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Business and Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Business and Basis of Presentation
Business and Basis of Presentation

Business
Black Box Corporation ("Black Box," "we," the "Company" or "our") is a leading communications system integrator dedicated to designing, sourcing, implementing and maintaining today's complex communications solutions. The Company's primary service offering is voice communications solutions ("Voice Communications"); the Company also offers premise cabling and other data-related services solutions ("Data Infrastructure") and technology product solutions (“Technology Products”). The Company provides 24/7/365 technical support for all its solutions, which encompass all major voice and data product manufacturers as well as an extensive range of technology products that it sells through its catalog and Internet Web site and its Voice Communications and Data Infrastructure (collectively referred to as "On-Site services") offices. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had more than 3,000 professional technical experts in approximately 200 offices serving more than 175,000 clients in approximately 150 countries throughout the world. Founded in 1976, Black Box, a Delaware corporation, operates subsidiaries on five continents and is headquartered near Pittsburgh in Lawrence, Pennsylvania.

Basis of Presentation
References herein to "Fiscal Year" or "Fiscal" mean the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31 for the year referenced. All references to dollar amounts herein are presented in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain items in the consolidated financial statements of prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires Company management ("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 period. Significant estimates in these financial statements include project progress towards completion to estimated budget, allowances for doubtful accounts receivable, sales returns, net realizable value of inventories, loss contingencies, warranty reserves, intangible assets and goodwill. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management believes the estimates made are reasonable.