Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Jan. 25, 2013

Significant Accounting Policies

3.  Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no significant changes in our significant accounting policies as of and for the nine months ended January 25, 2013, as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2012.

Recent Accounting Standards Not Yet Effective

In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a revised accounting standard intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The revised standard will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity will no longer be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless it determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. This guidance is effective for us beginning in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued new guidance that will require us to disclose information about offsetting arrangements associated with financial and derivative instruments to enable users of our financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on our financial position. This guidance is effective for us beginning in our first quarter of fiscal 2014, at which time we will include the applicable disclosures required by this accounting standard update. Other than requiring additional disclosures related to offsetting arrangements, we do not anticipate material impacts on our financial statements upon adoption.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, reserves and allowances; inventory valuation and purchase order accruals; valuation of goodwill and intangibles; restructuring reserves; product warranties; employee benefit accruals; stock-based compensation; loss contingencies; investment impairments; income taxes, and fair value measurements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.