Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

These interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited but reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position of SanDisk Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of April 1, 2012, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended April 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended April 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10‑K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2012. The results of operations for the three months ended April 1, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.

Basis of Presentation. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31, and its fiscal quarters consist of 13 weeks and generally end on the Sunday closest to March 31, June 30, and September 30, respectively. The first quarters of fiscal years 2012 and 2011 ended on April 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011, respectively. For accounting and disclosure purposes, the exchange rates of 82.25, 77.17 and 84.57 at April 1, 2012, January 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011, respectively, were used to convert Japanese yen to U.S. dollar. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in the footnotes to conform to the current period presentation, including line items within investing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and income tax (benefit) expense allocated to accumulated other comprehensive income in Note 4, “Balance Sheet Information.”

Organization and Nature of Operations. The Company was incorporated in Delaware on June 1, 1988. The Company designs, develops and markets flash memory storage products used in a wide variety of consumer electronics products. The Company operates in one segment, flash memory storage products.

Principles of Consolidation. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Non-controlling interest represents the minority shareholders’ proportionate share of the net assets and results of operations of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiaries.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. The estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosure of contingent liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to customer programs and incentives, intellectual property claims, product returns, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories and inventory reserves, valuation and impairments of marketable securities and investments, impairments of goodwill and long-lived assets, income taxes, warranty obligations, restructuring, contingencies, share-based compensation and litigation. The Company bases estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that its management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities when those values are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates.