reasonably could have been used or if changes in the estimate that are reasonably possible could materially impact the financial statements. We have discussed the development, selection and disclosure of our critical accounting policies with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. We believe the assumptions and estimates used and the resulting balances are reasonable; however, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue Recognition

Application of the various accounting principles related to measurement and recognition of revenue requires us to make judgments and estimates in the following related areas: determining estimated selling prices (“ESP”) and allocating revenue based on the relative selling prices in arrangements with multiple deliverables, including assessing whether we have vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) or third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”) for each deliverable; the interpretation of non-standard terms and conditions in sales agreements; assessments of future price adjustments, such as rebates, price protection and future product returns and estimates for contractual licensee fees.

When we enter into sales arrangements with customers that contain multiple deliverables such as hardware, software and services, these arrangements require us to identify each deliverable and determine its ESP following the relative selling price hierarchy. Additionally, we sometimes use judgment in order to determine the appropriate timing of revenue recognition and to assess whether any software and nonsoftware components function together to deliver a tangible product’s essential functionality in order to ensure the arrangement is properly accounted for as software or hardware revenue.

When we enter into multiple deliverable revenue arrangements with customers which are not subject to software revenue guidance, we use judgment to (1) separate the deliverables based on specific criteria, (2) assign an estimated selling price to each deliverable based on the selling price hierarchy using VSOE, TPE or ESP and (3) allocate the total arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. When VSOE cannot be established we attempt to establish the selling price of each element based on TPE. TPE is determined based on competitor prices for largely interchangeable products when sold separately. When we are unable to establish selling price using VSOE or TPE, we use ESP. We use judgment to determine ESP, which is the price at which we would transact a sale if the product or service were regularly sold on a standalone basis. In this determination we consider our discounting and internal pricing practices, external market conditions and competitive positioning for similar offerings.

While the majority of our sales arrangements contain standard terms and conditions, we sometimes apply judgment when interpreting complex arrangements with non-standard terms and conditions to determine the appropriate accounting and timing of revenue recognition. An example of such a judgment is deferring revenue related to significant post-delivery obligations and customer acceptance criteria until such obligations are fulfilled.

We license certain software to customers under licensing agreements that allow those customers to embed the software into specific products they offer. As consideration, licensees pay us a fee based on the amount of sales of their products that incorporate our software. On a periodic and timely basis, the licensees provide us with reports listing their sales to end users for which they owe us license fees. Similarly, royalty revenue is estimated from licensee reports of units sold to end users subject to royalties under master contracts. In both cases, these reports are used to substantiate delivery and we recognize revenue based on the information in these reports or when amounts can be reasonably estimated.

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Inventory Allowances

Our manufacturing and service parts inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost computed on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. Adjustments to reduce the carrying value of both manufacturing and service parts inventories to their net realizable value are made for estimated excess, obsolete or impaired balances. Factors influencing these adjustments include significant estimates and judgments about the future of product life cycles, product demand, rapid technological changes, development plans, product pricing, physical deterioration, quality issues, end of service life plans and volume of enhanced or extended warranty service contracts.

Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination

We use judgment when applying the various accounting principles to measure the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. There are matters that are inherently uncertain when making estimates used to determine fair value where there are not active markets for these assets and liabilities. In addition, different estimates reasonably could be used and changes in the estimate that are reasonably possible could materially impact the resulting valuation and the financial statements. For example, judgments have been required to determine fair values of amortizable intangible assets, in-process research and development and the resulting amount of goodwill. Significant estimates and assumptions we make to estimate fair value of these acquired assets include:

• Planned product roadmaps, including the primary feature sets of new products;
• Expected efforts and associated costs required to integrate technologies acquired into new products;
• Assessed importance of in-process research and development to our overall development plan;
• Estimated values and rates of a market participant;
• Estimated future cash flows of current and future products; and
• Estimated discount rate applied to future cash flows.

In addition, the estimated future life of purchased technology intangibles impacts future financial statements. We believe the assumptions and estimates used and the resulting fair values are reasonable.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Goodwill

We apply judgment when reviewing amortizable intangible and other long-lived assets (“long-lived assets”) and goodwill for impairment, including when evaluating potential impairment indicators. Indicators we consider include adverse changes in the business climate that could affect the value of our long-lived assets or goodwill, changes in our stock price and resulting market capitalization relative to book value, changes in our business strategy, product mix or to the long-term economic outlook, decreases or slower than expected growth in sales of products, relative weakness in customer channels and, in the case of goodwill, testing long-lived assets for recoverability.

We use an undiscounted cash flow approach to evaluate our long-lived assets for recoverability when there are impairment indicators. Estimates of future cash flows require significant judgments about the future and include company forecasts and our expectations of future use of our long-lived assets, both of which may be impacted by market conditions. Other critical estimates include determining the asset group or groups within our long-lived assets, the primary asset of an asset group and the primary asset’s useful life.

During fiscal 2012, we early adopted the accounting guidance that allows entities to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether a quantitative goodwill impairment calculation is necessary. As a result, we may perform a qualitative test, a quantitative test, or both for the annual goodwill impairment assessment. For our annual goodwill impairment testing, or if a goodwill impairment indicator exists in an interim period, we compare the fair value of the company to its carrying value. Estimates to determine the fair value of the company require significant judgment. If the results indicate our fair value is less than our carrying value then a second step must be performed to quantify the amount of goodwill impairment, requiring additional assumptions and judgments.

The following assumptions and estimates may be used by management when the income approach is used in the second step of a goodwill impairment test. We derive discounted cash flows using estimates and assumptions about the future. Other significant assumptions may include: expected future revenue growth rates, operating profit margins, working capital levels, asset lives used to generate future cash flows, a discount rate, a terminal value multiple, income tax rates and utilization of net operating loss tax carryforwards. These assumptions are developed using current market conditions as well as internal projections. Inherent in our development of cash flow projections for the income approach used in an impairment test are assumptions and estimates derived from a review of our operating results, approved business plans, expected growth, cost of capital and income tax rates. We also make certain assumptions about future economic conditions, applicable interest rates and other market data.

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Accrued Warranty

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

Income Taxes

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

We have provided a full valuation allowance against our U.S. net deferred tax assets due to our history of net losses, difficulty in predicting future results and our conclusion that we cannot rely on projections of future taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets. In addition, we have provided a full valuation allowance against certain of our international net deferred tax assets. Due to reorganizations in these jurisdictions, it is unclear whether we will be able to realize a benefit from these deferred tax assets. Also, certain changes in stock ownership could result in a limitation on the amount of net operating loss and tax credit carryovers that can be utilized each year. Should we undergo such a change in stock ownership, it would severely limit the usage of these carryover tax attributes against future income, resulting in additional tax charges.

Significant management judgment is required in determining our deferred tax assets and liabilities and valuation allowances for purposes of assessing our ability to realize any future benefit from our net deferred tax assets. We intend to maintain this valuation allowance until sufficient evidence exists to support the reversal of the valuation allowance. Future income tax expense will be reduced to the extent that we have sufficient evidence to support a reversal or decrease in this allowance. We also have deferred tax assets and liabilities due to prior business acquisitions with corresponding valuation allowances after assessing our ability to realize any future benefit from these acquired net deferred tax assets.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our financial instruments are exposed to changes in market interest rates.

Market Interest Rate Risk

Changes in interest rates affect interest income earned on our cash equivalents. In addition, changes in interest rates affect interest expense on our borrowings under the WF credit agreement and affected interest expense on borrowings under the CS credit agreement while outstanding. Our outstanding convertible subordinated notes have a fixed interest rate, thus a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would not impact interest expense on these borrowings.

Our cash equivalents consisted solely of money market funds at March 31, 2012 and 2011. During fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, interest rates on these funds were under 1.0%. A hypothetical decrease in interest rates would have caused an immaterial decrease in interest income for fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011.

Interest accrued on our CS credit agreement at our option, based on either, a prime rate plus a margin of 2.5%, or a LIBOR rate plus a margin of 3.5%. Interest rate on amounts borrowed on our WF credit agreement is based on an election by us of an annual rate equal to (1) a base rate established by Wells Fargo plus an applicable margin of 1.0% to 1.5%, based on availability levels under the WF credit agreement or (2) the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.0% and 2.5%, based on availability levels under the WF credit agreement. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would increase interest expense $0.2 million and $0.4 million for fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of Quantum Corporation:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statement of operations, stockholders' deficit, and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Quantum Corporation and its subsidiaries at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Seattle, Washington
June 14, 2012

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QUANTUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

45

QUANTUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

46

QUANTUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

47

QUANTUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)