Stock-based compensation expense: Stock-based compensation expense consists of expenses recorded under SFAS 123(R), "Share-Based Payment," in connection with stock awards such as stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units granted under the Company's equity incentive plans and shares issued pursuant to the Company's employee stock purchase plan. The Company excludes stock-based compensation expense from non-GAAP financial measures because it is a non-cash measurement that does not reflect the Company's ongoing business; the Company believes that the provision of non-GAAP information that excludes stock-based compensation improves the ability of investors to compare its period-over-period operating results, as there is significant variability and unpredictability across companies with respect to this expense.

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets: Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets primarily relate to core and existing technologies, and customer relationships that were acquired from prior acquisitions. The Company excludes the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets because it does not reflect the Company's ongoing business and it does not have a direct correlation to the operation of the Company's business. In addition, in accordance with GAAP, the Company generally recognizes expenses for internally-developed intangible assets as they are incurred, notwithstanding the potential future benefit such assets may provide. Unlike internally-developed intangible assets, however, and also in accordance with GAAP, the Company generally capitalizes the cost of acquired intangible assets and recognizes that cost as an expense over the useful lives of the assets acquired (other than goodwill, which is not amortized, and acquired in-process technology, which is expensed immediately, as required under GAAP). As a result of their GAAP treatment, there is an inherent lack of comparability between the financial performance of internally-developed intangible assets and acquired intangible assets. Accordingly, the Company believes it is useful to provide, as a supplement to its GAAP operating results, a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the amortization of acquired intangible assets in order to enhance the period-over-period comparison of its operating results, as there is significant variability and unpredictability across companies with respect to this expense.

Restructuring charges and other charges (gains): Restructuring charges primarily relate to activities engaged in by the Company's management to simplify its infrastructure. Other charges (gains) primarily relate to the impairment of acquisition-related intangible assets from prior acquisitions and gain on sale of long-lived assets. Restructuring charges and other charges (gains) are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures because they are not considered core operating activities. Although the Company has engaged in various restructuring activities over the past several years, each has been a discrete, extraordinary event based on a unique set of business objectives. The Company does not engage in restructuring activities in the ordinary course of business. As such, the Company believes it is appropriate to exclude restructuring charges from its non-GAAP financial measures, as it enhances the ability of investors to compare the Company's period-over-period operating results. Other charges (gains) are also excluded from non-GAAP financial measures because the occurrence of such costs is infrequent.

Income taxes: Incremental income taxes associated with certain non-GAAP items and a tax provision from certain discrete tax events that occurred during the first quarter of fiscal 2009, related to a pre-acquisition adjustment on a foreign entity.