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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
9 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 10 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Guarantees

As is customary in the technology industry, to encourage certain customers to purchase products from Tech Data, the Company has arrangements with certain finance companies that provide inventory financing facilities to the Company’s customers. In conjunction with certain of these arrangements, the Company would be required to purchase certain inventory in the event the inventory is repossessed from the customers by the finance companies. As the Company does not have access to information regarding the amount of inventory purchased from the Company still on hand with the customer at any point in time, the Company’s repurchase obligations relating to inventory cannot be reasonably estimated. Repurchases of inventory by the Company under these arrangements have been insignificant to date. The Company believes that, based on historical experience, the likelihood of a material loss pursuant to these inventory repurchase obligations is remote.

The Company provides additional financial guarantees to finance companies on behalf of certain customers. The majority of these guarantees are for an indefinite period of time, where the Company would be required to perform if the customer is in default with the finance company related to purchases made from the Company. The Company reviews the underlying credit for these guarantees on at least an annual basis. As of October 31, 2012 and January 31, 2012, the aggregate amount of guarantees under these arrangements totaled $47.9 million and $65.4 million, respectively, of which $30.9 million and $28.4 million, respectively, was outstanding. The Company believes that, based on historical experience, the likelihood of a material loss pursuant to the above guarantees is remote.

Contingencies

Prior to fiscal 2004, one of the Company’s European subsidiaries was audited in relation to various value-added tax (“VAT”) matters. As a result of those audits, the subsidiary received notices of assessment that allege the subsidiary did not properly collect and remit VAT. Management has concluded, based upon the opinion of outside legal counsel, that the risk of loss for a significant portion of these assessments is remote and has therefore not accrued any amount on that portion of the claim. The Company’s financial statements include an accrual for the remaining exposure related to these assessments for which a loss is considered probable. Although the Company is vigorously pursuing administrative and judicial action to challenge the assessments, the ultimate outcome of litigation cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. If the courts were to reach a ruling that is adverse to the Company on the entire claim, a significant portion of the claim would be in excess of the amounts accrued, and while such ruling would not be material to the Company’s consolidated net assets or liquidity, it could be material to the Company’s operating results for any particular period, depending upon the level of income for such period.

In December 2010, in a non-unanimous decision, a Brazilian appellate court overturned a 2003 trial court which had previously ruled in favor of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary related to the imposition of certain taxes on payments abroad related to the licensing of commercial software products, commonly referred to as “CIDE tax”. The Company estimates the total exposure where the CIDE tax, including interest, may be considered due to be approximately $28.8 million at October 31, 2012. The Brazilian subsidiary has moved for clarification of the ruling and intends to appeal if the court does not rule in its favor. However, in order to pursue the next level of appeal, the Brazilian subsidiary may be required to make a deposit or to provide a guarantee to the courts for the payment of the CIDE tax pending the outcome of the appeal. Based on the legal opinion of outside counsel, the Company believes that the chances of success on appeal of this matter are favorable and the Brazilian subsidiary intends to vigorously defend its position that the CIDE tax is not due. However, due to the lack of the predictability of the Brazilian court system, the Company has concluded that it is reasonably possible that the Brazilian subsidiary may incur a loss up to the total exposure described above. The Company believes the resolution of this litigation will not be material to the Company’s consolidated net assets or liquidity; however, it could be material to the Company’s operating results for any particular period, depending upon the level of income for such period. In addition to the discussion regarding the CIDE tax above, the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary has been undergoing several examinations of non-income related taxes. Given the complexity and lack of predictability of the Brazilian tax system, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that a loss may have been incurred. However, due to the early stages of the examination, the complex nature of the Brazilian tax system and the absence of communication from the local tax authorities regarding these examinations, the Company is currently unable to determine the likelihood of these examinations resulting in assessments nor estimate the amount of loss, if any, that may be reasonably possible if such assessment were to be made.

The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company’s management does not expect that the outcome in any of these other legal proceedings, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.