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SYMANTEC CORPORATION
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Business
Symantec Corporation (“we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Symantec Corporation and all of its subsidiaries) is a
global leader in infrastructure software, enabling businesses and consumers to have confidence in a connected
world. We help our customers protect their infrastructure, information, and interactions by delivering software and
services that address risks to information security, availability, compliance, and information technology, or IT,
systems performance. We strive to help our customers manage compliance, complexity, and cost by protecting their
IT infrastructure as they seek to maximize value from their IT investments. We deliver a comprehensive and diverse
set of security and availability products and services to a wide range of customers, including large enterprises,
governments, small and medium-sized businesses, and consumers. Our delivery network includes direct, inside, and
channel sales resources which support our ecosystem of more than 50,000 partners across the world, as well as
various relationships with original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, Internet service providers, or ISPs, and
retail and online stores. Founded in 1982, we have operations in 40 countries.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Symantec Corporation and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
In fiscal 2007, we acquired two privately-held companies. Each of these was accounted for as a purchase and,
accordingly, each acquired company’s operating results have been included in our consolidated financial statements
since its respective date of acquisition. During fiscal 2006, we completed our acquisition of Veritas Software
Corporation, or Veritas, a leading provider of software and services to enable storage and backup. The results of
operations of Veritas have been included in our results of operations beginning on July 2, 2005, the acquisition date.
In addition, in fiscal 2006, we acquired five privately-held companies and one public company. In fiscal 2005, we
acquired five privately-held companies. Each of these acquisitions was accounted for as a purchase and, accord-
ingly, each acquired company’s operating results have been included in our consolidated financial statements since
its respective date of acquisition.
Fiscal Years
We have a 52/53-week fiscal accounting year. Accordingly, all references as of and for the fiscal years ended
March 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 reflect amounts as of and for the periods ended March 30, 2007, March 31, 2006,
and April 1, 2005, respectively, each of which consisted of 52 weeks. The fiscal accounting year ending March 28,
2008 will comprise 52 weeks of operations.
Symantec share and per share amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Notes to Consol-
idated Financial Statements reflect the two-for-one stock split effected as a stock dividend, which occurred on
November 30, 2004.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to the allocation of revenues
between recognized and deferred amounts, the carrying values of goodwill and intangible assets, the valuation of
stock-based compensation, and the valuation allowance for deferred income taxes.
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