Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

---

Commission File No. 001-31560

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Arthur Cox Building, Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2, Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (353) (1) 618-0517

---

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

---

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ý    NO o

         Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. YES o    NO ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ý    NO o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES o    NO o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o    NO ý

         The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of January 1, 2010, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $6.3 billion based upon a closing price of $18.19 reported for such date by the NASDAQ.

         The number of outstanding ordinary shares of the registrant as of August 12, 2010 was 471,808,544.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Proxy Statement") are incorporated herein by reference in Part III.

---

Table of Contents

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PLC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

---

Table of Contents

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

        Effective as of 1:30 p.m. PDT on July 3, 2010 (the "Effective Time"), Seagate Technology public limited company, an Irish public limited company, ("Seagate-Ireland") became the successor to Seagate Technology, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands ("Seagate-Cayman"). In this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Form 10-K"), unless the context indicates otherwise, as used herein, the terms "we," "us," "Seagate," the "Company" and "our" refer to Seagate-Cayman and its subsidiaries for periods prior to the Effective Time and to Seagate-Ireland and its subsidiaries for periods after the Effective Time. References to "$" are to United States dollars.

        We have compiled the market size in this Form 10-K using statistics and other information obtained from several third-party sources.

        Various amounts and percentages used in this Form 10-K have been rounded and, accordingly, they may not total 100%.

        We own or otherwise have rights to the trademarks and trade names, including those mentioned in this Form 10-K, used in conjunction with the marketing and sale of our products.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Some of the statements contained in this Form 10-K that are not historical facts, particularly in "Item 1. Business," "Item 1A. Risk Factors," "Item 3. Legal Proceedings," and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended). Certain of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believes," "expects," "may," "are expected to," "will," "will continue," "should," "would be," "seeks" or "anticipates" or similar expressions or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions, and are conditioned upon and also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those in such statements due to, among other factors:

•

uncertainty in global economic conditions as customers may defer purchases in response to tighter credit and negative financial news;



•

the impact of the variable demand and the pricing environment for disk drives, particularly in view of current business and economic conditions;



•

our dependence on our ability to successfully qualify, manufacture and sell our disk drive products in increasing volumes on a cost-effective basis and with acceptable quality, particularly the new disk drive products with lower cost structures;



•

the impact of competitive product announcements and industry supply with respect to particular disk drive products; and



•

our ability to achieve potential cost savings from restructuring activities.

        These risks and uncertainties include a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control. Additional risks and uncertainties are set forth and are discussed in more detail in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of this Form 10-K. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as anticipated, believed or expected. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made.

3

---

Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

        We are the world's leading provider of hard disk drives based on revenue. We design, manufacture, market and sell hard disk drives. Hard disk drives commonly referred to as disk drives, hard drives or HDDs, are devices that store digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating disks with magnetic surfaces. The performance attributes of disk drives, including their cost effectiveness and high storage capacities have resulted in disk drives being used as the primary medium for storing electronic data.

        We produce a broad range of disk drive products addressing enterprise applications, where our products are designed for enterprise servers, mainframes and workstations; client compute applications, where our products are designed for desktop and notebook computers; and client non-compute applications, where our products are designed for a wide variety of end user devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs), personal data backup systems, portable external storage systems and digital media systems. In addition to manufacturing and selling disk drives, we provide data storage services for small- to medium-sized businesses, including online backup, data protection and recovery solutions.

Industry Overview

Electronic Data Storage Industry

        The electronic data storage industry is comprised of companies that manufacture components or subcomponents designed for electronic data storage devices and companies that provide storage solutions through a variety of technologies such as disk drives, tape storage and semiconductor-based storage technologies such as flash memory. Participants in the electronic data storage industry include:

        Major subcomponent manufacturers.    Companies that manufacture components or subcomponents used in electronic data storage devices or solutions include companies such as Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd., Showa Denko K.K. and TDK Corporation, which supply heads and media to disk drive manufacturers; LSI Corporation and Marvell Technology Group Limited, which supply application specific integrated circuits (ASICs); and Hoya Corporation, which supplies glass substrates.

        Hardware storage solutions manufacturers.    Companies that transform components into storage products include disk drive manufacturers such as Seagate, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Toshiba Corporation and Western Digital Corporation; magnetic tape storage manufacturers such as Quantum Corporation; and semiconductor storage manufacturers such as Intel Corporation, Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SanDisk Corporation and STEC, Inc., whose operations include integrating flash memory into storage products such as solid state drives (SSDs).

        System integrators.    Companies that bundle and package storage components such as storage hardware and software into client compute, client non-compute or enterprise applications. Client compute original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) include Acer Inc., Apple Inc., Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company and Lenovo Group Limited; client non-compute OEMs include Apple Inc., DIRECTV Group, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Scientific-Atlanta Inc., a subsidiary of Cisco Systems Inc., Sony Corporation and TiVo Inc.; and enterprise storage system OEMs include EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company and NetApp, Inc. Distributors who in turn integrate storage hardware and software into end-user applications are also included in this category.

        Storage services.    Another area within the electronic data storage industry is services and solutions related to the backup, archiving, recovery and discovery of electronic data.

4

---

Table of Contents

Demand for Electronic Data Storage

        The electronic data storage industry has traditionally been focused on client compute applications. We believe that technological advances in storage technology and a proliferation of client non-compute applications such as digital video recorders, gaming devices, digital music players and digital cameras are driving the broad, global proliferation and growth of digital content through the:

•

creation and sharing of all types of digital content, such as high-resolution photos, high definition video and movies and music by consumers and electronic data by enterprises;



•

aggregation and distribution of digital content through services and other offerings by companies such as YouTube by Google Inc., Hulu LLC by the National Broadcasting Company and FOX Broadcasting Company (a News Corporation Company), iTunes by Apple Inc., MySpace by News Corporation and Facebook;



•

network infrastructure, including broadband, cable and satellite that has enabled the access, hosting and distribution of such digital content;



•

enjoyment and consumption of digital content through DVRs, handheld devices and gaming consoles, as well as in automobiles; and



•

protection of digital content through storage on backup devices and storage services.

        As a result of these factors, the nature and amount of content being created requires increasingly higher storage capacity in order to store, manage, distribute, utilize and back up such content. This in turn has resulted in the rapid growth in demand for electronic data storage applications and solutions.

        We believe that demand for electronic data storage in the enterprise and traditional compute markets continues to grow as the proliferation of digital content in the consumer space has resulted in additional demand for storage by enterprises, including those that host, aggregate, distribute or share such content. Other factors driving demand for additional storage include:

•

continued growth in cloud computing and backup services for enterprises seeking efficient and cost-effective methods of processing and storing data, increases demand for storage as data centers expand and proliferate;



•

increasing legal and regulatory requirements, which necessitate larger archives;



•

changes in the nature and amount of data being stored, such as the growing use of digital records in the healthcare industry; and



•

growth in data captured in computer to computer communications, or "dark data", which does not require human interaction.

Demand Trends for Disk Drives

        We believe that continued growth in digital content requires increasingly higher storage capacity in order to store, aggregate, host, distribute, manage, back up and use such content, which we believe will continue to result in increased demand for disk drive products. However, the disk drive industry is sensitive to global macroeconomic conditions as experienced in fiscal year 2009.

        Historically, the electronic data storage industry has introduced alternative technologies that directly compete with hard disk drives. SSDs, using NAND flash memory, are a potential alternative to disk drives in certain applications such as consumer handheld devices and portable external storage. NAND flash memory is a type of non-volatile storage technology that does not require power to retain data. However, we believe that in the foreseeable future the traditional enterprise and client compute markets that require high capacity storage solutions, as well as the data intensive client non-compute markets, will continue to

5

---

Table of Contents

be best served by hard disk drives based on the industry's ability to deliver reliable, power consumption efficient and cost effective mass storage devices.

        Disk Drives for Enterprise Storage.    We define enterprise storage as disk drives designed for mission critical applications and nearline applications.

        Mission critical applications are defined as applications that are vital to the operation of enterprises, requiring high performance, and high reliability disk drives. We expect the market for mission critical enterprise storage solutions to be driven by enterprises continuing to move network traffic to dedicated storage area networks in an effort to reduce network complexity and increase energy savings. We believe that this transition will lead to an increased demand for more energy efficient, smaller form factor disk drives. These solutions are comprised principally of high performance enterprise class disk drives with sophisticated firmware and communications technologies.

        Nearline applications are defined as applications that are less time-critical but capacity-intensive, such as reference data environments or redundancy for recovery purposes, which require high capacity and low power consumption disk drives featuring lower costs per gigabyte. We expect such applications, which include storage for cloud computing and backup services, will continue to grow and drive demand for disk drives designed with these attributes as data centers expand and proliferate.

        SSD storage applications have been introduced as a potential alternative to redundant system startup or boot disk drives. In addition, enterprises are beginning to use SSDs in applications where rapid processing and/or lower power consumption is required. The timing of significant adoption of SSDs is dependent on enterprises weighing the pricing and other benefits of mission critical enterprise disk drives against the perceived performance benefits of SSDs.

        Disk Drives for Client Compute.    We define client compute applications as disk drives designed for the traditional desktop and mobile compute applications. In the near-term, we believe that demand growth in client compute applications will be driven by what we believe to be an accelerating corporate technology refresh cycle. In the long-term, we believe that the proliferation of digital content will drive the demand for the client compute market.

        As the proliferation of client compute applications that require minimal storage such as tablets and netbooks continues, NAND flash technology could become more competitive within the client compute market in the future.

        Disk Drives for Client Non-Compute.    We define client non-compute applications as disk drives designed for consumer electronic devices and disk drives used for external storage and network-attached storage (NAS). Disk drives designed for consumer electronic devices are primarily used in applications such as DVRs that require a higher capacity, lower cost-per-gigabyte storage solution. Disk drives for external and NAS devices are designed for purposes such as personal data backup and portable external storage, and to augment the consumer's current desktop, notebook or DVR disk drive capacities. Client non-compute applications also include devices designed to display digital media in the home theater. We believe the proliferation of high definition and media-rich digital content will continue to create increasing consumer demand for higher storage solutions.

Disk Drive Technology

Overview

        The design and manufacturing of disk drives depends on highly advanced technology and manufacturing techniques and therefore requires high levels of research and development spending and capital equipment investments. Manufacturing our disk drives is a complex process that begins with the production of individual components and ends with a fully assembled unit. We design, fabricate and assemble a number of the most important components found in our disk drives, including read/write heads

6

---

Table of Contents

and recording media. Our design and manufacturing operations are based on technology platforms that are used to produce various disk drive products that serve multiple data storage applications and markets. Our core technology platforms are focused around the areal density of media and read/write head technologies. Using an integrated platform design and manufacturing leverage approach allows us to deliver a portfolio of disk drive products to service a wide range of electronic data storage applications and a wide range of industries.

Disk Drive Performance

        Disk drive performance is commonly differentiated by six key characteristics:

•

storage capacity, commonly expressed in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB), which is the amount of data that can be stored on the disk;



•

spindle rotation speed, commonly expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM), which has an effect on speed of access to data;



•

interface transfer rate, commonly expressed in megabytes per second, which is the rate at which data moves between the disk drive and the computer controller;



•

average seek time, commonly expressed in milliseconds, which is the time needed to position the heads over a selected track on the disk surface;



•

data transfer rate, commonly expressed in megabytes per second, which is the rate at which data is transferred to and from the disk; and



•

product quality and reliability, commonly expressed in annualized return rates.

Areal Density

        Areal density is a measure of storage capacity per square inch on the recording surface of a disk. The capacity of a disk drive is determined by the number of disks it contains as well as the areal density capability of these disks. We expect the long-term demand for increased disk drive capacities will continue to grow proportionately with the shift in storage applications from predominantly compute applications to more media-rich content. In particular, audio, video and photo storage data continue to increase in size, with high definition video content being an example of data requiring many multiples of the storage capacity of standard video. We believe that demand will further intensify by the proliferation of these forms of content. We have been pursuing, and will continue to pursue, a number of technologies to increase areal densities across the entire range of our products for expanding disk drive capacities and reducing the number of disks and heads per drive to further reduce product costs.

Manufacturing

        Disk drive manufacturers are distinguished by their level of vertical integration, which is the degree to which they control the design and manufacture of the technology used in their products and by whether they are captive, producing disk drives for their own computer systems, or independent, producing disk drives as a stand-alone product.

        Vertically integrated hard drive manufacturers design and produce their own read/write heads and recording media, which are critical technologies for disk drives. This integrated approach enables manufacturers to lower costs and to improve the functionality of components so that they work together efficiently. In contrast, manufacturers that are not integrated purchase most of their components from third-party suppliers, upon whom they depend for key elements of their technological innovation and differentiation. This can limit their ability to coordinate technology roadmaps and optimize the component design process for manufacturing efficiency and product reliability while making them reliant on the technology investment decisions of their suppliers. Independent manufacturers can enjoy a competitive

7

---

Table of Contents

advantage over captive manufacturers in working with OEMs because they do not compete with OEMs for computer system sales. We believe the competitive dynamics of the disk drive industry favor vertically integrated, independent manufacturers with the scale to make substantial technology investments and apply them across a broad product portfolio and set of customers.

        We pursue a vertically integrated business strategy based on the ownership of critical component technologies, allowing us to maintain control over our product roadmap and component cost, quality and availability. We believe that because of our vertical design and manufacturing strategy, we are well suited to meet the challenges posed by the close interdependence of components for disk drives. Our manufacturing efficiency and flexibility are critical elements of our integrated business strategy. We continuously seek to improve our manufacturing efficiency and cost by:

•

employing manufacturing automation to enhance our efficiency;



•

improving product quality and reliability and reducing costs;



•

integrating our supply chain with suppliers and customers to enhance our demand visibility and reduce our working capital requirements;



•

coordinating between our manufacturing group and our research and development organization to rapidly achieve volume manufacturing; and



•

rationalizing the facilities we operate and reducing the number of personnel we employ.

        A vertically integrated model, however, tends to have less flexibility when demand moderates because it exposes us to higher unit costs as capacity utilization is not optimized.

        Due to the significant challenges posed by the need to continually innovate and improve manufacturing efficiency and the continued demands on capital and research and development investments required to do so, the disk drive industry has undergone significant consolidation as disk drive manufacturers and component manufacturers merged with other companies or exited the industry. The trend toward consolidation is more pronounced during times of macroeconomic contraction. For example, Toshiba Corporation acquired Fujitsu Limited's hard disk drive business in October 2009. The increasing technological challenges, associated levels of investment and competitive necessity of large-scale operations may also drive future industry consolidation. Additionally, we may in the future face indirect competition from customers who from time to time evaluate whether to offer electronic data storage products that may compete with our products.

Components and Raw Materials

        All of our disk drive products incorporate certain components, including a head disk assembly and a printed circuit board mounted to the head disk assembly, which are sealed inside a rigid base and top cover containing the recording components in a contamination controlled environment. We maintain a highly integrated approach to our business by designing and manufacturing a significant portion of the components we view as critical to our products, such as recording heads and media.

        Read/Write Heads.    The function of the read/write head is to scan across the disk as it spins, magnetically recording or reading information. The tolerances of recording heads are extremely demanding and require state-of-the-art equipment and processes. Our read/write heads are manufactured with thin-film and photolithographic processes similar to those used to produce semiconductor integrated circuits, though challenges in magnetic film properties and topographical structures are unique to the disk drive industry. We perform all primary stages of design and manufacture of read/write heads at our facilities. We use a combination of internally manufactured and externally sourced read/write heads, the mix of which varies based on product mix, technology and our internal capacity levels.

8

---

Table of Contents

        Media.    Information is written to the media, or disk, as it rotates at very high speeds past the read/write head. The media is made from non-magnetic material, usually aluminum alloy or glass, and is coated with a thin layer of magnetic material. We use a combination of internally manufactured and externally sourced finished media and aluminum substrates, the mix of which varies based on product mix, technology and our internal capacity levels. We purchase all of our glass substrates from third parties, which we use in the disk drives we make for mobile products.

        Printed Circuit Board Assemblies.    The printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) are comprised of standard and custom ASICs and ancillary electronic control chips. The ASICs control the movement of data to and from the read/write heads and through the internal controller and interface, which communicates with the host computer. The ASICs and control chips form electronic circuitry that delivers instructions to a head positioning mechanism called an actuator to guide the heads to the selected track of a disk where the data is recorded or retrieved. Disk drive manufacturers use one or more industry standard interfaces such as serial advanced technology architecture (SATA); small computer system interface (SCSI); serial attached SCSI (SAS); or Fibre Channel (FC) to communicate to the host systems. We outsource to third parties the manufacture and assembly of the PCBAs used in our disk drives. We do not manufacture any ASICs, but we participate in their proprietary design.

        Head Disk Assembly.    The head disk assembly consists of one or more disks attached to a spindle assembly powered by a spindle motor that rotates the disks at a high constant speed around a hub. The disks, or recording media, are the components on which data is stored and from which it is retrieved. Each disk consists of a substrate of finely machined aluminum or glass deposited with layers of thin-film magnetic material. Read/write heads, mounted on an arm assembly, similar in concept to that of a record player, fly extremely close to each disk surface and record data on and retrieve it from concentric tracks in the magnetic layers of the rotating disks. The read/write heads are mounted vertically on an E-shaped assembly that is actuated by a voice-coil motor to allow the heads to move from track to track. The E-block and the recording media are mounted inside the head disk assembly. We purchase spindle motors from outside vendors and from time to time participate in the design of the motors that go into our products.

        Disk Drive Assembly.    Following the completion of the head disk assembly, it is mated to the PCBA, and the completed unit goes through extensive defect mapping and testing prior to packaging and shipment. Disk drive assembly and test operations occur primarily at facilities located in China, Singapore and Thailand. We perform subassembly and component manufacturing operations at our facilities in China, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Thailand and in the United States in Minnesota. In addition, third parties manufacture and assemble components for us in various Asian countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, in Europe and in the United States.

        Suppliers of Components and Industry Constraints.    Due to industry consolidation, there are a limited number of independent suppliers of components, such as recording heads and media, available to disk drive manufacturers. Vertically integrated disk drive manufacturers, who manufacture their own components, are less dependent on external component suppliers than less vertically integrated disk drive manufacturers.

        We believe the supply chain was generally tight for the industry during most of fiscal year 2010. Availability of glass substrates, finished media and heads improved during the June 2010 quarter. However, supply of these critical components is still expected to be generally tight for the second half of the 2010 calendar year, reflecting typical seasonal patterns.

        Commodity and Other Manufacturing Costs.    The production of disk drives requires precious metals, scarce alloys and industrial commodities, which are subject to fluctuations in prices and the supply of which has at times been constrained. We believe that currently there is an adequate supply of these precious metals, scarce alloys and industrial commodities. Additionally, volatility in fuel costs may increase our costs

9

---

Table of Contents

related to commodities, manufacturing and freight. As a result, we may increase our use of ocean shipments to help offset any increase in freight costs.

Industry Supply Balance

        From time to time the industry has experienced periods of imbalance between supply and demand. To the extent that the disk drive industry builds capacity based on expectations of demand that do not materialize, price erosion may become more pronounced. Conversely, during periods where demand exceeds supply, price erosion is generally muted. For the first half of fiscal year 2010, our industry experienced unmet demand due to industry-wide supply constraints, while in the March 2010 quarter supply and demand were relatively balanced. However, in the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand, which we believe reflected a return to seasonal patterns typical of a June quarter.

Products

        We offer a broad range of disk drive products for the enterprise, client compute and client non-compute market applications. We offer more than one product within each product family and differentiate products on the basis of price, performance, form factor, capacity, interface, power consumption efficiency, security features like full disk encryption and other customer integration requirements. Our industry is characterized by continuous and significant advances in technology, which contribute to rapid product life cycles. We list our main current product offerings below.

Enterprise Storage

        Cheetah SCSI/SAS/Fibre Channel Family.    Our Cheetah 3.5-inch disk drives ship in 10,000 and 15,000 RPM and in storage capacities ranging from 73GB to 600GB. Commercial uses for Cheetah disk drives include Internet and e-commerce servers, data mining and data warehousing, mainframes and supercomputers, department/enterprise servers and workstations, transaction processing, professional video and graphics and medical imaging.

        Savvio SCSI/SAS/Fibre Channel Family.    We are currently shipping our fourth generation Savvio 2.5-inch enterprise disk drive featuring increased throughput and improved power consumption, targeted at space optimized enterprise storage systems. Our Savvio disk drives ship in 10,000 and 15,000 RPM and in storage capacities ranging from 73GB to 600GB. We believe that end-user customers are increasingly adopting the smaller 2.5-inch form factor enterprise class disk drives, which allow the installation of more disk drives per square foot, thus facilitating faster access to data.

        Barracuda ES SATA Family.    Our Barracuda ES 3.5-inch disk drives ship in 7,200 RPM and in storage capacities ranging from 250GB to 2TB. The Barracuda ES addresses the emerging market in enterprise storage using nearline storage systems for capacity-intensive enterprise applications that require space optimization, maximized performance and availability. We have also introduced Barracuda ES drives for the surveillance market with capacities ranging from 250GB to 1TB.

        Constellation ES SATA Family.    Our Constellation disk drives ship in both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch and in storage capacities of up to 500GB to 2TB, respectively, at 7,200 RPM. The Constellation is designed for reference data environments that require high capacity density, enterprise reliability, low power consumption and optional security.

Client Compute

        Momentus ATA/SATA Family.    Our Momentus family of disk drives for mobile computing disk drive products ship in 5,400 and 7,200 RPM and in capacities ranging from 80GB to 640GB. Momentus disk drives are used in notebooks for business, government, education and consumer applications. Consumer uses for Momentus disk drives also include tablet computers and digital audio applications. Our Momentus

10

---

Table of Contents

7200.4 is a 7,200 RPM disk drive for high-performance notebooks. In addition, we began shipping our new hybrid drive into the notebook market with the introduction of our Momentus XT product line in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010. Hybrid disk drives incorporate both a hard disk drive and NAND flash storage. The benefits of such drives are improved performance over hard disk drives, as well as higher capacity and lower cost compared to SSDs alone.

        Barracuda ATA/SATA Family.    Our Barracuda 3.5-inch disk drive delivers storage capacities of up to 2TB at 7,200 RPM and is designed for applications such as PCs, workstations and personal external storage devices.

Client Non-Compute

        Pipeline HD and DB35 SATA Family.    We sell our 3.5-inch Pipeline HD and DB35 disk drives primarily for use in DVRs. These disk drives are optimized for leading-edge digital entertainment and range from 160GB to 1TB.

        Pipeline Mini SATA Family.    We sell our 2.5-inch, 5,400 RPM Pipeline Mini disk drives, with capacities ranging from 160GB up to 500GB, for use in low-profile DVRs, gaming consoles, home entertainment devices and small footprint media PCs.

        We ship external backup storage solutions under our Free Agent Go™ and Free Agent Go Flex™ product lines. Both of these product lines utilize our 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch disk drives, which are available in capacities up to 2TB and 750GB, respectively.

Customers

        We sell our disk drives primarily to major OEMs. We also sell to distributors and retailers under our globally recognized brand names. We have longstanding relationships with many of our OEM customers, such as Hewlett-Packard Company, Dell Inc. and EMC Corporation.

        The following table summarizes our disk drive revenue by channel and by geography:

        OEM customers typically enter into master purchase agreements with us. These agreements provide for pricing, volume discounts, order lead times, product support obligations and other terms and conditions. The term of these agreements is usually 6 to 24 months; however they are generally cancelable for convenience by either party upon written notice. Our product support obligations generally extend substantially beyond the term of the agreement. These master agreements typically do not commit the customer to buy any minimum quantity of products, or create exclusive relationships. Deliveries are scheduled only after receipt of purchase orders. In addition, with limited lead-time, customers may cancel or defer most purchase orders without significant penalty. Anticipated orders from many of our customers have in the past failed to materialize or OEM delivery schedules have been deferred or altered as a result of changes in their business needs.

11

---

Table of Contents

        Our distributors generally enter into non-exclusive agreements for the resale of our products. They typically furnish us with a non-binding indication of their near-term requirements and product deliveries are generally scheduled accordingly. The agreements and related sales programs typically provide the distributors with limited right of return and price protection rights. In addition, we offer sales programs to distributors on a quarterly and periodic basis to promote the sale of selected products in the sales channel.

        Our retail channel consists of our branded storage products sold to retailers either by us directly or by our distributors. Retail sales made by us or our distributors typically require greater marketing support, sales incentives and price protection periods.

        The only customers exceeding 10% of our consolidated revenue for fiscal years 2008 through 2010 were Hewlett-Packard Company and Dell Inc., accounting for approximately 16% and 11%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue in each year. We have master purchase agreements in place with Hewlett-Packard Company and Dell Inc. that are cancelable for convenience by either party upon written notice, and do not require either customer to purchase any minimum or other specified quantity of our products. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Dependence on Key Customers—We may be adversely affected by the loss of, or reduced, delayed or cancelled purchases by, one or more of our larger customers."

Competition

        The markets that we compete in are intensely competitive. Disk drive manufacturers not only compete for a limited number of major disk drive customers but also compete with other companies in the electronic data storage industry that provide alternative storage solutions, such as flash memory, tape, optical and SSDs. Some of the principal factors used by customers to differentiate among electronic data storage solutions manufacturers are storage capacity, price per unit and price per gigabyte, storage/retrieval access times, data transfer rates, product quality and reliability, supply continuity, form factor, warranty and brand. We believe that our disk drive products are competitive with respect to each of these factors in the markets that we currently address.

        We summarize below our principal disk drive competitors, other competitors, the effect of competition on price erosion for our products and product life cycles and technology.

        Principal Disk Drive Competitors.    We have experienced and expect to continue to experience intense competition from a number of domestic and foreign companies, some of which have greater financial and other resources than we have. These competitors include independent disk drive manufacturers such as Western Digital Corporation, as well as large captive manufacturers such as Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Toshiba Corporation. Because these captive manufacturers produce complete computer systems and other non-compute consumer electronics and mobile devices, they can derive a greater portion of their operating margins from other components, which may reduce their need to realize a profit on the disk drives included in their computer systems and may allow them to sell disk drives to third parties at very low margins. Many captive manufacturers are also formidable competitors because they have more resources and greater access to their internal customers than we do. In addition, competitors such as Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Toshiba Corporation are increasingly integrating other storage technologies such as flash memory, hybrid disk drives and SSDs into their product offerings. Not only may they be willing to sell their disk drives at a lower margin to advance their overall business strategy, their portfolio may allow them to be indifferent to which technology prevails over the other as they can offer a broad range of storage media and solutions and focus on those with lowest costs and greatest sales. In addition to competing with our disk drive competitors, we also compete with companies such as Iomega Corporation (an EMC company) and LaCie S.A. that purchase disk drives from us and our competitors for use in their branded storage products.

        Other Competitors.    We also are experiencing competition from companies that provide alternative storage technologies such as flash memory and SSDs. In the flash memory market, primarily used in lower

12

---

Table of Contents

capacity handheld devices, our principal competitors include Micron Technology, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SanDisk Corporation and Toshiba Corporation. In enterprise applications, where SSDs are used for rapid processing and high volume transactions, our principal SSD competitors include Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Intel Corporation and STEC Inc., with others expected to enter in the near future.

        Price Erosion.    Our industry has been characterized by price declines for disk drive products with comparable capacity, performance and feature sets ("like-for-like products"). Price declines for like-for-like products ("price erosion") are more pronounced during periods of:

•

economic contraction or industry consolidation in which competitors may use discounted pricing to attempt to maintain or gain market share;



•

few new product introductions when multiple competitors have comparable or alternative product offerings;



•

temporary imbalances between industry supply and demand; and



•

seasonally weaker demand, which may cause excess supply.

        Disk drive manufacturers typically attempt to offset price erosion with an improved mix of disk drive products characterized by higher capacity, better performance and additional feature sets and/or product cost reductions.

        We expect price erosion in our industry to continue. To remain competitive, we believe it is necessary for industry participants to continue to introduce new product offerings that utilize advanced technologies ahead of the competition in order to take advantage of potentially higher initial profit margins and reduced cost structures on these new products.

        Product Life Cycles and Changing Technology.    Our industry has been characterized by significant advances in technology, which have contributed to rapid product life cycles. As a result, success in our industry has been dependent to a large extent on the ability to be the first-to-market with new products, allowing those disk drive manufacturers who introduce new products first to sell those products at a premium until comparable products are introduced. Also, because our industry is characterized by continuous price erosion, the existence of rapid product life cycles has necessitated quick achievement of product cost effectiveness. Changing technology also necessitates on-going investments in research and development, which may be difficult to recover due to rapid product life cycles and economic declines. Further, there is a continued need to successfully execute product transitions and new product introductions, as factors such as quality, reliability and manufacturing yields become of increasing competitive importance.

Seasonality

        The disk drive industry traditionally experiences seasonal variability in demand with higher levels of demand in the second half of the calendar year. This seasonality is driven by consumer spending in the back-to-school season from late summer to fall and the traditional holiday shopping season from fall to winter. In addition, corporate demand is typically higher during the second half of the calendar year. For most of fiscal year 2010, our industry observed a muted seasonal pattern as the hard disk drive industry experienced unmet demand due to industry-wide supply constraints, while in the March 2010 quarter supply and demand were relatively balanced. However, in the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand, which we believe reflected a return to seasonal patterns typical of a June quarter.

Research and Development

        We are committed to developing new component technologies, products and alternative storage technologies, including solid state technology. Our research and development focus is designed to bring

13

---

Table of Contents

new products to market in high volume, with quality attributes that our customers expect, before our competitors. Part of our product development strategy is to leverage a design platform and/or subsystem within product families to serve different market needs. This platform strategy allows for more efficient resource utilization, leverages best design practices, reduces exposure to changes in demand, and allows for achievement of lower costs through purchasing economies. Our advanced technology integration effort focuses disk drive and component research on recording subsystems, including read/write heads and recording media, market-specific product technology and technology focused towards new business opportunities. The primary purpose of our advanced technology integration effort is to ensure timely availability of mature component technologies to our product development teams as well as allowing us to leverage and coordinate those technologies in the design centers across our products in order to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace. During fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008, we had product development expenses of approximately $877 million, $953 million and $1,028 million, respectively, which represented 8%, 10% and 8% of our consolidated revenue, respectively.

Patents and Licenses

        As of July 2, 2010, we had 4,149 U.S. patents and 625 patents issued in various foreign jurisdictions as well as 1,232 U.S. and 478 foreign patent applications pending. The number of patents and patent applications will vary at any given time as part of our ongoing patent portfolio management activity. Due to the rapid technological change that characterizes the electronic data storage industry, we believe that, in addition to patent protection, the improvement of existing products, reliance upon trade secrets, protection of unpatented proprietary know-how and development of new products are also important to our business in establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage. Accordingly, we intend to continue our efforts to broadly protect our intellectual property, including obtaining patents, where available, in connection with our research and development program.

        The electronic data storage industry is characterized by significant litigation relating to patent and other intellectual property rights. Because of rapid technological development in the electronic data storage industry, some of our products have been, and in the future could be, alleged to infringe existing patents of third parties. From time to time, we receive claims that our products infringe patents of third parties. Although we have been able to resolve some of those claims or potential claims by obtaining licenses or rights under the patents in question without a material adverse affect on us, other claims have resulted in adverse decisions or settlements. In addition, other claims are pending, which if resolved unfavorably to us could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. For more information on these claims, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13, Legal, Environmental, and Other Contingencies." The costs of engaging in intellectual property litigation in the past have been, and in the future may be, substantial, irrespective of the merits of the claim or the outcome. We have patent licenses with a number of companies. Additionally, as part of our normal intellectual property practices, we may be engaged in negotiations with other major electronic data storage companies and component manufacturers with respect to patent licenses.

Backlog

        In view of our customers' rights to cancel or defer orders with little or no penalty, we believe backlog in the disk drive industry is of limited indicative value in estimating future performance and results.

Environmental Matters

        Our operations are subject to U.S. and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing discharges of pollutants into the air and water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Some of our operations require environmental permits and controls to prevent and reduce air and water pollution, and these permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities.

14

---

Table of Contents

        We have established environmental management systems and continually update our environmental policies and standard operating procedures for our operations worldwide. We believe that our operations are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits. We budget for operating and capital costs on an ongoing basis to comply with environmental laws. If additional or more stringent requirements are imposed on us in the future, we could incur additional operating costs and capital expenditures.

        Some environmental laws, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (as amended, the "Superfund" law) and its state equivalents, can impose liability for the cost of cleanup of contaminated sites upon any of the current or former site owners or operators or upon parties who sent waste to these sites, regardless of whether the owner or operator owned the site at the time of the release of hazardous substances or the lawfulness of the original disposal activity. We have been identified as a potentially responsible party at several sites. At each of these sites, we have an assigned portion of the financial liability based on the type and amount of hazardous substances disposed of by each party at the site and the number of financially viable parties. We have fulfilled our responsibilities at some of these sites and remain involved in only a few at this time.

        While our ultimate costs in connection with these sites is difficult to predict with complete accuracy, based on our current estimates of cleanup costs and our expected allocation of these costs, we do not expect costs in connection with these sites to be material.

        We may be subject to various state, federal and international laws and regulations governing the environment, including those restricting the presence of certain substances in electronic products. For example, the European Union ("EU") enacted the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, which prohibits the use of certain substances, including lead, in certain products, including disk drives, put on the market after July 1, 2006. Similar legislation has been or may be enacted in other jurisdictions, including in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Japan.

        If we or our suppliers fail to comply with the substance restrictions, recycle requirements or other environmental requirements as they are enacted worldwide, it could have a materially adverse effect on our business.

Employees

        At July 2, 2010, we employed approximately 52,600 employees, temporary employees and contractors worldwide, of which approximately 45,000 employees were located in our Asian operations. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our ability to attract and retain qualified employees at all levels. We believe that our employee relations are good.

Financial Information

        Financial information for our reportable business segment and about geographic areas is set forth in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 12, Business Segment and Geographic Information."

Corporate Information

        We were formed in 2000 as an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands. On July 3, 2010, we consummated our previously announced reorganization pursuant to which Seagate Technology public limited company, a public limited company organized under the laws of Ireland, became the publicly traded parent of the Seagate corporate family.

15

---

Table of Contents

Available Information

        Availability of Reports.    We are a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Exchange Act"), and we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The public may read and copy any of our filings at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Because we make filings to the SEC electronically, you may access this information at the SEC's Internet site: www.sec.gov. This site contains reports, proxies and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

        Web Site Access.    Our Internet web site address is www.seagate.com. We make available, free of charge at the "Investor Relations" portion of our web site, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Reports of beneficial ownership filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the 1934 Exchange Act are also available on our web site. Information in, or that can be accessed through, our web site is not incorporated into this Form 10-K.

Executive Officers

        The following sets forth the name, age and position of each of the persons who were serving as executive officers as of August 13, 2010. There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers.

        Stephen J. Luczo, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Luczo, 53, has served as President and CEO since January 2009, and continues to serve as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Luczo joined Seagate in October 1993 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. In September 1997, he was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of our predecessor, Seagate Technology, Inc. and, in July 1998, he was promoted to CEO at which time he joined the Board of Directors. He was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2002. Mr. Luczo resigned as CEO effective as of July 3, 2004, but retained his position as Chairman of the Board. He served as non-employee Chairman from October 2006 to January 2009. From October 2006 until he joined us in January 2009, Mr. Luczo was a private investor. Prior to joining Seagate in 1993, Mr. Luczo was Senior Managing Director of the Global Technology Group of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., an investment banking firm, from February 1992 to October 1993.

        Patrick J. O'Malley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. O'Malley, 48, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2008. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President, Finance from 2005 to August 2008, and assumed the additional roles of Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer in 2006. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics from 2004 to 2005; Senior Vice President, Finance, Manufacturing from 1999 to 2004; Vice President, Finance-Recording Media from 1997 to 1999; Senior Director Finance, Desktop Design, from

16

---

Table of Contents

1996 to 1997; Senior Director, Finance, Oklahoma City Operations from 1994 to 1996; Director/Manager, Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis from 1991 to 1994; Manager, Consolidations & Cost Accounting from 1990 to 1991; Manager, Consolidations from 1988 to 1990; and Senior Financial Analyst in 1988.

        Robert W. Whitmore, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Whitmore, 48, has been Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since 2007. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President, Product and Process Development from 2006 to 2007; Senior Vice President, Product and Process Development from 2004 to 2006; Senior Vice President, Product Development Engineering from 2002 to 2004; Vice President, Enterprise Storage Design Engineering from 1999 to 2002, Vice President and Executive Director, Twin Cities Manufacturing Operations from 1997 to 1999; Senior Director, Manufacturing Engineering, Singapore Operations from 1995 to 1997; and Senior Manager, Design Engineering, Twin Cities Division from 1992 to 1995.

        William D. Mosley, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Mr. Mosley, 43, has served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing since September 2009. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Product Line Management from February 2009 to September 2009, Senior Vice President, Global Disk Storage Operations from 2007 to 2009; Vice President, Research and Development, Engineering from 2002 to 2007; Senior Director, Research and Development, Engineering from 2000 to 2002; Director, Research and Development, Engineering from 1998 to 2000; and Manager, Operations and Manufacturing from 1996 to 1998.

        D. Kurt Richarz, Executive Vice President, Sales. Mr. Richarz, 49, joined Seagate in May 2006, when we acquired Maxtor Corporation. He has served as our Executive Vice President, Sales since May 2008. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President, Sales and Customer Service Operations since from May 2006 to May 2008; Senior Vice President of Global OEM Sales from 2007 to 2008, and Vice President of Global OEM Sales from 2006 to 2007. At Maxtor Corporation, from 2002 to 2006, he served as Vice President, Global OEM Account Sales and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales. From 1990 to 2001, he served in various sales positions at Quantum Corporation.

        Terence R. Cunningham, Senior Vice President, i365. Mr. Cunningham, 51, has served as our Senior Vice President of i365 since October 2009. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Branded Solutions and i365, from when he joined Seagate in March 2009 until September 2009. Mr. Cunningham served as the CEO of Coral8, Inc., a software company from 2003 until 2009, President and CEO of InfoGenesis, a hospitality focused software company from 2005 to 2006, and as Management Advisor and Investor of Rockbridge Consulting, Inc. from 1999 to 2003. Prior to that, he served as President and COO of Veritas Software Corporation, and founded and led Seagate Software, Inc. He is a member of the Board of Directors of QAD, Inc., and several private companies.

        Douglas DeHaan, Senior Vice President, Operations and Materials. Mr. DeHaan, 52, has been Senior Vice President, Operations and Materials since February 2009. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Quality from 2008 to 2009, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Product Development from December 2006 to April 2008, Senior Vice President of Product and Process Development, Core Products from 2003 to 2006, Senior Vice President Process Development and Product Launch from 2001 to 2003, Vice President, Seagate Factory of the Future Initiative from 1999 to 2001, Vice President, Twin Cities Manufacturing Operations from 1996 to 1999, Vice President, Singapore Operations from 1994 to 1996, and Senior Director, Manufacturing Engineering/Twin Cities Operations from 1992 to 1994.

        Kenneth M. Massaroni, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Massaroni, 49, has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since April 2008. He served as Vice President and Acting General Counsel from December 2007 to April 2008, and Vice President of Intellectual Property from 2006 to December 2007. Prior to joining Seagate in 2006, Mr. Massaroni was vice president of law, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary at Scientific-Atlanta Inc. from 1997 to 2006. In addition, Mr. Massaroni has also held senior patent counsel positions at Motorola Inc. from 1993 to 1997, served as general counsel and secretary at Optical Imaging Systems, Inc.

17

---

Table of Contents

from 1990 to 1992 and as a patent attorney at Energy Conversion Devices Inc. from 1987 to 1990, and as an associate at the law firm of Collier, Shannon, Rill and Scott from 1992 to 1993.

        David H. Morton Jr., Vice President, Finance, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer. Mr. Morton, 38, joined Seagate in 1995 and has served as our Vice President, Finance, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer since October 2009. Prior to that, he served as our Vice President of Finance, Sales and Marketing from March 2009 to October 2009; Vice President of Sales Operations from July 2007 to March 2009; Vice President of Finance, Storage Markets from October 2006 to July 2007; Executive Director of Consumer Electronics Finance from October 2005 to October 2006; and Executive Director of Corporate FP&A from June 2004 to October 2005. Prior to June 2004, Mr. Morton held a variety of progressively senior management positions within our Finance organization.

18

---

Table of Contents

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to our Business

Current Macroeconomic Conditions—The recent downturn in the macroeconomic environment has, and may continue to, negatively impact our results of operations.

        The recent downturn in global macroeconomic conditions, particularly in Europe, has had a significant effect on the disk drive industry as a whole and the results of our operations. Due to the on-going uncertainty about current macroeconomic conditions, we believe our customers may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, increasing level of unemployment, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values, which could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our products. Other factors that could influence demand include conditions in the residential real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending behavior. These and other economic factors could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and on our financial condition and operating results.

        In addition, the capital and credit markets continue to experience some measure of volatility and disruption, resulting in a tightening in the credit markets, a low level of liquidity in many financial markets and reduced stability in fixed income, credit, currency and equity markets. There could be a number of follow-on effects from the credit crisis on our business, including the insolvency of key suppliers resulting in product delays and the inability of customers to obtain credit to finance purchases of our products.

Competition—Our industry is highly competitive and our products have experienced and will continue to experience significant price erosion and market share variability.

        The disk drive industry is intensely competitive and vendors typically experience substantial price erosion over the life of a product. Our competitors have historically offered existing products at lower prices as part of a strategy to gain or retain market share and customers, and we expect these practices to continue. We will need to continually reduce our prices for existing products to retain our market share, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

        The pricing environment in the first nine months of our 2010 fiscal year was relatively stable owing in part to a favorable supply/demand balance, though in the June 2010 quarter price erosion returned to seasonal patterns typical of a June quarter. We believe price erosion and market share variability will continue, as the industry engages in aggressive pricing actions targeted to shift customer demand to offset lower demand due to the deterioration in business and economic conditions.

        Our ability to offset the effect of price erosion through new product introductions at higher average prices is diminished to the extent competitors introduce products into particular markets ahead of our similar, competing products. This risk is particularly pronounced in markets where we have recently experienced lower market share, as is the case in the market for 2.5-inch ATA products. Our ability to offset the effect of price erosion is also diminished during times when product life cycles for particular products are extended, allowing competitors more time to enter the market.

        The growth of sales to distributors that serve producers of non-branded products in the personal storage sector may also contribute to increased price erosion. These customers generally have limited product qualification programs, which increases the number of competing products available to satisfy their demand. As a result, purchasing decisions for these customers are based largely on price and terms. Any increase in our average price erosion would have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

        Additionally, a significant portion of our success in the past has been a result of increasing our market share at the expense of our competitors, particularly in enterprise markets. Market share for our products can be negatively affected by our customers' diversifying their sources of supply as our competitors enter

19

---

Table of Contents

the market for particular products, as well as by our ability to ramp volume production of new product offerings. When our competitors successfully introduce product offerings that are competitive with our recently introduced products, our customers may quickly diversify their sources of supply. Any significant decline in our market share in any of our principal market applications would adversely affect our results of operations.

Principal Competitors—We compete with both independent manufacturers, whose primary focus is producing technologically advanced disk drives, and captive manufacturers, who do not depend solely on sales of disk drives to maintain their profitability.

        We have experienced and expect to continue to experience intense competition from a number of domestic and foreign companies, including other independent disk drive manufacturers, and large captive manufacturers. The term "independent" in this context refers to manufacturers that primarily produce disk drives as a stand-alone product, such as Western Digital Corporation, and the term "captive" in this context refers to manufacturers who themselves or through affiliated entities produce complete computer or other systems that contain disk drives or other electronic data storage products, such as Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Samsung Electronics Incorporated and Toshiba Corporation.

        Captive manufacturers are formidable competitors because they have the ability to determine pricing for complete systems without regard to the margins on individual components. As components other than disk drives generally contribute a greater portion of the operating margin on a complete computer system than do disk drives, captive manufacturers do not necessarily need to realize a profit on the disk drives included in a complete computer system and, as a result, may be willing to sell disk drives to third parties at very low margins. Captive manufacturers are also formidable competitors because they have more substantial resources than we do. Samsung and Hitachi (together with affiliated entities) also sell other products to our customers, including critical components like flash memory, ASICs and flat panel displays, and may be willing to sell their disk drives at a lower margin to advance their overall business strategy. To the extent we are not successful competing with captive or independent disk drive manufacturers, our results of operations will be adversely affected.

        In response to customer demand for high-quality, high-volume and low-cost disk drives, manufacturers of disk drives have had to develop large, and in some cases global, production facilities with highly developed technological capabilities and internal controls. The development of these large production facilities combined with industry consolidation can further increase the intensity of competition.

        We also face indirect competition from present and potential customers who evaluate from time to time whether to manufacture their own disk drives or other electronic data storage products.

        We also experience competition from other companies that produce alternative storage technologies like flash memory, where increasing capacity, decreasing cost, lower power consumption and improvements in performance ruggedness have resulted in competition with our lower capacity, smaller form factor disk drives. While this competition has traditionally been in the markets for handheld consumer electronics applications, these competitors have announced solid state drives (SSDs) for netbook, notebook and enterprise compute applications. Some of these companies, like Samsung, also sell disk drives. Certain customers for both notebook and enterprise compute applications are evaluating and may adopt SSDs as alternatives to hard drives in certain applications.

20

---

Table of Contents

Volatility of Quarterly Results—Our quarterly results of operations fluctuate, sometimes significantly, from period to period, and may cause our share price to decline.

        In the past, our quarterly revenue and results of operations have fluctuated, sometimes significantly, from period to period. These fluctuations, which we expect to continue, may be occasioned by a variety of factors, including:

•

current uncertainty in global economic conditions may pose a risk to the overall economy;



•

adverse changes in the level of economic activity in the major regions in which we do business, for example Europe in the June 2010 quarter;



•

competitive pressures resulting in lower selling prices by our competitors targeted to encourage shifting of customer demand;



•

delays or problems in our introduction of new products, particularly new disk drives with lower cost structures, the inability to achieve high production yields or delays in customer qualification or initial product quality issues;



•

changes in purchasing patterns by our distributor customers;



•

increased costs or adverse changes in availability of supplies of raw materials or components, especially in light of recent consolidation among component suppliers, building inflationary pressure and the relative volatility of the U.S. dollar as compared to other currencies;



•

the impact of corporate restructuring activities that we have and may continue to engage in;



•

changes in the demand for the computer systems, storage subsystems and consumer electronics that contain our disk drives, due to seasonality, economic conditions and other factors;



•

changes in purchases from period to period by our primary customers, particularly as our competitors are able to introduce and produce in volume competing disk drive solutions or alternative storage technology solutions, such as flash memory or SSDs;



•

shifting trends in customer demand which, when combined with overproduction of particular products, particularly when the industry is served by multiple suppliers, results in unfavorable supply/demand imbalances;



•

our high proportion of fixed costs, including research and development expenses; and



•

announcements of new products, services or technological innovations by us or our competitors.

        As a result, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our revenue and results of operations may not be meaningful, and that these comparisons may not be an accurate indicator of our future performance. Our results of operations in one or more future quarters may fail to meet the expectations of investment research analysts or investors, which could cause an immediate and significant decline in the trading price of our ordinary shares.

New Product Offerings—Market acceptance of new product introductions cannot be accurately predicted, and our results of operations will suffer if there is less demand for our new products than is anticipated.

        We are continually developing new products with the goal that we will be able to introduce technologically advanced and lower cost disk drives into the marketplace ahead of our competitors.

        The success of our new product introductions is dependent on a number of factors, including market acceptance, our ability to manage the risks associated with product transitions, the effective management of inventory levels in line with anticipated product demand and the risk that our new products will have quality problems or other defects in the early stages of introduction that were not anticipated in the design

21

---

Table of Contents

of those products. Accordingly, we cannot accurately determine the ultimate effect that our new products will have on our results of operations.

        In addition, the success of our new product introductions is dependent upon our ability to qualify as a primary source of supply with our OEM customers. In order for our products to be considered by our customers for qualification, we must be among the leaders in time-to-market with those new products. Once a product is accepted for qualification testing, any failure or delay in the qualification process or a requirement that we requalify can result in our losing sales to that customer until new products are introduced. The limited number of high-volume OEMs magnifies the effect of missing a product qualification opportunity. These risks are further magnified because we expect competitive pressures to result in declining sales, eroding prices, and declining gross margins on our current generation products. We cannot assure that we will be among the leaders in time-to-market with new products or that we will be able to successfully qualify new products with our customers in the future. If we cannot successfully deliver competitive products, our future results of operations may be adversely affected.

Smaller Form Factor Disk Drives—If we do not continue to successfully market smaller form factor disk drives, our business may suffer.

        The disk drive industry is experiencing significant increases in sales of smaller form factor disk drives for an expanding number of applications, in particular notebook computers and consumer electronic devices, but also in personal computers and enterprise storage applications. Our future success will depend on our ability to develop and introduce smaller form factor drives at desired price and capacity points faster than our competitors.

        We have experienced competition from other companies that produce alternative storage technologies like solid state or flash memory, where increased capacity, improving cost, lower power consumption and performance ruggedness have resulted in flash memory largely replacing disk drives in handheld applications. We believe that the demand for disk drives to store or back up related media content from such handheld devices, however, continues to grow. While this competition has traditionally been limited to the markets for handheld consumer electronics applications, these competitors have announced SSDs for netbook, notebook and enterprise compute applications.

        If we do not suitably adapt our product offerings to successfully introduce additional smaller form factor disk drives or alternative storage products based on flash storage technology, or if our competitors are successful in achieving customer acceptance of SSD products for netbook, notebook and enterprise compute applications, then our customers may decrease the amounts of our products that they purchase, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

Seasonality—Because we experience seasonality in the sales of our products, our results of operations will generally be adversely impacted during the second half of our fiscal year.

        Sales of computer systems, storage subsystems and consumer electronics tend to be seasonal, and therefore we expect to continue to experience seasonality in our business as we respond to variations in our customers' demand for disk drives. In particular, we anticipate that sales of our products will continue to be lower during the second half of our fiscal year. In the client compute and client non-compute market applications of our business, this seasonality is partially attributable to the historical trend in our results derived from our customers' increased sales of desktop computers, notebook computers, and consumer electronics during the back-to-school and winter holiday season. In the enterprise market our sales are seasonal because of the capital budgeting and purchasing cycles of our end users. Since our working capital needs peak during periods in which we are increasing production in anticipation of orders that have not yet been received, our results of operations will fluctuate seasonally even if the forecasted demand for our products proves accurate. Furthermore, it is difficult for us to evaluate the degree to which this seasonality may affect our business in future periods because of the rate and unpredictability of product transitions

22

---

Table of Contents

and new product introductions, particularly in the client non-compute market, as well as macro-economic conditions.

Difficulty in Predicting Quarterly Demand—If we fail to predict demand accurately for our products in any quarter, we may not be able to recapture the cost of our investments.

        The disk drive industry operates on quarterly purchasing cycles, with much of the order flow in any given quarter typically coming at the end of that quarter. Our manufacturing process requires us to make significant product-specific investments in inventory in each quarter for that quarter's production. Since we typically receive the bulk of our orders late in a quarter after we have made our investments, there is a risk that our orders will not be sufficient to allow us to recapture the costs of our investment before the products resulting from that investment have become obsolete. We cannot assure you that we will be able to accurately predict demand in the future.

        The difficulty in forecasting demand also increases the difficulty in anticipating our inventory requirements, which may cause us to over-produce finished goods, resulting in inventory write-offs, or under-produce finished goods, affecting our ability to meet customer requirements. Additionally, the risk of inventory write-offs could increase if we were to continue to hold higher inventory levels. We cannot be certain that we will be able to recover the costs associated with increased inventory.

        Other factors that may negatively impact our ability to recapture the cost of investments in any given quarter include:

•

the impact of variable demand and an aggressive pricing environment for disk drives;



•

the impact of competitive product announcements and possible excess industry supply both with respect to particular disk drive products and with respect to competing alternative storage technology solutions such as SSDs in netbook, notebook and enterprise compute applications;



•

our inability to reduce our fixed costs to match sales in any quarter because of our vertical manufacturing strategy, which means that we make more capital investments than we would if we were not vertically integrated;



•

dependence on our ability to successfully qualify, manufacture and sell in increasing volumes on a cost-effective basis and with acceptable quality our disk drive products, particularly the new disk drive products with lower cost structures;



•

variations in the cost of components for our products, especially during periods when the U.S. dollar is relatively volatile as compared to other currencies;



•

uncertainty in the amount of purchases from our distributor customers who from time to time constitute a large portion of our total sales;



•

our product mix and the related margins of the various products;



•

accelerated reduction in the price of our disk drives due to technological advances and/or an oversupply of disk drives in the market, a condition that is exacerbated when the industry is served by multiple suppliers and shifting trends in demand which can create supply and demand imbalances;



•

manufacturing delays or interruptions, particularly at our manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Thailand or the United States;



•

limited access to components that we obtain from a single or a limited number of suppliers;



•

the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the cost of producing our products and the effective price of our products to foreign consumers; and



•

operational issues arising out of the increasingly automated nature of our manufacturing processes.

23

---

Table of Contents

Dependence on Supply of Components, Equipment and Raw Materials—If we experience shortages or delays in the receipt of, or cost increases in, critical components, equipment or raw materials necessary to manufacture our products, we may suffer lower operating margins, production delays and other material adverse effects.

        The cost, quality and supply of components, certain equipment and raw materials used to manufacture disk drives and key components like recording media and heads are critical to our success. The equipment we use to manufacture our products and components is frequently custom made and comes from a few suppliers and the lead times required to obtain manufacturing equipment can be significant. Particularly important components for disk drives include read/write heads, aluminum or glass substrates for recording media, ASICs, spindle motors, printed circuit boards, and suspension assemblies. We rely on sole suppliers or a limited number of suppliers for some of these components that we do not manufacture, including aluminum and glass substrates, read/write heads, ASICs, spindle motors, printed circuit boards, and suspension assemblies. If our vendors for these components are unable to meet our cost, quality, and supply requirements, we could experience a shortage in supply or an increase in production costs, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

        In addition, the recent increases in demand for small form factor mobile products have led to shortages in glass substrates, a component used in smaller form factor disk drives to make the recording media for such drives. If our vendors for glass substrates are unable to meet our demand, or are unable to invest sufficient capital to expand capacity to meet the industry's increasing unit growth in small form factor mobile disk drives, we could experience a shortage in the supply of this critical component, which could limit our ability to meet our customer's demand for smaller form factor disk drives.

        In the past, we have experienced increased costs and production delays when we were unable to obtain the necessary equipment or sufficient quantities of some components and/or have been forced to pay higher prices or make volume purchase commitments or advance deposits for some components, equipment or raw materials that were in short supply in the industry in general.

        Consolidation among component manufacturers may result in some component manufacturers exiting the industry or not making sufficient investments in research to develop new components.

        If there is a shortage of, or delay in supplying us with, critical components, equipment or raw materials, then:

•

it is likely that our suppliers would raise their prices and, if we could not pass these price increases to our customers, our operating margin would decline;



•

we might have to reengineer some products, which would likely cause production and shipment delays, make the reengineered products more costly and provide us with a lower rate of return on these products;



•

we would likely have to allocate the components we receive to certain of our products and ship less of others, which could reduce our revenues and could cause us to lose sales to customers who could purchase more of their required products from manufacturers that either did not experience these shortages or delays or that made different allocations; and



•

we might be late in shipping products, causing potential customers to make purchases from our competitors, thus causing our revenue and operating margin to decline.

        We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain critical components in a timely and economic manner.

24

---

Table of Contents

Importance of Time-to-Market—Our results of operations may depend on our being among the first-to-market with new product offerings and achieving sufficient production volume with our new products.

        To achieve consistent success with our OEM customers, it is important that we be an early provider of new types of disk drives featuring leading, high-quality technology and lower per gigabyte storage cost. Historically, our results of operations have substantially depended upon our ability to be among the first-to-market with new product offerings. Our market share and results of operations in the future may be adversely affected if we fail to:

•

consistently maintain our time-to-market performance with our new products;



•

produce these products in sufficient volume;



•

qualify these products with key customers on a timely basis by meeting our customers' performance and quality specifications; or



•

achieve acceptable manufacturing yields, quality and costs with these products.

        If the delivery of our products is delayed, our OEM customers may use our competitors' products to meet their production requirements. If the delay of our products causes delivery of those OEMs' computer systems into which our products are integrated to be delayed, consumers and businesses may purchase comparable products from the OEMs' competitors.

        We face the related risk that consumers and businesses may wait to make their purchases if they want to buy a new product that has been shipped or announced but not yet released. If this were to occur, we may be unable to sell our existing inventory of products that may be less efficient and cost effective compared to new products. As a result, even if we are among the first-to-market with a given product, subsequent introductions or announcements by our competitors of new products could cause us to lose revenue and not achieve a positive return on our investment in existing products and inventory.

Industry Demand—Poor global economic conditions and changes in demand for computer systems and storage subsystems may cause in the future a decline in demand for our products.

        Our disk drives are components in computers, computer systems, storage subsystems and consumer electronics devices. The demand for these products has been volatile. During times of poor global economic conditions, consumer spending tends to decline and retail demand for personal computers and consumer electronics devices tends to decrease, as does enterprise demand for computer systems and storage subsystems. Moreover, unexpected slowdowns in demand for computer systems, storage subsystems or consumer electronics devices generally cause sharp declines in demand for disk drive products. The decline in consumer spending could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and services and on our financial condition and results of operations.

        Additional causes of declines in demand for our products in the past have included announcements or introductions of major new operating systems or semiconductor improvements or changes in consumer preferences, such as the shift from desktop to notebook computers. We believe these announcements and introductions have from time to time caused consumers to defer their purchases and made inventory obsolete. Whenever an oversupply of disk drives causes participants in our industry to have higher than anticipated inventory levels, we experience even more intense price competition from other disk drive manufacturers than usual.

Dependence on Distributors—We are dependent on sales to distributors and retailers, which may increase price erosion and the volatility of our sales.

        A substantial portion of our sales has been to distributors of disk drive products. Certain of our distributors may also market other products that compete with our products. Product qualification programs in this distribution channel are limited, which increases the number of competing products that

25

---

Table of Contents

are available to satisfy demand, particularly in times of lengthening product cycles. As a result, purchasing decisions in this channel are based largely on price, terms and product availability. Sales volumes through this channel are also less predictable and subject to greater volatility than sales to our OEM customers. In addition, deterioration in business and economic conditions could exacerbate price erosion and volatility as distributors lower prices to compensate for lower demand and higher inventory levels. Our distributors ability to access credit for purposes of funding their operations may also affect purchases of our products by these customers.

        If distributors reduce their purchases of our products or prices decline significantly in the distribution channel or if distributors experience financial difficulties or terminate their relationships with us, our revenues and results of operations would be adversely affected.

Dependence on Sales of Disk Drives in Client Non-Compute Applications—Our sales of disk drives for client non-compute applications, which have contributed significant revenues to our results, can experience significant volatility due to seasonal and other factors, which could materially adversely impact our future results of operations.

        Sales of disk drives for client non-compute applications have contributed significant revenues to our results. Consumer spending on client non-compute has however, and may continue to, deteriorate significantly in many countries and regions, including the United States, due to poor global economic conditions and increasing levels of unemployment. This could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and services and on our financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, the demand for client non-compute products can be even more volatile and unpredictable than the demand for client compute products. In some cases, our products manufactured for client non-compute applications are uniquely configured for a single customer's application, which creates a risk of unwanted and unsellable inventory if the anticipated volumes are not realized. This potential for unpredictable volatility is increased by the possibility of competing alternative storage technologies like flash memory meeting the customers' cost and capacity metrics, resulting in a rapid shift in demand from our products and disk drive technology, generally, to alternative storage technologies. Unpredictable fluctuations in demand for our products or rapid shifts in demand from our products to alternative storage technologies in new client non-compute applications could materially adversely impact our future results of operations.

Dependence on Sales of Disk Drives Directly to Consumers Through Retail Outlets—Our sales of disk drives directly to consumers through retail outlets can experience significant volatility due to seasonal and other factors, which could materially adversely impact our future results of operations.

        We believe that industry demand for storage products in the long-term is increasing due to the proliferation of media-rich digital content in consumer applications and is fuelling increased consumer demand for storage. This has led to the expansion of solutions such as external storage products to provide additional storage capacity and to secure data in case of disaster or system failure, or to provide independent storage solutions for multiple users in home or small business environments. Consumer spending on retail sales of our branded solutions has deteriorated in some markets and may continue to do so if poor global economic conditions continue and higher levels of unemployment persist. This could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and services and on our financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, such retail sales of our branded solutions traditionally experience seasonal variability in demand with higher levels of demand in the first half of our fiscal year driven by consumer spending in the back-to-school season from late summer to fall and the traditional holiday shopping season from fall to winter. Additionally, our ability to reach such consumers depends on our maintaining effective working relationships with major retailers and distributors. Failure to anticipate consumer demand for our branded

26

---

Table of Contents

solutions as well as an inability to maintain effective working relationships with retail and online distributors may adversely impact our future results of operations.

Importance of Controlling Operating Costs—If we do not control our operating expenses, we will not be able to compete effectively in our industry.

        Our strategy involves, to a substantial degree, increasing revenue and product volume while at the same time controlling operating expenses. If we do not control our operating expenses, our ability to compete in the marketplace may be impaired. In the past, activities to reduce operating costs have included closures and transfers of facilities, significant personnel reductions and efforts to increase automation. The reduction of personnel and closure of facilities may adversely affect our ability to manufacture our products in required volumes to meet customer demand and may result in other disruptions that affect our products and customer service. In addition, the transfer of manufacturing capacity of a product to a different facility frequently requires qualification of the new facility by some of our OEM customers. We cannot assure you that these activities and transfers will be implemented on a cost-effective basis without delays or disruption in our production and without adversely affecting our customer relationships and results of operations.

Impairment Charges—We may be required to record additional impairment charges for other long-lived assets.

        We are required to test other long-lived assets, including acquired intangible assets and property, equipment and leasehold improvements, for recoverability and impairment whenever there are indicators of impairment, such as an adverse change in business climate.

        Adverse changes in business conditions could materially impact our estimates of future operations and result in impairment charges to our long lived assets. If our long-lived assets were to become further impaired, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Dependence on Key Customers—We may be adversely affected by the loss of, or reduced, delayed or cancelled purchases by, one or more of our larger customers.

        Some of our key customers, including Hewlett-Packard Company, Dell Inc. and EMC Corporation, account for a large portion of our disk drive revenue. While we have longstanding relationships with many of our customers, if any of our key customers were to significantly reduce their purchases from us, our results of operations would be adversely affected. While sales to major customers may vary from period to period, a major customer that permanently discontinues or significantly reduces its relationship with us could be difficult to replace. In line with industry practice, new customers usually require that we pass a lengthy and rigorous qualification process at the customer's cost. Accordingly, it may be difficult or costly for us to attract new major customers. Additionally, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations or other significant transactions involving our customers generally entail risks to our business. If a significant transaction involving any of our key customers results in the loss of or reduction in purchases by these key customers, it could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Impact of Technological Change—Increases in the areal density of disk drives may outpace customers' demand for storage capacity.

        The rate of increase in areal density, or storage capacity per square inch on a disk, may be greater than the increase in our customers' demand for aggregate storage capacity, particularly in certain market applications like client compute. As a result, our customers' storage capacity needs may be satisfied with lower priced, low capacity disk drives. These factors could decrease our sales, especially when combined with continued price erosion, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

27

---

Table of Contents

Changes in Electronic Data Storage Products—Future changes in the nature of electronic data storage products may reduce demand for traditional disk drive products.

        We expect that in the future, new personal computing devices and products will be developed, some of which, such as Internet appliances, iPad-like tablet computing devices, netbooks or mobile phones with advanced capabilities, or "smartphones", may not contain a disk drive. While we are investing development resources in designing disk drives for these new applications, it is too early to assess the impact of these new applications on future demand for disk drive products. Products using alternative technologies, such as flash memory, optical storage and other storage technologies, are becoming increasingly common and could become a significant source of competition to particular applications of our products, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

New Product Development and Technological Change—If we do not develop products in time to keep pace with technological changes, our results of operations will be adversely affected.

        Our customers have demanded new generations of disk drive products as advances in computer hardware and software have created the need for improved storage products, with features such as increased storage capacity, improved performance and reliability and lower cost. We, and our competitors, have developed improved products, and we will need to continue to do so in the future. Such product development requires significant investments in research and development. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully complete the design or introduction of new products in a timely manner, that we will be able to manufacture new products in sufficient volumes with acceptable manufacturing yields, that we will be able to successfully market these new products or that these products will perform to specifications on a long-term basis. In addition, the impact of slowing areal density growth may adversely impact our ability to be successful.

        When we develop new products with higher capacity and more advanced technology, our results of operations may decline because the increased difficulty and complexity associated with producing these products increases the likelihood of reliability, quality or operability problems. If our products suffer increases in failures, are of low quality or are not reliable, customers may reduce their purchases of our products and our manufacturing rework and scrap costs and service and warranty costs may increase. In addition, a decline in the reliability of our products may make us less competitive as compared with other disk drive manufacturers or competing technologies.

Substantial Leverage—Our substantial leverage may place us at a competitive disadvantage in our industry.

        We are leveraged and have significant debt service obligations. Our significant debt and debt service requirements could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities. For example, our high level of debt presents the following risks:

•

we are required to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay principal and interest on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, and other general corporate requirements;



•

our substantial leverage increases our vulnerability to economic downturns and adverse competitive and industry conditions and could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to those of our competitors that are less leveraged;



•

our debt service obligations could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry and could limit our ability to pursue other business opportunities, borrow more money for operations or capital in the future and implement our business strategies;

28

---

Table of Contents

•

our level of debt may restrict us from raising additional financing on satisfactory terms to fund working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, and other general corporate requirements; and



•

covenants in our debt instruments limit our ability to pay future dividends or make other restricted payments and investments.

        In the event that we need to refinance all or a portion of our outstanding debt as it matures, we may not be able to obtain terms as favorable as the terms of our existing debt or refinance our existing debt at all. If prevailing interest rates or other factors existing at the time of refinancing result in higher interest rates upon refinancing, then the interest expense relating to the refinanced debt would increase. Furthermore, if any rating agency changes our credit rating or outlook, our debt and equity securities could be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our ability to refinance existing debt or raise additional capital.

Significant Debt Service Requirements—Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash and our ability to generate cash may be affected by factors beyond our control.

        Our business may not generate cash flow in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay the principal of, or interest on, our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs, including working capital, capital expenditures, product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances and other general corporate requirements.

        Our ability to generate cash is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that:

•

our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations;



•

we will continue to realize the cost savings, revenue growth and operating improvements that result from the execution of our long-term strategic plan; or



•

future sources of funding will be available to us in amounts sufficient to enable us to fund our liquidity needs.

        If we cannot fund our liquidity needs, we will have to take actions such as reducing or delaying capital expenditures; product development efforts, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances, and other general corporate requirements. We cannot assure you that any of these remedies could, if necessary, be effected on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or that they would permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In addition if we incur additional debt, the risks associated with our substantial leverage, including the risk that we will be unable to service our debt or generate enough cash flow to fund our liquidity needs, could intensify.

Restrictions Imposed by Debt Covenants—Restrictions imposed by the indenture governing our 10% Senior Secured Second-Priority Notes due 2014 may limit our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or engage in other business activities that may be in our interest.

        The indenture governing our 10% Senior Secured Second-Priority Notes due 2014 (the "10% Notes") impose, and the terms of any future debt may impose, operating and other restrictions on us. The indenture limits, among other things, our ability to:

•

incur additional indebtedness and issue certain preferred stock;



•

create liens;



•

pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our capital stock;



•

redeem or repurchase capital stock or debt;

29

---

Table of Contents

•

make certain investments or other restricted payments;



•

sell assets;



•

issue or sell capital stock of subsidiaries;



•

enter into transactions with affiliates;



•

engage to any material extent in business other than our current business; and



•

effect a consolidation or merger.

Substantially all of our Assets are Pledged as Collateral to Secure Certain Indebtedness—Since substantially all of our assets are used to secure portions of our existing debt obligations, we may be limited in our ability to incur additional indebtedness or to provide additional credit support, and if we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under certain of our existing debt obligations, the lenders thereunder could foreclose on, and acquire control of, substantially all of our assets.

        Substantially all our assets and the assets of our significant subsidiaries organized in the United States, the Cayman Islands, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Singapore, as well as certain assets located in the United States, the Cayman Islands, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Singapore owned by other significant subsidiaries, and all proceeds therefrom, are pledged as security for borrowings under our 10% Notes, as well as obligations under our hedging agreements, cash management arrangements and certain metal leasing arrangements. Since substantially all of our assets are used to secure portions of our existing debt obligations, we have a limited amount of collateral that is available for future secured debt or credit support. As a result, we may be limited in our ability to incur additional indebtedness or to provide additional credit support for our existing indebtedness. In addition, our failure to comply with the terms of the indenture governing our 10% Notes would entitle the lenders thereunder to declare all funds borrowed thereunder to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to meet these payment obligations, the lenders could foreclose on, and acquire control of, substantially all our assets that serve as collateral.

Volatile Public Markets—The price of our ordinary shares may be volatile and could decline significantly.

        The stock market, in general, and the market for technology stocks in particular, has recently experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. If these market or industry-based fluctuations continue, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline significantly independent of our actual operating performance, and you could lose all or a substantial part of your investment. The market price of our ordinary shares could fluctuate significantly in response to several factors, including among others:

•

general uncertainty in stock market conditions occasioned by global economic conditions, negative financial news and the continued instability of several large financial institutions;



•

actual or anticipated variations in our results of operations;



•

announcements of innovations, new products or significant price reductions by us or our competitors, including those competitors who offer alternative storage technology solutions;



•

our failure to meet the performance estimates of investment research analysts;



•

the timing of announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts or acquisitions;



•

general stock market conditions;



•

the occurrence of major catastrophic events;



•

changes in financial estimates by investment research analysts;



•

changes in the credit ratings of our indebtedness by rating agencies; and



•

the sale of our ordinary shares held by certain equity investors or members of management.

30

---

Table of Contents

Purchase Commitments to Certain Suppliers—If revenues fall or customer demand decreases significantly, we may not meet all of our purchase commitments to certain suppliers.

        From time to time, we enter into long-term, non-cancelable purchase commitments with certain suppliers in order to secure certain components for the production of our products or to supplement our internal manufacturing capacity for certain components. If our actual revenues in the future are lower than our projections or if customer demand decreases significantly below our projections, we may not meet all of our purchase commitments with these suppliers. As a result, it is possible that we will have to shift output from our internal manufacturing facilities to these suppliers or make penalty-type payments under these contracts.

Perpendicular Recording Technology—Products based on perpendicular technology require increased quantities of precious metals and scarce alloys like platinum and ruthenium, which increase the risks of higher costs and production delays that could adversely impact our results of operations.

        Perpendicular recording technology requires recording media with more layers, which requires the use of more precious metals and scarce alloys like platinum and ruthenium to create such layers. These precious metals and scarce alloys could become increasingly expensive and, at times, difficult to acquire. Accordingly, we will be exposed to the increased risk that higher costs or reduced availability of these precious metals and scarce alloys could adversely impact our results of operations.

Risks Associated with Future Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures or Investments—We may not be able to identify suitable strategic alliances, acquisitions, joint ventures or investment opportunities, or successfully acquire and integrate companies that provide complementary products or technologies.

        Our growth strategy may involve pursuing strategic alliances with, making acquisitions of, forming joint ventures with or making investments in other companies that are complementary to our business. There is substantial competition for attractive strategic alliance, acquisition, joint venture and investment candidates. Accordingly, we may not be able to identify suitable strategic alliances, acquisition, joint venture, or investment candidates. Even if we can identify them, we cannot assure you that we will be able to partner with, acquire or invest in suitable candidates, or integrate acquired technologies or operations successfully into our existing technologies and operations. Moreover, our ability to finance potential strategic alliances, acquisitions, joint ventures or investments will be limited by our high degree of leverage, the covenants contained in the indentures that govern our outstanding indebtedness, and any agreements governing any other debt we may incur.

        If we are successful in forming strategic alliances or acquiring, forming joint ventures or making investments in other companies, any of these transactions may have an adverse effect on our results of operations, particularly while the operations of an acquired business are being integrated. It is also likely that integration of acquired companies would lead to the loss of key employees from those companies or the loss of customers of those companies. In addition, the integration of any acquired companies would require substantial attention from our senior management, which may limit the amount of time available to be devoted to our day-to-day operations or to the execution of our strategy. Growth by strategic alliance, acquisition, joint venture or investment involves an even higher degree of risk to the extent we combine new product offerings and enter new markets in which we have limited experience, and no assurance can be given that acquisitions of entities with new or alternative business models will be successfully integrated or achieve their stated objectives.

        Furthermore, the expansion of our business involves the risk that we might not manage our growth effectively, that we would incur additional debt to finance these acquisitions or investments, that we may have impairment of goodwill or acquired intangible assets associated with these acquisitions and that we would incur substantial charges relating to the write-off of in-process research and development, similar to

31

---

Table of Contents

that which we incurred in connection with several of our prior acquisitions. Each of these items could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, we could issue additional ordinary shares in connection with future strategic alliances, acquisitions, joint ventures or investments. Issuing shares in connection with such transactions would have the effect of diluting your ownership percentage of the ordinary shares and could cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.

Risk of Intellectual Property Litigation—Our products may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to incur unexpected costs or prevent us from selling our products.

        We cannot be certain that our products do not and will not infringe issued patents or other intellectual property rights of others. We may not be aware of currently filed patent applications that relate to our products or technology. If patents are later issued on these applications, we may be liable for infringement. We may be subject to legal proceedings and claims, including claims of alleged infringement of the patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by us, or our customers, in connection with their use of our products.

We are currently subject to lawsuits involving intellectual property claims which could cause us to incur significant additional costs or prevent us from selling our products, and which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition: actions brought in the United States by Convolve, Inc. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and by Qimonda AG; and an action brought in Northern Ireland by Siemens AG.

        Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming, regardless of the merits of any claim, and could divert our management's attention from operating our business. In addition, intellectual property lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties due to the complexity of the technical issues involved, and we cannot assure you that we will be successful in defending ourselves against intellectual property claims. Patent litigation has increased due to the current uncertainty of the law and the increasing competition and overlap of product functionality in the field. If we were to discover that our products infringe the intellectual property rights of others, we would need to obtain licenses from these parties or substantially reengineer our products in order to avoid infringement. We might not be able to obtain the necessary licenses on acceptable terms, or at all, or be able to reengineer our products successfully. Moreover, if we are sued for patent infringement and lose the suit, we could be required to pay substantial damages and/or be enjoined from using or selling the infringing products or technology. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from selling our products, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. See Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13, Legal, Environmental, and Other Contingencies of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of pending intellectual property proceedings.

System Failures—System failures caused by events beyond our control could adversely affect computer equipment and electronic data on which our operations depend.

        Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect our computer equipment and the electronic data stored in our databases from damage by, among other things, earthquake, fire, natural disaster, power loss, telecommunications failures, unauthorized intrusion and other catastrophic events. As our operations become more automated and increasingly interdependent, our exposure to the risks posed by these types of events will increase. While we continue to improve our disaster recovery processes, system failures and other interruptions in our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

32

---

Table of Contents

Economic Risks Associated with International Operations—Our international operations subject us to risks related to currency exchange fluctuations, longer payment cycles for sales in foreign countries, seasonality and disruptions in foreign markets, tariffs and duties, price controls, potential adverse tax consequences, increased costs, our customers' credit and access to capital and health-related risks.

        We have significant operations in foreign countries, including manufacturing facilities, sales personnel and customer support operations. We have manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Singapore and Thailand, in addition to those in the United States. A substantial portion of our client compute disk drive assembly occurs in our facility in China.

        Our international operations are subject to economic risks inherent in doing business in foreign countries, including the following:

•

Disruptions in Foreign Markets.  Disruptions in financial markets and the deterioration of the underlying economic conditions in the past in some countries, including those in Asia, have had an impact on our sales to customers located in, or whose end-user customers are located in, these countries.



•

Fluctuations in Currency Exchange Rates.  Prices for our products are denominated predominately in U.S. dollars, even when sold to customers that are located outside the United States. Currency instability in Asia and other geographic markets may make our products more expensive than products sold by other manufacturers that are priced in the local currency. Moreover, many of the costs associated with our operations located outside the United States are denominated in local currencies. As a consequence, the increased strength of local currencies against the U.S. dollar in countries where we have foreign operations would result in higher effective operating costs and, potentially, reduced earnings. From time to time, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates have negatively affected our operations and profitability and there can be no assurance that these fluctuations will not adversely affect our operations and profitability in the future.



•

Longer Payment Cycles.  Our customers outside of the United States are often allowed longer time periods for payment than our U.S. customers. This increases the risk of nonpayment due to the possibility that the financial condition of particular customers may worsen during the course of the payment period.



•

Seasonality.  Seasonal reductions in the business activities of our customers during the summer months, particularly in Europe, typically result in lower earnings during those periods.



•

Tariffs, Duties, Limitations on Trade and Price Controls.  Our international operations are affected by limitations on imports, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations, price controls and other restraints on trade. In addition, the governments of many countries, including China, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Singapore and Thailand, in which we have significant operating assets, have exercised and continue to exercise significant influence over many aspects of their domestic economies and international trade.



•

Potential Adverse Tax Consequences.  Our international operations create a risk of potential adverse tax consequences, including imposition of withholding or other taxes on payments by subsidiaries.



•

Increased Costs.  The shipping and transportation costs associated with our international operations are typically higher than those associated with our U.S. operations, resulting in decreased operating margins in some foreign countries.



•

Credit and Access to Capital Risks.  Our international customers could have reduced access to working capital due to higher interest rates, reduced bank lending resulting from contractions in the money supply or the deterioration in the customer's or its bank's financial condition, or the inability to access other financing.

33

---

Table of Contents

•

Global Health Outbreaks.  The occurrence of a pandemic disease may adversely impact our operations, and some of our key customers. Such diseases could also potentially disrupt the timeliness and reliability of the distribution network we rely on.

Political Risks Associated with International Operations—Our international operations subject us to risks related to political unrest and terrorism.

        We have manufacturing facilities in parts of the world that periodically experience political unrest, with Thailand being a recent example. This could disrupt our ability to manufacture important components as well as cause interruptions and/or delays in our ability to ship components to other locations for continued manufacture and assembly. Any such delays or interruptions could result in delays in our ability to fill orders and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. U.S. and international responses to the ongoing hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq and the risk of terrorist attacks or hostilities elsewhere in the world could exacerbate these risks.

Legal and Operational Risks Associated with International Operations—Our international operations subject us to risks related to staffing and management, legal and regulatory requirements and the protection of intellectual property.

        Operating outside of the United States creates difficulties associated with staffing and managing our international manufacturing facilities, complying with local legal and regulatory requirements and protecting our intellectual property. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be found to be operating in compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject. We also cannot assure you that these laws will not be modified.

SOX 404 Compliance—While we believe that we currently have adequate internal control procedures in place, we are still exposed to future risks of non-compliance and will continue to incur costs associated with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

        Annually we complete an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Although our assessment, testing, and evaluation resulted in our conclusion that as of July 2, 2010, our internal control over financial reporting was effective, we cannot predict the outcome of our testing in future periods. If our internal controls are ineffective in future periods, our financial results or the market price of our shares could be adversely affected. We will incur additional expenses and commitment of management's time in connection with further evaluations.

Dependence on Key Personnel—The loss of key executive officers and employees could negatively impact our business prospects.

        Our future performance depends to a significant degree upon the continued service of key members of management as well as marketing, sales and product development personnel. The loss of one or more of our key personnel may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We believe our future success will also depend in large part upon our ability to attract, retain and further motivate highly skilled management, marketing, sales and product development personnel. We have experienced intense competition for personnel, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key employees or that we will be successful in attracting, assimilating and retaining personnel in the future.

34

---

Table of Contents

Suspension of Paying Quarterly Dividends—Our policy of not paying dividends could result in a persistently low market valuation of our ordinary shares.

        On April 13, 2009, we announced that we had adopted a policy of no longer paying a quarterly dividend to our ordinary shareholders to enhance liquidity. Our policy of not paying a quarterly dividend could result in a persistently low market valuation of our ordinary shares.

        Our ability to pay quarterly dividends in the future will be subject to, among other things, general business conditions within the disk drive industry, our financial results, the impact of paying dividends on our credit ratings and legal and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends by our subsidiaries to us or by us to our ordinary shareholders.

Potential Governmental Action—Governmental action against companies located in offshore jurisdictions may lead to a reduction in the demand for our ordinary shares.

        Recent U.S. federal and state legislation has been proposed, and additional legislation may be proposed in the future which, if enacted, could have an adverse tax impact on either Seagate or its shareholders.

Securities Litigation—Significant fluctuations in the market price of our ordinary shares could result in securities class action claims against us.

        Significant price and value fluctuations have occurred with respect to the publicly traded securities of disk drive companies and technology companies generally. The price of our ordinary shares is likely to be volatile in the future. In the past, following periods of decline in the market price of a company's securities, class action lawsuits have often been pursued against that company. If similar litigation were pursued against us, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management's attention and resources, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Current Global Credit and Financial Market Conditions—Current global credit and financial market conditions could negatively impact the value of our current portfolio of cash equivalents, short-term investments or auction rate securities and our ability to meet our financing objectives.

        Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained in highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. Our short-term investments consist primarily of readily marketable debt securities with remaining maturities of more than 90 days at the time of purchase. Our investment policy has as its principal objectives the preservation of principal and maintenance of liquidity. We mitigate default risk by investing in high-quality investment grade securities, limiting the time to maturity and by monitoring the counter-parties and underlying obligors closely.

        As of July 2, 2010, we continued to hold auction rate securities with a par value of approximately $19 million, all of which are collateralized by student loans guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Beginning in the March 2008 quarter, these securities have continuously failed to settle at auction. As of July 2, 2010, the estimated fair value of these auction rate securities was $17 million. We believe that the impairments totaling $2 million are temporary as we do not intend to sell these securities and have concluded it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the securities before the recovery of the amortized cost basis.

        While as of the date of this filing, we are not aware of any other material downgrades, losses, or other significant deterioration in the fair value of our cash equivalents or short-term investments or auction rate securities since July 2, 2010, no assurance can be given that further deterioration in conditions of the global credit and financial markets would not negatively impact our current portfolio of cash equivalents, short-term investments or auction rate securities or our ability to meet our financing objectives.

35

---

Table of Contents

Environmental Regulations—Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

        The sale and manufacturing of products in certain states and countries may subject us to environmental and other regulations including, in some instances, the responsibility for environmentally safe disposal or recycling. For example, the EU has enacted the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive, which prohibits the use of certain substances in electronic equipment, and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive, which obligates parties that place electrical and electronic equipment onto the market in the EU to put a clearly identifiable mark on the equipment, register with and report to EU member countries regarding distribution of the equipment, and provide a mechanism to take-back and properly dispose of the equipment. Similar legislation may be enacted in other locations where we manufacture or sell our products. Although we do not anticipate any material adverse effects based on the nature of our operations and the focus of such legislation, we will need to ensure that we comply with these laws and regulations as they are enacted and that our suppliers also comply with these laws and regulations. If we fail to timely comply with the legislation, our customers may refuse to purchase our products, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we were found to be in violation of these laws or noncompliance with these initiatives or standards of conduct, we could be subject to governmental fines, liability to our customers and damage to our reputation, which would also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

        None.

36

---

Table of Contents

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

        On July 3, 2010, our company headquarters were relocated to Ireland, while our U.S. executive offices remained in Scotts Valley, California. Our principal manufacturing facilities are located in China, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Thailand and in Minnesota. Our principal product development facilities are located in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Singapore. Our leased facilities are occupied under leases that expire at various times through 2022.

        Our material manufacturing, product development and marketing and administrative facilities at July 2, 2010 are as follows:

        As of July 2, 2010, we owned or leased a total of approximately 11.9 million square feet of space worldwide. We occupied approximately 7.0 million square feet for the purpose of manufacturing, 1.3 million square feet for product development, 1.5 million square feet for marketing and administrative purposes and subleased 0.8 million. Included in the 11.9 million square feet of owned or leased space is a total of 1.3 million square feet that is currently unoccupied primarily as a result of site closures at our facilities in Longmont, Milpitas and Pittsburgh. We believe that our existing properties are in good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for the operations for which they are used. As of July 2, 2010, all of our material manufacturing facilities are operating at normal utilization levels and none of our manufacturing facilities are experiencing significant underutilization.

        On August 4, 2009, we announced that we will close our Ang Mo Kio (AMK) facility in Singapore during fiscal year 2011. Our hard drive manufacturing operations will be relocated to other existing facilities and our Asia International Headquarters (IHQ) will remain in Singapore. We do not expect the closure to meaningfully change production capacity.

37

---

Table of Contents

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        See Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 13, Legal, Environmental, and Other Contingencies.

ITEM 4.    (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

38

---

Table of Contents

PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S SHARES, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

        Our shares have traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "STX" since September 16, 2008, and previously traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "STX" since December 11, 2002. Prior to that time there was no public market for our shares. The high and low sales prices of our shares, as reported by both the NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange, are set forth below for the periods indicated.

        As of August 12, 2010 there were approximately 1,478 holders of record of our ordinary shares. We did not sell any of our equity securities during fiscal year 2010 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

39

---

Table of Contents

Performance Graph

        The performance graph below shows the cumulative total shareholder return on our common shares for the period from July 1, 2005 to July 2, 2010. This is compared with the cumulative total return of the Dow Jones US Computer Hardware Index and the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index over the same period. The graph assumes that on July 1, 2005, $100 was invested in our common shares and $100 was invested in each of the other two indices, with dividends reinvested on the date of payment without payment of any commissions. Dollar amounts in the graph are rounded to the nearest whole dollar. The performance shown in the graph represents past performance and should not be considered an indication of future performance.

COMPARISON OF 60 MONTH
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN^*
Among Seagate Technology, The S&P 500 Index
And The Dow Jones US Computer Hardware Index

40

---

Table of Contents

Dividends

        In 2009, we adopted a policy of no longer paying a quarterly dividend to our shareholders to enhance liquidity. The suspension of paying quarterly dividends could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline significantly and our failure or inability to resume paying dividends at historical levels could result in a persistently low market valuation of our ordinary shares. We currently do not anticipate paying a dividend for the foreseeable future.

        Our ability to pay quarterly dividends in the future will be subject to, among other things, general business conditions within the disk drive industry, our financial results, the impact of paying dividends on our credit ratings and legal and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends by our subsidiaries to us or by us to our ordinary shareholders, including restrictions imposed by covenants in our debt instruments.

        Since the closing of our initial public offering in December 2002 up to our policy change in 2009, we have paid dividends, pursuant to our quarterly dividend policy then in effect, totaling approximately $952 million in the aggregate. The following are dividends paid in the last two fiscal years:

Repurchases of Our Equity Securities

        On January 27, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized an Anti-Dilution Share Repurchase Program, which was publicly announced on February 1, 2010. The repurchase program authorizes us to repurchase our shares to offset increases in diluted shares, such as those caused by employee stock plans and convertible debt, used in the determination of diluted net income per share. The timing and number of shares to be repurchased by us will be dependent on general business and market conditions, cash flows generated by future operations, the price of our shares, cash requirements for other investing and financing activities, and maintaining compliance with our debt covenants. Repurchases may be made through open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or other available means, such as by way of an accelerated share repurchase program, through block trades or through the purchase of call options or the sale of put options. Additionally, there is no minimum or maximum number of shares to be repurchased under the program and the authority for the Anti-Dilution Share Repurchase Program will continue until terminated by our Board of Directors.

41

---

Table of Contents

        The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases of our shares made during fiscal year 2010:

January 2010 Anti-Dilution Share Repurchase Program

42

---

Table of Contents

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected consolidated financial data set forth below for each of the last five fiscal years, is not necessarily indicative of results of future operations, and should be read in conjunction with "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are incorporated herein by reference, to fully understand factors that may affect the comparability of the information presented below.

        The Consolidated Statements of Operations data for the years ended July 2, 2010, July 3, 2009 and June 27, 2008 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet data at July 2, 2010 and July 3, 2009, are derived from our audited Consolidated Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Consolidated Statements of Operations data for the years ended June 29, 2007 and June 30, 2006, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet data at June 27, 2008, June 29, 2007 and June 30, 2006, are derived from our audited Consolidated Financial Statements that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

43

---

Table of Contents

ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        The following is a discussion of the financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended July 2, 2010, July 3, 2009, and June 27, 2008. References to "$" are to United States dollars.

        You should read this discussion in conjunction with "Item 6. Selected Financial Data" and "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" included elsewhere in this report. Except as noted, references to any fiscal year mean the twelve-month period ending on the Friday closest to June 30 of that year.

        Some of the statements and assumptions included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, including, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects and estimates of industry growth for the fiscal year ending July 1, 2011 and beyond. These statements identify prospective information and include words such as "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Current expectations, forecasts and assumptions involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors may be beyond our control. In particular, the uncertainty in global economic conditions continues to pose a risk to our operating and financial performance as consumers and businesses may defer purchases in response to tighter credit and negative financial news. Such risks and uncertainties also include the impact of the variable demand and the adverse pricing environment for disk drives, particularly in view of current business and economic conditions; dependence on our ability to successfully qualify, manufacture and sell our disk drive products in increasing volumes on a cost-effective basis and with acceptable quality, particularly the new disk drive products with lower cost structures; the impact of competitive product announcements and possible excess industry supply with respect to particular disk drive products; and our ability to achieve projected cost savings in connection with restructuring plans. Information concerning risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements is also set forth in "Item 1A.Risk Factors" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we encourage you to carefully read. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made. The following is a discussion of the financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended July 2, 2010, July 3, 2009 and June 27, 2008.

        Our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is provided in addition to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes to assist readers in understanding our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. MD&A is organized as follows:

•

Our Company.  Discussion of our business.



•

Business Overview.  Discussion of industry trends and their impact on our business.



•

Fiscal Year 2010 Summary.  Overview of financial and other highlights affecting us for fiscal year 2010.



•

Results of Operations.  Analysis of our financial results comparing 2010 to 2009 and comparing 2009 to 2008.



•

Liquidity and Capital Resources.  An analysis of changes in our balance sheets and cash flows, and discussion of our financial condition including the credit quality of our investment portfolio and potential sources of liquidity.



•

Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements.  Overview of contractual obligations and contingent liabilities and commitments outstanding as of July 2, 2010 and an explanation of off-balance-sheet arrangements.

44

---

Table of Contents

•

Critical Accounting Estimates.  Accounting estimates that we believe are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments incorporated in our reported financial results.

Our Company

        We are the world's leading provider of hard disk drives based on revenue. We design, manufacture, market and sell hard disk drives. Hard disk drives commonly referred to as disk drives, hard drives or HDDs, are devices that store digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating disks with magnetic surfaces. The performance attributes of disk drives, including their cost effectiveness and high storage capacities have resulted in disk drives being used as the primary medium for storing electronic data.

        We produce a broad range of disk drive products addressing enterprise applications, where our products are designed for enterprise servers, mainframes and workstations; client compute applications, where our products are designed for desktop and notebook computers; and client non-compute applications, where our products are designed for a wide variety of end user devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs), personal data backup systems, portable external storage systems and digital media systems. In addition to manufacturing and selling disk drives, we provide data storage services for small- to medium-sized businesses, including online backup, data protection and recovery solutions.

Business Overview

        Our industry is characterized by several trends and factors that have a material impact on our strategic planning, financial condition and results of operations.

Demand Trends for Disk Drives

        We believe the total available market (TAM) for disk drives, in aggregate, increased approximately 22% in fiscal year 2010, over the prior fiscal year. We believe that continued growth in digital content requires increasingly higher storage capacity in order to store, aggregate, host, distribute, manage, back up and use such content, which we believe will continue to result in increased demand for disk drive products. However, the disk drive industry is sensitive to global macroeconomic conditions as experienced in fiscal year 2009.

        Historically, the electronic data storage industry has introduced alternative technologies that directly compete with hard disk drives. Solid state drives (SSDs), using NAND flash memory, are a potential alternative to disk drives in certain applications such as consumer handheld devices and portable external storage. NAND flash memory is a type of non-volatile storage technology that does not require power to retain data. However, we believe that in the foreseeable future the traditional enterprise and client compute markets that require high capacity storage solutions as well as the data intensive client non-compute markets, will continue to be best served by hard disk drives based on the industry's ability to deliver reliable, power consumption efficient and cost effective mass storage devices.

        Disk Drives for Enterprise Storage.    We define enterprise storage as disk drives designed for mission critical applications and nearline applications.

        Mission critical applications are defined as applications that are vital to the operation of enterprises, requiring high performance, and high reliability disk drives. We expect the market for mission critical enterprise storage solutions to be driven by enterprises continuing to move network traffic to dedicated storage area networks in an effort to reduce network complexity and increase energy savings. We believe that this transition will lead to an increased demand for more energy efficient, smaller form factor disk drives. These solutions are comprised principally of high performance enterprise class disk drives with sophisticated firmware and communications technologies.

        Nearline applications are defined as applications that are less time-critical but capacity-intensive, such as reference data environments or redundancy for recovery purposes, which require high capacity and low power consumption disk drives featuring lower costs per gigabyte. We expect such applications, which

45

---

Table of Contents

include storage for cloud computing and backup services, will continue to grow and drive demand for disk drives designed with these attributes as data centers expand and proliferate.

        We believe that the enterprise storage TAM increased 21%, as compared to the prior fiscal year, due to the deferral of information technology equipment purchases experienced in fiscal year 2009, when storage utilization rates of existing disk drives in data centers increased.

        SSD storage applications have been introduced as a potential alternative to redundant system startup or boot disk drives. In addition, enterprises are beginning to use SSDs in applications where rapid processing and/or lower power consumption is required. The timing of significant adoption of SSDs is dependent on enterprises weighing the pricing and other benefits of mission critical enterprise disk drives against the perceived performance benefits of SSDs.

        Disk Drives for Client Compute.    We define client compute applications as disk drives designed for the traditional desktop and mobile compute applications. In the near-term, we believe that demand growth in client compute applications will be driven by what we believe to be an accelerating corporate technology refresh cycle. In the long-term, we believe that the proliferation of digital content will drive the demand for the client compute market. We believe that the client compute storage TAM increased 24% as compared to the prior fiscal year mainly due to the strength in consumer spending for technology for most of the 2010 fiscal year.

        As the proliferation of client compute applications that require minimal storage such as tablets and netbooks continues, NAND flash technology could become more competitive within the client compute market in the future.

        Disk Drives for Client Non-Compute.    We define client non-compute applications as disk drives designed for consumer electronic devices and disk drives used for external and network-attached storage (NAS). Disk drives designed for consumer electronic devices are primarily used in applications such as DVRs that require a higher capacity, lower cost-per-gigabyte storage solution. Disk drives for external and NAS devices are designed for purposes such as personal data backup, portable external storage and to augment the consumer's current desktop, notebook or DVR disk drive capacities. Client non-compute applications also include devices designed to display digital media in the home theater. We believe the proliferation of high definition and media-rich digital content will continue to create increasing consumer demand for higher storage solutions, as evidenced by an increase in the client non-compute TAM of 14%, as compared to the prior fiscal year.

Product Life Cycles and Changing Technology

        Our industry has been characterized by significant advances in technology, which have contributed to rapid product life cycles. As a result, success in our industry has been dependent to a large extent on the ability to be the first-to-market with new products, allowing those disk drive manufacturers who introduce new products first to sell those products at a premium until comparable products are introduced. Also, because our industry is characterized by continuous price erosion, the existence of rapid product life cycles has necessitated quick achievement of product cost effectiveness. Changing technology also necessitates on-going investments in research and development, which may be difficult to recover due to rapid product life cycles and economic declines. Further, there is a continued need to successfully execute product transitions and new product introductions, as factors such as quality, reliability and manufacturing yields become of increasing competitive importance.

Price Erosion

        Our industry has been characterized by price declines for disk drive products with comparable capacity, performance and feature sets ("like-for-like products"). Price declines for like-for-like products ("price erosion") are more pronounced during periods of:

•

economic contraction or industry consolidation in which competitors may use discounted pricing to attempt to maintain or gain market share;

46

---

Table of Contents

•

few new product introductions when multiple competitors have comparable or alternative product offerings;



•

temporary imbalances between industry supply and demand; and



•

seasonally weaker demand, which may cause excess supply.

        Disk drive manufacturers typically attempt to offset price erosion with an improved mix of disk drive products characterized by higher capacity, better performance and additional feature sets and/or product cost reductions. To remain competitive, we believe it will be necessary to continue to reduce prices as well as introduce new product offerings that utilize advanced technologies ahead of our competitors in order to take advantage of potentially higher initial profit margins and reduced cost structure on these new products.

        We experienced muted price erosion for the first nine months of fiscal year 2010 as our industry experienced unmet demand due to industry-wide supply constraints during the first half of fiscal year 2010, and a relatively balanced supply and demand environment during the March 2010 quarter. However, in the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand and resulted in an increase in price erosion to levels typical of a June quarter.

Seasonality

        The disk drive industry traditionally experiences seasonal variability in demand with higher levels of demand in the second half of the calendar year. This seasonality is driven by consumer spending in the back-to-school season from late summer to fall and the traditional holiday shopping season from fall to winter. In addition, corporate demand is typically higher during the second half of the calendar year. For most of fiscal year 2010, our industry observed a muted seasonal pattern as the hard disk drive industry experienced unmet demand due to industry-wide supply constraints, while in the March 2010 quarter supply and demand were relatively balanced. However, in the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand, which we believe reflected a return to seasonal patterns typical of a June quarter.

Disk Drive Industry Consolidation

        Due to the significant challenges posed by the need to continually innovate and improve manufacturing efficiency and the continued demands on capital and research and development investments required to do so, the disk drive industry has undergone significant consolidation as disk drive manufacturers and component manufacturers merged with other companies or exited the industry. The trend toward consolidation is more pronounced during times of macroeconomic contraction. For example, Toshiba Corporation acquired Fujitsu Limited's hard disk drive business in October 2009. The increasing technological challenges, associated levels of investment and competitive necessity of large-scale operations may also drive future industry consolidation. Additionally, we may in the future face indirect competition from customers who from time to time evaluate whether to offer electronic data storage products that may compete with our products.

Suppliers of Components and Industry Constraints

        Due to industry consolidation, there are a limited number of independent suppliers of components, such as recording heads and media, available to disk drive manufacturers. Vertically integrated disk drive manufacturers, who manufacture their own components, are less dependent on external component suppliers than less vertically integrated disk drive manufacturers.

        We believe the supply chain was generally tight for the industry during most of fiscal year 2010. Availability of glass substrates, finished media and heads improved during the June 2010 quarter. However, supply of these critical components is still expected to be generally tight for the second half of the 2010 calendar year, reflecting typical seasonal patterns.

47

---

Table of Contents

Recording Heads and Media

        We maintain a highly integrated approach to our business by designing and manufacturing a significant portion of the components we view as critical to our products, such as recording heads and media. A vertically integrated model, however, tends to have less flexibility when demand moderates because it exposes us to higher unit costs as capacity utilization is not optimized. The extent of our use of externally sourced recording heads, media and aluminum substrates varies based on product mix, technology and our internal capacity levels. We purchase from third parties all of our glass substrates, which we use to manufacture disk drives for our 2.5-inch products.

Commodity and Other Manufacturing Costs

        The production of disk drives requires precious metals, scarce alloys and industrial commodities, which are subject to fluctuations in prices, and the supply of which has at times been constrained. We believe that currently there is an adequate supply of these precious metals, scarce alloys and industrial commodities. Additionally, volatility in fuel costs may increase our costs related to commodities, manufacturing and freight. As a result, we may increase our use of ocean shipments to help offset any increase in freight costs.

Industry Supply Balance

        From time to time the industry has experienced periods of imbalance between supply and demand. To the extent that the disk drive industry builds capacity based on expectations of demand that do not materialize, price erosion may become more pronounced. Conversely, during periods where demand exceeds supply, price erosion is generally muted. For the first half of fiscal year 2010, our industry experienced unmet demand due to industry-wide supply constraints, while in the March 2010 quarter supply and demand were relatively balanced. However, in the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand, which we believe reflected a return to seasonal patterns typical of a June quarter.

Fiscal Year 2010 Summary

        Revenues for fiscal year 2010 were $11.4 billion and gross margins were 28%, which represented a 16% increase in revenues and growth in our gross margins from 14% in the prior fiscal year. We shipped 193 million units during fiscal year 2010, which represents an 18% growth over the prior fiscal year. This increase in revenue reflects an industry-wide supply constraint experienced in the first half of fiscal year 2010 and a relatively balanced supply and demand environment during the March 2010 quarter resulting in muted price erosion. However, in the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand and resulted in an increase in price erosion to levels typical of a June quarter. Given that over 70% of Seagate's revenues are from sales to OEMs, where pricing agreements are negotiated in advance of the quarter, a large part of our business was insulated from price declines in the June 2010 quarter. In the September 2010 quarter, however, we anticipate the adverse pricing environment will carry through to our entire product portfolio and will have a more pronounced impact on our gross margin.

        We continued to strengthen our balance sheet in fiscal year 2010. We generated operating cash flow of $1,932 million, used approximately $584 million to repurchase 32.4 million of our common shares and used $639 million for capital expenditures. In May 2010, we issued $600 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due May 2020 (the "2020 Notes"). Additionally, we repaid approximately $827 million in existing debt and short-term borrowings during the year.

48

---

Table of Contents

Results of Operations

        The following table summarizes information from our consolidated statements of operations by dollars and as a percentage of revenue:

49

---

Table of Contents

        The following table summarizes information regarding volume shipments, average selling prices (ASPs) and revenues by channel and geography:

Fiscal Year 2010 Compared to Fiscal Year 2009

Revenue

        Revenue in fiscal year 2010 increased approximately 16%, or $1.6 billion, from fiscal year 2009 primarily due to an 18% increase in the total number of disk drives shipped. This increase in revenue reflects an industry-wide supply constraint experienced in the first half of fiscal year 2010 and a relatively balanced supply and demand environment during the March 2010 quarter resulting in muted price erosion. In the June 2010 quarter, industry supply exceeded demand and resulted in an increase in price erosion to levels typical of a June quarter.

        We maintain various sales programs such as point-of-sale rebates, sales price adjustments and price protection, aimed at increasing customer demand. We exercise judgment in formulating the underlying estimates related to distributor and retail inventory levels, sales program participation and customer claims submittals in determining the provision for such programs. Sales programs recorded as contra revenue were approximately 6% and 12% of our gross revenue for fiscal years 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Gross Margin

50

---

Table of Contents

        For fiscal year 2010, gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 28% from 14% in the prior fiscal year primarily as a result of an 18% increase in drive shipments, muted price erosion, a more cost-effective product mix and a substantial improvement in manufacturing capacity utilization.

Operating Expenses

        Product Development Expense.    Product development expenses for fiscal year 2010 decreased approximately 8% from fiscal year 2009 primarily due to restructuring and other cost reduction efforts, and the effect of an additional week of compensation expenses in fiscal year 2009, which was a 53-week fiscal year. These cost reduction efforts resulted in decreases of $66 million in headcount related expenses in fiscal year 2010, $38 million due to the cessation of certain product development activities, and $26 million due to the non-recurrence of accelerated depreciation expense related to the closure of our Pittsburgh facility. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $48 million for variable performance-based compensation expense recorded in fiscal year 2010 compared to none in fiscal year 2009, and a $16 million benefit related to our deferred compensation plan recorded in fiscal year 2009.

        Marketing and Administrative Expense.    Marketing and administrative expenses for fiscal year 2010 decreased approximately 19% from fiscal year 2009 primarily due to restructuring and other cost reduction efforts, and the effect of an additional week of compensation expenses in fiscal year 2009, which was a 53-week fiscal year. These cost reduction efforts resulted in decreases of $69 million in headcount related expenses, $26 million in advertising costs, and $29 million in legal expenses. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $28 million for variable performance-based compensation expense recorded in fiscal year 2010 compared to none in fiscal year 2009, and a $9 million benefit related to our deferred compensation plan recorded in fiscal year 2009.

        Amortization of Intangibles.    Amortization of intangibles for fiscal year 2010 decreased approximately 51% from fiscal year 2009 as certain intangibles relating to the Maxtor Corporation ("Maxtor") and MetaLINCS, Inc. acquisitions have been fully amortized.

        Restructuring and Other, net.    During fiscal year 2010, we recorded restructuring and other charges of $66 million mainly comprised of charges related to our AMK restructuring plan announced in August 2009 and additional restructuring charges related to our Pittsburgh facility and facilities acquired as a part of the Maxtor acquisition.

        Restructuring and Other, net decreased approximately $144 million when compared to the prior fiscal year, which include restructuring plans announced in January and May 2009 that were intended to realign our cost structure with the fiscal year 2009 macroeconomic business environment. See prior year explanation for further details.

51

---

Table of Contents

        Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets, net of Recoveries.    During fiscal year 2010, we committed to a plan to sell certain equipment related to certain research activities that had ceased. In connection with this plan, we reclassified these assets as held for sale and recorded a net impairment charge of approximately $57 million to adjust the carrying value of these assets to the estimated fair value, less cost to sell.

        Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, net of recoveries decreased approximately $2.2 billion when compared to the prior fiscal year due to the non-recurrence of the $2.3 billion impairment charge we recorded in fiscal year 2009 as a result of the significant adverse change to our business climate. See prior year explanation for further details.

Other Income (Expense), net

        The change in Other income (expense), net for fiscal year 2010 compared to fiscal year 2009 was primarily due to a $31 million increase in interest expense resulting from higher average borrowing costs, a decrease in gains from foreign currency remeasurements of $15 million, a $13 million write-down of an equity investment in fiscal year 2010, a $12 million decrease in interest income as a result of lower yields on our cash and investments and an $8 million non-recurring gain recognized on the sale of an equity investment in fiscal year 2009. These were partially offset by a $44 million loss related to our deferred compensation plan assets recorded in fiscal year 2009.

Income Taxes

        We recorded an income tax benefit of $40 million for fiscal year 2010 compared to a provision for income taxes of $311 million for fiscal year 2009. Our fiscal year 2009 provision for income taxes included $271 million of income tax expense recorded in the second quarter associated with an increase in our valuation allowance for U.S. deferred tax assets related to a reduction in our forecasted U.S. taxable income.

        In connection with our previously announced plans to move our corporate headquarters to Ireland, we initiated certain pre-reorganization steps which resulted in our existing Cayman parent holding company becoming an Irish tax resident in fiscal year 2010. Our Irish tax resident parent holding company owns various U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries that operate in multiple non-Irish taxing jurisdictions. Our worldwide operating income is either subject to varying rates of tax or is exempt from tax due to tax holidays or tax incentive programs we operate under in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand. These tax holidays or incentives are scheduled to expire in whole or in part at various dates through 2020.

52

---

Table of Contents

        Since we became an Irish tax resident in fiscal year 2010, the Irish statutory rate of 25% is used for purposes of the reconciliation between the provision for income taxes at the statutory rate and our effective tax rate. For fiscal years 2009 and 2008, a notional 35% statutory rate was used.

        Our income tax benefit recorded for fiscal year 2010 differed from the provision (benefit) for income taxes that would be derived by applying the Irish statutory rate of 25% to income before income taxes primarily due to the net effect of (i) tax benefits related to earnings in countries where we have tax holidays and tax incentive programs which are indefinitely reinvested outside of Ireland, (ii) a decrease in valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets, (iii) non-U.S. losses with no tax benefit, and (iv) tax expense related to intercompany transactions. Our provision for income taxes recorded for the comparative fiscal year ended July 3, 2009 differed from the provision for income taxes that would be derived by applying a notional U.S. 35% rate to income before income taxes primarily due to the net effect of (i) non-deductible goodwill impairments, (ii) an increase in our valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets, (iii) non-U.S. losses with no tax benefit, (iv) tax benefits related to tax holiday and tax incentive programs, and (v) tax expense related to intercompany transactions.

        Based on our non-U.S. ownership structure and subject to (i) potential future increases in our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets; and (ii) a future change in our intention to indefinitely reinvest earnings our subsidiaries outside of Ireland, we anticipate that our effective tax rate in future periods will generally be less than the Irish statutory rate. Dividend distributions received from our U.S. subsidiaries may be subject to U.S. withholding taxes when and if distributed.

        The amount of temporary differences (including undistributed earnings) related to outside basis differences in the stock of non-Irish resident subsidiaries considered indefinitely reinvested outside of Ireland for which Irish income taxes have not been provided was approximately $2.7 billion. The determination of the amount of Irish tax that would accrue if such amount was remitted into Ireland is not practicable.

        At July 2, 2010, our deferred tax asset valuation allowance was approximately $1.2 billion reflecting a decrease of approximately $133 million in fiscal year 2010. The decrease in the valuation allowance includes a $55 million reversal of a portion of the U.S. valuation allowance recorded in fiscal year 2009 associated with revisions to our forecasts of U.S. taxable income and a decrease associated with the utilization of tax net operating loss carry forwards in fiscal year 2010. As of July 3, 2009, the deferred tax asset valuation allowance was approximately $1.3 billion reflecting an increase of approximately $864 million in fiscal year 2009. The increase in valuation allowance resulted primarily from the liquidation of our wholly owned subsidiary, Maxtor, effective June 1, 2009 and represented the net effects of the extinguishment of all deferred tax assets related to historical carryover tax attributes of Maxtor and the increase in deferred tax assets related to tax net operating losses incurred in connection with the liquidation transaction.

        At July 2, 2010, we had net deferred tax assets of $505 million. The realization of $473 million of these deferred tax assets is primarily dependent on our ability to generate sufficient U.S. and certain non-U.S. taxable income in future periods. Although realization is not assured, we believe that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will be realized. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, may increase or decrease in subsequent periods when we re-evaluate the underlying basis for our estimates of future U.S. and certain non-U.S. taxable income.

        During fiscal year ended July 2, 2010, an enacted legislative change in U.S. tax law was taken into account in computing our income tax provision. The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, was enacted on November 6, 2009. This law allowed us to elect an increased carryback period for net operating losses incurred in 2008 or 2009 from two years to three, four or five years at our option. We recorded an $11 million income tax benefit as a result of the increased carryback period.

53

---

Table of Contents

        Approximately $461 million and $93 million of our U.S. net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards, respectively, are subject to an annual limitation of $44.8 million pursuant to U.S. tax law.

        Effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2008, we adopted the authoritative guidance on accounting for uncertain tax positions in income taxes. This guidance contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

        As a result of the implementation of the guidance, we increased our liability for net unrecognized tax benefits at the date of adoption. We accounted for the increase primarily as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle that resulted in a decrease to retained earnings of $3 million and an increase to goodwill of $25 million. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption was $385 million excluding interest and penalties.

        As of July 2, 2010 and July 3, 2009, we had approximately $115 million and $118 million, respectively, in unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties. The unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate were $115 million and $118 million as of July 2, 2010 and July 3, 2009, respectively, subject to certain future valuation allowance reversals.

        It is our policy to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During fiscal year 2010, we recognized a net benefit for interest and penalties of $1 million as compared to a net benefit of $6 million during fiscal year 2009. As of July 2, 2010, we had $15 million of accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as compared to $16 million as of July 3, 2009.

        During the fiscal year ended July 2, 2010, our unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties decreased by approximately $3 million primarily due to (i) reductions associated with the expiration of certain statutes of limitation of $3 million, (ii) reductions associated with effectively settled positions of $4 million, (iii) a reduction of $5 million associated with interpretation of tax law as a result of the final 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision relating to stock based compensation deductions, (iv) increases in current year unrecognized tax benefits of $6 million, and (v) increases from other activity, including non-U.S. exchange losses, of $3 million.

        During the 12 months beginning July 3, 2010, we expect to reduce our unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $5 million as a result of the expiration of certain statutes of limitation. We do not believe it is reasonably possible that other unrecognized tax benefits will materially change in the next 12 months. However, the resolution and/or timing of closure on open audits are highly uncertain as to when these events occur.

        We file U.S. federal, U.S. state, and non-U.S. tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently examining fiscal years 2005 through 2007. For state and non-U.S. tax returns, we are generally no longer subject to tax examinations for years prior to fiscal year 2001. The statute of limitation for U.S. Federal returns is open for fiscal year 2005 and forward.

Fiscal Year 2009 Compared to Fiscal Year 2008

Revenue

54

---

Table of Contents