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EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - F5 NETWORKS, INC.v54122exv23w1.htm
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-K
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     
(Mark One)
   
 
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009
or
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from          to          .
 
Commission File Number 000-26041
 
 
 
 
F5 Networks, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
WASHINGTON   91-1714307
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
401 Elliott Ave West
Seattle, Washington 98119
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(206) 272-5555
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, no par value
 
     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common stock, no par value   NASDAQ Global Select Market
 
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 þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ
 
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 þ     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 (§ 232.405 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 is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the 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.  o
 
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):
 
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
As of March 31, 2009, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $1,622,634,128 based on the closing sales price of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on that date.
 
As of November 18, 2009, the number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding was 79,271,777.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Information required in response to Part III of this Form 10-K (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) is hereby incorporated by reference to the specified portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Shareholders Meeting for fiscal year 2009, which Definitive Proxy Statement shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year to which this Report relates.
 


 

 
F5 NETWORKS, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2009

Table of Contents
 
             
        Page
PART I
  Business     2  
  Risk Factors     17  
  Unresolved Staff Comments     24  
  Properties     24  
  Legal Proceedings     25  
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders     25  
 
PART II
  Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     26  
  Selected Financial Data     29  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     30  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk     43  
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     45  
  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     81  
  Controls and Procedures     81  
  Other Information     81  
 
PART III
  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance     82  
  Executive Compensation     82  
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters     82  
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions     82  
  Principal Accountant Fees and Services     82  
 
PART IV
  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules     82  
    83  
 EX-21.1
 EX-23.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1


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Trademarks and Tradenames
 
F5, F5 Networks, F5 [DESIGN], F5 Management Pack, F5 WORLD, BIG-IP, Data Manager, VIPRION, WA, WAN Optimization Module, WOM, Application Security Manager, ASM, Local Traffic Manager, LTM, Global Traffic Manager, GTM, IBR, Link Controller, Enterprise Manager, Traffic Management Operating System, TMOS, WANJet, FirePass, WebAccelerator, TrafficShield, Secure Access Manager, SAM, iControl, TCP Express, Fast Application Proxy, 3-DNS, iRules, iRules on Demand, Packet Velocity, ZoneRunner, OneConnect, Ask F5, Intelligent Compression, Transparent Data Reduction, TDR, L7 Rate Shaping, LC, IPv6 Gateway, SSL Acceleration, Fast Cache, Intelligent Browser Referencing, Message Security Module, PSM, MSM, Netcelera, Protocol Security Module, The World Runs Better With F5, IT AGILITY. YOUR WAY., DEVCENTRAL, DEVCENTRAL (DESIGN), EM, IQUERY, Real Traffic Policy Builder, STRONGBOX, SYN Check, Acopia, Acopia Networks, Advanced Client Authentication, Advanced Routing and ARX are trademarks or service marks of F5 Networks, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks, service marks and/or trade names appearing in this document are the property of their respective owners.
 
Unless the context otherwise requires, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “F5 Networks,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to F5 Networks, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Our fiscal year ends on September 30 and fiscal years are referred to by the calendar year in which they end. For example, “fiscal year 2009” and “fiscal 2009” refer to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, strategies, intentions or other characterizations of future events or circumstances and are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” below and in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements.
 
Item 1.   Business
 
General
 
F5 Networks is a leading provider of technology that optimizes the delivery of network-based applications and the security, performance and availability of servers, data storage devices and other network resources.
 
Founded in 1996, F5 pioneered load-balancing technology that distributes internet traffic evenly across multiple web servers, making them look like a single server. Today, our BIG-IP application delivery controllers sit in front of web and application servers, balancing traffic and performing compute-intensive functions such as encrypting and unencrypting transmissions, screening traffic for security threats, maintaining open connections with servers, speeding the flow of traffic and a variety of other functions that improve the performance, availability and security of applications and would otherwise be performed by the servers themselves. By offloading functions from servers, BIG-IP makes servers more efficient and reduces the number of servers needed to run specific applications. BIG-IP also supports software modules that manage the flow of traffic between multiple data centers and across multiple service provider connections, ensuring that this traffic is always routed to the most available resource. In addition, we offer complementary products that provide secure remote access to corporate networks and optimize the delivery of applications over wide-area networks.
 
The core of our application delivery controllers and related products is our full-proxy Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS) that enables these products to inspect and modify traffic flows to and from servers at network speed and supports a broad array of functions that enhance the speed, performance and availability


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of applications. iRules, a scripting language based on TCL (Tool Command Language), is a unique feature of TMOS that enables customers and third parties to write customized rules to inspect and modify traffic. TMOS also supports a common software interface called iControl, which enables our products to communicate with one another and with third-party products, including custom and commercial enterprise applications. TMOS is designed to support the addition of new functionality as software modules and to exploit the performance-enhancing features of our purpose-built hardware platforms. Correspondingly, our hardware architecture integrates industry standard components with the unique features and characteristics of TMOS to deliver performance that is, we believe, demonstrably superior to competing products.
 
Just as our application delivery controllers make many servers look like one, ARX storage virtualization products sit in front of network attached storage (NAS), making multiple storage devices from different vendors look like a single device to the individual clients, servers and applications that use them. This frees users and storage administrators from the time-consuming task of mapping individual drives to specific clients and applications. In addition, ARX products simplify the migration of data between storage devices, the addition of new storage devices, and the distribution of data across tiers of storage that reflect the relative importance or immediacy of the data.
 
In connection with our products, we offer a broad range of services including consulting, training, installation, maintenance and other technical support services.
 
F5 Networks was incorporated on February 26, 1996 in the State of Washington. Our headquarters is in Seattle, Washington and our mailing address is 401 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle, Washington 98119. The telephone number at our executive offices is (206) 272-5555. We have subsidiaries or branch offices in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available free of charge on our website, www.f5.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Industry Background
 
Growth of IP Networks
 
Internet Protocol (IP) is a communications language used to transmit data over the Internet. Since the late 1990s, businesses have responded to the power, flexibility and efficiency of the Internet by deploying new IP-based applications, upgrading their client-server applications to new IP-enabled versions, and enabling existing or legacy applications for use over the Internet. At the same time, organizations have become more geographically dispersed, and increasingly mobile workforces depend on access to corporate applications and data from remote locations and a variety of client devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants and notebook computers.
 
Over the next several years, we believe these trends will accelerate as more organizations discover the benefits of IP-enabled applications. In addition, we believe the growth of Internet usage will continue to be driven by new applications, such as Web Services and Voice over IP, the growth of mobile and broadband Internet access and new usage and infrastructure models such as “cloud computing.”
 
In conjunction with the growth of Internet traffic, the proliferation of data and, in particular, unstructured data such as voice, video, images, email, spreadsheets and formatted text files, presents an enormous and increasing challenge to IT organizations. Along with the growing volume of unstructured data that is business-critical and must be retained and readily accessible to individuals and applications, new regulations mandate that company email, web pages and other files must be retained indefinitely. In response to this challenge, IT organizations spend an increasing amount of their budget on NAS and other types of storage systems.
 
Trend Toward Virtualization
 
From a broad perspective, the goal of IT organizations is to optimize the secure delivery of applications and data to users wherever they are and whenever they need them. To achieve this goal, organizations are


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embracing virtualization technologies that enable them to group or partition data center resources to meet user demand and reconfigure these virtual resources easily and quickly as demand changes. Server virtualization, which allows organizations to improve utilization of physical servers by partitioning them into multiple virtual servers, is well known and widely deployed. Application delivery controllers free up both physical and virtual server processing power by offloading common functions, such as encryption and compression from multiple physical or virtual servers, and dynamically manage the flow of traffic between users and both virtual and physical servers, making them look like a single resource to the user. Server virtualization puts additional pressure on storage resources by increasing the demand for storage capacity and the complexity of storing and retrieving files. Sitting in front of storage systems, file virtualization devices perform functions similar to application delivery controllers, presenting the appearance of a single resource to users and applications and dynamically managing the transfer of files between users, applications and multiple storage devices.
 
Application Delivery Networking
 
Internet traffic passing between client devices and servers is divided into discrete packets which travel by multiple routes to their destination where they are reassembled. The disassembly, routing, and reassembly of transmissions are relatively straightforward and require little intelligence. By contrast, application delivery networking — managing, inspecting, modifying, redirecting and securing application traffic going to and from servers — requires intelligent systems capable of performing a broad array of functions.
 
Basic application delivery networking (ADN) functions include load-balancing (distributing traffic across multiple servers while making them appear to be a single server) and health-checking (monitoring the performance of servers and applications to ensure that they are working properly before routing traffic to them). In addition, ADN encompasses a growing number of functions that have typically been performed by the server or the application itself, or by point solutions running on separate devices. These include:
 
  •  SSL Acceleration — using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to secure traffic between the server and the browser on an end user’s client device;
 
  •  Rate Shaping — prioritizing transmissions according to preset rules that give precedence to different types of traffic;
 
  •  Compression — reducing the volume of data transmitted to take maximum advantage of available bandwidth;
 
  •  TCP Optimization — improving server efficiency by maintaining an open connection with a server during interactive sessions;
 
  •  IPv6 Translation — enabling communication and interoperability between networked devices using IPv6, the newest version of the Internet Protocol, and those using the older version IPv4;
 
  •  Application Security — protecting critical web applications from attacks such as Google hacking, cross-site scripting, and parameter tampering;
 
  •  Web Acceleration — enhancing the performance of web applications over wide area networks by reducing latency, eliminating errors, and resolving other issues that slow delivery;
 
  •  WAN Optimization — improving the performance of applications accessed over wide area network links by reducing the number of round trips required and ensuring maximum use of available bandwidth;
 
  •  Global Traffic Management — ensuring high availability, maximum performance and global management for applications running across multiple, globally-dispersed data centers; and
 
  •  Link Load Balancing — monitoring availability and performance of multiple WAN connections and intelligently managing bi-directional traffic flows to ensure uninterrupted, optimized Internet access.
 
Since most large enterprises have hundreds — if not thousands — of servers and applications, it is not practical to replicate these functions on each server or build them into the applications themselves. Even if it


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were, maintenance costs would be prohibitive and the net result would be a negative impact on the overall performance of servers and applications. Deploying point solutions in the network eliminates those problems but creates a new set of challenges. Using point solutions from multiple vendors can create interoperability issues, and problems that do occur can be difficult to troubleshoot. From a security standpoint, it is also much more difficult to audit traffic passing through multiple devices. As a result, enterprise customers are increasingly demanding products that integrate ADN functions on a single platform.
 
File Virtualization
 
Along with other types of IP traffic, the volume of file-based information created and accessed by Internet users and network applications is growing rapidly. According to some estimates, the volume of unstructured files is expected to triple annually over the next several years. The challenge of storing and managing unstructured files is becoming increasingly costly and complex, and reducing the cost and complexity is quickly moving up the list of data center priorities.
 
In many large organizations whose employees are geographically dispersed, unstructured data is stored on local file servers, which are difficult to manage, costly to maintain and generally underutilized. Information on these devices is easy for local users to access but often inaccessible to others in the organization. To reduce the cost, complexity, and redundancy of dispersed file systems, many IT organizations are consolidating file storage on centralized NAS devices and other types of storage systems. Migrating and consolidating files is difficult and time-consuming, however, and centralized storage systems pose a different set of problems.
 
Centralized storage of files can slow access for remote users and applications, spurring interest in technology that can speed the transfer of files across wide area networks (WANs). In addition, only users and applications that are physically mapped to a specific drive can store and access data on that drive. As the drive fills up, files must be moved manually to a new drive and affected users and applications must be remapped to that drive. In large organizations, this often constitutes a round-the-clock chore for many highly-skilled employees.
 
Another major storage problem stems from the fact that all files are not created equal. Many businesses and other organizations have policies or other obligations to retain email and other files, increasing the volume of data to archive and, in some cases, to keep indefinitely. Since it is unlikely that these files will be accessed frequently, if at all, in the course of normal business, it makes little sense to store them on expensive, high-performance systems designed to provide immediate access to business-critical information. As a result, IT organizations are beginning to deploy tiers of storage systems that match cost, capacity, and performance to the type of information being stored, how frequently it is accessed, and its relative importance to the business. Often, the most cost-effective solution is a combination of storage systems from different vendors, an approach that typically entails migrating huge amounts of data between incompatible devices. Once that is completed, organizations face the challenge of automating the tiering process and the management of aging files.
 
Whether or not they deploy tiered file systems, many organizations are beginning to address the mounting cost in time and resources of backing up data stored on employee desktops, local file servers, and other devices. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of the files organizations back up have not changed since the previous back-up. Worse yet, a large and growing percentage are music and video files, family photographs, and other personal files.
 
Responding to increasing demand from IT organizations, a number of storage vendors and a handful of other companies offer solutions that address some or all of these issues and can be loosely grouped under the heading of file virtualization. Collectively, these solutions encompass a variety of technological approaches designed to optimize and simplify the storage of unstructured data.
 
F5 Solutions
 
Application Delivery Networking
 
F5 is a leading provider of application delivery networking products that ensure the security, optimization and availability of applications for any user, anywhere. We believe our products offer the most intelligent


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architecture and advanced functionality in the marketplace along with performance, flexibility and usability features that help organizations improve the way they serve their employees, customers, and partners while lowering operational costs.
 
Software Based Products.  From inception, we have been committed to the belief that the complexity of application-level processing requires the flexibility of a software-based solution. We believe our modular software architecture enables us to deliver the broadest range of integrated functionality in the market and facilitates the addition and integration of new functionality. We also believe that integrating our software with commodity hardware components enables us to build products that deliver superior performance, functionality and flexibility at competitive prices.
 
Full Proxy Architecture.  The core of our software technology is the Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS) introduced in September 2004. We believe TMOS is a major enhancement of our previous technology that enables our products to deliver functionality that is superior on many levels to any other application delivery networking product in the market. With TMOS, our products can inspect, modify and direct both inbound and outbound traffic flows across multiple packets. This ability to manage application traffic to and from servers adds value to applications that pass through our devices in ways that are not possible with other application delivery networking solutions. In April 2009, we introduced a major upgrade (Version 10.0) of TMOS that includes more than 130 new features, more than 90 application-ready solution templates, and a number of performance enhancements, all designed to leverage the advanced features and performance of our recently upgraded family of BIG-IP hardware platforms.
 
Modular Functionality.  In addition to its full proxy architecture, TMOS is specifically designed to facilitate the development and integration of application delivery networking functions as modules that can be added to BIG-IP’s core functionality to keep pace with rapidly evolving customer needs. Feature modules that are available as add ons to TMOS Version 10.0 include: Advanced Client Authentication, Advanced Routing, Fast Cache, Intelligent Compression, IPv6 Gateway, L7 Rate Shaping, Message Security Module, Protocol Security Module and SSL Acceleration. Product modules that are available as add ons include: Application Security Manager (ASM), Global Traffic Manager (GTM), Link Controller, and WebAccelerator.
 
Application Awareness.  The open architecture of TMOS includes an application programming interface (API) called iControl that allows our products to communicate with one another and with third-party software and devices. Through this unique feature, third- party applications and network devices can take an active role in shaping IP network traffic, directing traffic based on exact business requirements defined by our customers and solutions partners and tailored to specific applications. This “application awareness” capability is a key feature of our software-based products and further differentiates our solutions from those of our competitors.
 
Application-Specific Configurations.  Developed and tested in collaboration with our solutions partners, Application Ready Solutions are configurations designed to optimize BIG-IP deployments for specific applications such as those provided by Oracle, Microsoft, Siebel, and SAP, as well as generic applications delivered via HTTP. With TMOS Version 10.0, we introduced templates that reduce the time and effort necessary to configure BIG-IP for a specific application. The configuration created is optimal for BIG-IP devices and the specific application for which the template was created and can be further customized for the specific conditions of an organization’s unique infrastructure and environment. Like other configuration details of BIG-IP devices, these templates can easily be shared across multiple BIG-IP deployments.
 
Adaptive Intelligence.  The full-proxy capabilities of TMOS enable it to inspect or “read” the entire contents of a transmission across multiple packets and identify specific elements of that transmission, including items such as names, dates, and any type of number or label. By taking advantage of our unique scripting capability, based on Tool Command Language (TCL), customers can use those elements as variables to create iRules that modify the content and direct the flow of traffic in ways tailored to the dynamic needs of their applications. iRules is a unique feature of TMOS that gives our products flexibility we believe to be unmatched by competing products.
 
Integrated Application Layer Solutions.  The combination of our full proxy architecture and enhanced iRules enables BIG-IP to intercept, inspect and act on the contents of traffic from virtually every type of


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IP-enabled application. In addition, the modularity of the TMOS architecture allows us to deliver tightly integrated solutions that secure, optimize and ensure the availability of applications and the networks they run on.
 
Data Solutions
 
F5’s data solutions products address many of the problems associated with managing today’s rapidly expanding file storage infrastructure. Our ARX product family of intelligent file virtualization devices represents a unique set of capabilities that optimize the performance and utilization of NAS systems.
 
Non-disruptive Data Migration.  ARX automates the movement of files between heterogeneous storage devices without affecting access and without requiring client reconfiguration. Enterprises can perform seamless hardware & software upgrades on file storage platforms, server consolidation, even vendor switches, all during business hours.
 
Automated Storage Tiering.  ARX automates the movement of data between tiers of storage, and the placement of data on appropriate tiers of storage, irrespective of platform or vendor. Organizations can lower the cost of storage and shrink backup and recovery windows by automatically placing data on appropriate storage devices without affecting access to the data.
 
Dynamic Load Balancing.  ARX dynamically distributes files across multiple file storage devices, eliminating “hotspots” or bottlenecks. Companies can improve application performance and increase productivity using the storage infrastructure that is already in place.
 
Efficient Data Replication.  ARX provides the ability to replicate files between heterogeneous storage platforms for efficient and cost effective disaster recovery and centralized backup applications.
 
Centralized Data Management.  Introduced in October 2008, Data Manager simplifies file virtualization deployments and helps organizations monitor multiple file storage resources through a centralized and extensible storage management platform. Data Manager can quickly identify areas within an organization’s file storage resources that could be improved by file virtualization and gives customers the tools to create a more efficient and cost-effective storage infrastructure.
 
Strategy
 
Our objective is to lead the industry in delivering the enabling architectures that integrate IP networks with applications and data. Our products provide strategic points of control in the IT infrastructure that allow business policies to be implemented where information is exchanged, enabling organizations to respond quickly to changing business needs, improve costly and time consuming business processes and develop new sources of revenue through highly differentiated offerings. Key components of our strategy include:
 
Offering a complete, integrated application delivery product suite.
 
Since the introduction of our TMOS architecture for application delivery networking, we have developed TMOS-based versions of our own legacy products, such as Global Traffic Manager (GTM) and Link Controller, and acquired technology, including Application Security Manager (ASM), WebAccelerator, and WANJet. ASM and WebAccelerator are currently available as software modules on our BIG-IP family of application delivery controllers, and features of WANJet have been integrated into TMOS Version 10.0. We believe this approach sharply differentiates our products from our competitors’ offerings and provides customers with an expanding array of integrated application delivery networking solutions that can be customized to meet their specific needs.
 
Investing in technology to meet evolving customer needs.
 
We continue to invest in research and development to provide our customers with comprehensive, integrated solutions. In application delivery networking, our product development efforts leverage the unique attributes of our software-based platforms to deliver new features and functions that address the complex,


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changing needs of our customers. Our ongoing investments in ARX are aimed at providing data solutions for the complex challenge of efficiently storing and managing the huge and growing volume of unstructured files created by network users and applications. Although the bulk of our investment in application delivery and file virtualization technologies is software development, concurrent development of tightly integrated, high-performance hardware is a key part of our investment strategy. To ensure performance and cost competitiveness, we incorporate commodity components in all of our hardware products.
 
Enhancing channel sales and distribution model.
 
We continue to invest significant resources in developing and expanding our indirect sales and distribution channels by cultivating our relationships with our existing partners and actively developing new relationships. Our efforts to recruit new partners are aimed primarily at large value-added resellers, systems integrators, and industry-leading systems manufacturers.
 
Continuing to build and expand relationships with strategic technology partners.
 
To compete successfully against Cisco Systems, Inc. and other large competitors who have an established presence in our target accounts, we have developed strategic technology partnerships with enterprise software vendors, such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP, who often have an established presence in those accounts. By taking advantage of our open application programming interface, called iControl, these vendors can equip their applications to control our products in the network, enhancing overall application performance. In return, they provide us significant leverage in the selling process by recommending our products to their customers. We have also worked closely with several of these vendors to develop configurations of our products, called application ready solutions, that are specifically tuned to simplify deployment and optimize the performance of their applications. With the release of TMOS Version 10.0 we made these solutions available as templates which allow quick and easy configuration of our products for specific applications. We plan to continue building on our existing relationships and to extend our competitive edge by developing new relationships with other strategic partners.
 
Leveraging DevCentral, our online community of network architects and developers.
 
Customization of our products using iRules enhances their “stickiness” by allowing customers to solve problems in both their applications and their networks that would be difficult if not impossible to solve by other means. To promote the use of iRules, we host an online community where network architects and developers can discuss and share the ways in which they use iRules to solve problems and enhance the security, performance and availability of applications. A corollary benefit is that many of the iRules solutions posted by DevCentral participants have become standard features in new releases of TMOS.
 
Enhancing our brand.
 
We believe F5 has achieved industry-wide recognition as the leading provider of application delivery networking products that optimize the security, performance and availability of network applications, servers and storage systems. We plan to continue investing in programs to promote the F5 brand and make it synonymous with superior technology, high quality customer service, trusted advice and definitive business value.
 
Products
 
Our core technology is hardware and software for application delivery networking, including application security, secure remote access, WAN optimization and file virtualization.
 
All of our products are systems that integrate our software with purpose-built hardware that incorporates commodity components. Our BIG-IP product family, which represents the bulk of our sales, supports a growing number of features and functions as software modules — including GTM (Global Traffic Manager), Link Controller, ASM (Application Security Manager) and WebAccelerator. We also sell ASM, FirePass, WANJet and WebAccelerator as separate, stand-alone appliances.


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BIG-IP
 
Products in our family of BIG-IP application delivery controllers all run TMOS and differ primarily in the hardware configurations that make up each system. During the past 18 months, we replaced our entire BIG-IP family of hardware platforms with new platforms designed to exploit the advanced features, functionality and performance of TMOS Version 10.0. Current platforms include BIG-IP 1600, BIG-IP 3600, BIG-IP 3900, BIG-IP 6900, BIG-IP 8900, and VIPRION, our chassis-based application delivery controller. In addition to local area traffic management, which is standard on every system, BIG-IP supports a growing number of add-on software products and features. Software products currently available for BIG-IP platforms include GTM, Link Controller, ASM, and WebAccelerator. Software add ons for TMOS include: Advanced Client Authentication, Advanced Routing, Fast Cache, Intelligent Compression, IPv6 Gateway, L7 Rate Shaping, Message Security Module, Protocol Security Module and SSL Acceleration.
 
VIPRION
 
Introduced in January 2008, VIPRION is our chassis-based application delivery controller that scales from one to four blades, each equipped with two dual-core processors and equivalent in performance to a BIG-IP 8900. Using clustered multiprocessing, custom disaggregation ASICs and advanced software, VIPRION allows customers to add or remove blades without disrupting traffic and distributes traffic across all available processors, effectively creating a single virtual processor. VIPRION helps customers simplify their networks by offloading servers and consolidating devices, saving management costs as well as power, space, and cooling in the datacenter and by reducing the number of application delivery controllers they need to deliver even the most demanding applications. By offloading computationally intense processes, VIPRION can also significantly reduce the number of application servers needed.
 
FirePass
 
FirePass appliances provide SSL VPN access for remote users of IP networks and any applications connected to those networks from any standard Web browser on any device. The components of FirePass include a dynamic policy engine, which manages user authentication and authorization privileges, and special components that enable corporations to give remote users controlled access to the full array of applications and resources within the network. FirePass also supports Application Ready Access, providing full reverse-proxy services for market-leading application portals including those of SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, and others.
 
Currently, we sell three FirePass products: The FirePass 1200 appliance is designed for small to medium enterprises and branch offices and supports from 10 to 100 concurrent users. The FirePass 4100 controller is designed for medium size enterprises and, from a price/performance standpoint, is recommended for up to 500 concurrent users. The FirePass 4300 appliance is designed for medium to large enterprises and service providers and supports up to 2,000 concurrent users.
 
Application Security Manager (ASM)
 
Application Security Manager is a Web application firewall that provides comprehensive, proactive, application-layer protection against both generalized and targeted attacks. Available as a software module on BIG-IP LTM, ASM employs a positive security model (‘deny all unless allowed’) combined with signature-based detection. As a result, ASM can prevent “day-zero” attacks in addition to known security threats. ASM is also available as a module or a stand-alone hardware platform.
 
WebAccelerator
 
WebAccelerator speeds web transactions by optimizing individual network object requests, connections, and end-to-end transactions from the browser through to databases. WebAccelerator enhances web application performance from any location, speeding up interactive performance, improving download times, utilizing bandwidth more efficiently, and dramatically reducing the cost and response time of delivering Web-enabled applications to distributed users where it is not possible to deploy an end point device. WebAccelerator devices


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can also be placed at key remote locations to provide acceleration to end-users above and beyond TCP optimizations and HTTP compression.
 
WebAccelerator is available as a software module on BIG-IP LTM or as a stand-alone appliance.
 
WANJet
 
WANJet combines WAN optimization and traffic-shaping in a single device to accelerate file transfers, email, data replication, and other applications over IP networks. It provides LAN-like performance on any WAN, ensuring predictable application performance for all users, and encrypts and secures all transfers without performance penalties. WANJet is deployed as a dual-sided (symmetric) solution that optimizes application traffic to and from data centers and branch offices.
 
For data centers, the WANJet 500 features pass-through fault tolerance and scalability for up to 20,000 optimized connections. For branch offices, the WANJet 300 combines pass-through fault tolerant features, silent operation, and performance for up to 1,000 optimized connections. WANJet solutions work seamlessly across all wide-area networks including dedicated links, IP VPNs, frame relay, and even satellite connections.
 
TMOS Version 10.0 incorporates features of WANJet called iSessions that enable the rapid transfer of large amounts of data between data centers, dramatically reducing the time needed for remote backup, site replication and data recovery.
 
Enterprise Manager
 
Enterprise Manager takes advantage of our iControl interface to provide a single, centralized management console for our ADN products. Enterprise Manager allows customers with dozens or hundreds of our products to discover and view those products in a single window, and to upgrade or modify the software on those products simultaneously. This lowers the cost and simplifies the task of deploying, managing and maintaining our products and reduces the likelihood of error when blanket changes are implemented.
 
Enterprise Manager 500 and Enterprise Manager 3000 are appliance-based devices on dedicated, enterprise-grade platforms. Enterprise Manager 500 provides control for up to 50 F5 devices, and Enterprise Manager 3000 provides control for up to 300 F5 devices.
 
ARX
 
The ARX product family is a series of high performance, enterprise-class intelligent file virtualization devices that dramatically simplify the management of file storage environments and lower total storage costs by automating data management tasks and eliminating the disruption associated with storage management operations. The ARX series is powered by the FreedomFabric network operating system, which automates many storage management tasks that are performed manually today, and eliminates the disruption associated with those tasks. FreedomFabric’s unique suite of storage management policies includes data migration, automated storage tiering, data replication, and dynamic load balancing.
 
Currently, the ARX series includes four products. ARX 500 and ARX 1000 are stand-alone devices that can manage more than 120 million and 380 million files, respectively. In October 2008, we introduced ARX 4000, a fixed form-factor device supporting 10 gigabit Ethernet and capable of managing more than 2 billion files. Our high-end ARX 6000 is a chassis-based device with multiple blades that can manage more than 2 billion files.
 
Data Manager
 
Also introduced in October 2008, Data Manager is a software product that interfaces directly with most file storage devices, including ARX file virtualization platforms. Data Manager gathers valuable file storage statistics and provides graphical reporting and trending functions to give users visibility into their constantly changing data storage environments, helping them respond to business needs and better plan for future growth.


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Enabling Technologies
 
iControl is an application programming interface that allows customers and independent software vendors to modify their programs to communicate with our products, eliminating the need for human involvement, lowering the cost of performing basic network functions and reducing the likelihood of error. Although we do not derive revenue from iControl itself, the sale of iControl-enabled applications by independent software vendors such as Microsoft and Oracle helps promote and often leads directly to the sale of our other products.
 
iRules is a built-in feature of our TMOS architecture that allows customers to manipulate and manage any IP application traffic that passes through our TMOS-based products. iRules has an easy-to-learn scripting syntax and enables users to customize how they intercept, inspect, transform, and direct inbound or outbound application traffic.
 
Product Development
 
We believe our future success depends on our ability to maintain technology leadership by continuing to improve our products and by developing new products to meet the changing needs of our customers. Our product development group employs a standard process for the development, documentation and quality control of software and systems that is designed to meet these goals. This process includes working with our business development and marketing teams, product managers, customers and partners to identify new or improved solutions that meet the evolving needs of our addressable markets.
 
Our principal software engineering group is located in our headquarters in Seattle, Washington. Our core product development teams for FirePass, WANJet and WebAccelerator are located in San Jose, California. Our core Application Security Manager (ASM) product development team is located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Our ARX product development team is located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Our hardware engineering group is located in Spokane, Washington. In addition, we maintain a dedicated facility for product testing and quality control in Tomsk, Russia. Members of all these teams collaborate closely with one another to ensure the interoperability and performance of our hardware and software systems.
 
During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we had research and product development expenses of $103.7 million, $103.4 million, and $69.0 million, respectively.
 
Customers
 
Our customers include a wide variety of enterprise customers and service providers among Fortune 1000 and Business Week Global 1000 companies, including those in technology, telecommunications, financial services, transportation, education, manufacturing and healthcare, along with government customers. In fiscal year 2009, international sales represented 44.7% of our net revenues. Refer to Note 12 of our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our revenues by geographic area.
 
Sales and Marketing
 
Sales
 
We sell our products and services to large enterprise customers and service providers through a variety of channels, including distributors, value-added resellers (“VARs”) and systems integrators. A substantial amount of our revenue for fiscal year 2009 was derived from these channel sales. Our sales teams work closely with our channel partners and also sell our products and services directly to a limited number of major accounts.
 
F5 sales teams.  Our inside sales team generates and qualifies leads for regional sales managers and helps manage accounts by serving as a liaison between the field and internal corporate resources. Our field sales personnel are located in major cities in four sales regions: the Americas (primarily the United States); Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Japan; and the Asia Pacific region (APAC). Field sales personnel work closely with our channel partners to assist them, as necessary, in the sale of our products and services to their customers. We also sell our products and services directly to a limited group of customers,


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primarily large enterprises, whose accounts are managed by our major account services team. Field systems engineers support our regional sales managers and channel partners by participating in joint sales calls and providing pre-sale technical resources as needed.
 
Distributors and VARs.  Consistent with our goal of building a strong channel sales model, we have established relationships with a number of large national and international distributors, local and specialized distributors and VARs. We derive a majority of our product sales from these distributors and VARs.
 
Our agreements with these channel partners are not exclusive and do not prevent them from selling competitive products. These agreements typically have terms of one year with no obligation to renew, and typically do not provide for exclusive sales territories or minimum purchase requirements.
 
For fiscal year 2009, sales to one of our distributors, Avnet Technologies, represented 15.4% of our total revenues. Our agreement with this distributor is a standard, non-exclusive distribution agreement that renews automatically on an annual basis and can be terminated by either party with 30 days prior written notice. The agreement grants Avnet Technologies the right to distribute our products to resellers in North America and certain other territories internationally, with no minimum purchase requirements.
 
Systems integrators.  We also market our products through strategic relationships with systems integrators, who include our products as core components of application or network-based solutions they deploy for their customers. In most cases, systems integrators do not directly purchase our products for resale to their customers. Instead they typically recommend our products as part of broader solutions, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) or customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, that incorporate our products for high availability and enhanced performance.
 
Marketing
 
Our marketing strategy is driven by the belief that our continued success depends on our ability to understand and anticipate the dynamic needs of our addressable markets and to develop valuable solutions that meet those needs. In line with this belief, our marketing organization works directly with customers, partners and our product development teams to identify and create innovative solutions to further enhance our leadership position. In addition, our business development team, which is a component of our marketing organization, closely monitors technology companies in adjacent and complementary markets for opportunities to acquire or partner with those whose solutions are complementary to ours and could enable us to expand our addressable market.
 
Another key component of our marketing strategy is to develop and expand our iControl partnerships. Working closely with our partners, we have developed solution sets called Application Ready Solutions that help ensure the successful deployment and delivery of their applications over the network. The result of methodical testing and research, these solutions have been integrated into TMOS Version 10.0 as templates that allow customers to configure our products quickly and easily to optimize the performance of specific applications from major software vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP.
 
To support the growing number of developers using our products, including network and application architects, we continue to promote and expand DevCentral, our on-line community website that provides technical resources to customers, prospects and partners wanting to extend and optimize F5 solutions using iRules. A key aspect of DevCentral is an on-line forum where developers as well as application and network architects discuss and share solutions they have written with iRules. At the end of fiscal 2009, DevCentral had more than 50,000 registered members.
 
We also engage in a number of marketing programs and initiatives aimed at promoting our brand and creating market awareness of our technology and products. These include actively participating in industry trade shows and joint marketing events with channel and technology partners, and briefing industry analysts and members of the trade press on our latest products, business relationships and technology partnerships. In addition, we market our products to chief information officers and other information technology professionals through targeted advertising, direct mail and high-profile Web events.


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Backlog
 
At the end of fiscal years 2009 and 2008, we had product backlog of approximately $35.5 million and $10.9 million, respectively. Backlog represents orders confirmed with a purchase order for products to be shipped generally within 90 days to customers with approved credit status. Orders are subject to cancellation, rescheduling by customers or product specification changes by customers. Although we believe that the backlog orders are firm, purchase orders may be cancelled by the customer prior to shipment without significant penalty. For this reason, we believe that our product backlog at any given date is not a reliable indicator of future revenues.
 
Customer Service and Technical Support
 
We believe that our ability to provide consistent, high-quality customer service and technical support is a key factor in attracting and retaining large enterprise customers. Accordingly, we offer a broad range of support services that include installation, phone support, hardware repair and replacement, software updates, consulting and training services. We deliver these services directly to end users and also utilize a multi-tiered support model, leveraging the capabilities of our channel partners when applicable. Our technical support staff is strategically located in regional service centers to support our global customer base.
 
Prior to the installation of our products, our services personnel work with customers to analyze their network needs and determine the best way to deploy our products and configure product features and functions to meet those needs. Our services personnel also provide on-site installation and training services to help customers make optimal use of product features and functions.
 
Our customers typically purchase a one-year maintenance contract which entitles them to an array of services provided by our technical support team. Maintenance services provided under the contract include online updates, software error correction releases, hardware repair and replacement, and, in the majority of cases, round-the-clock call center support. Updates to our software are only available to customers with a current maintenance contract. Our technical support team also offers seminars and training classes for customers on the configuration and use of products, including local and wide area network system administration and management. In addition, we have a professional services team able to provide a full range of fee-based consulting services, including comprehensive network management, documentation and performance analysis, and capacity planning to assist in predicting future network requirements.
 
We also offer, as part of our maintenance service, an online, automated, self-help customer support function called “Ask F5” that allows customers to answer many commonly asked questions without having to call our support desk. This allows the customer to rapidly address issues and questions, while significantly reducing the number of calls to our support desk. This enables us to provide comprehensive customer support while keeping our support-related expenses at a manageable, consistent level.
 
Manufacturing
 
We outsource the manufacturing of our pre-configured hardware platforms to third party contract manufacturers for assembly according to our specifications.
 
We outsource the majority of our manufacturing to Tier 1 Electronic Manufacturing Services providers. Flextronics manufactures our ADC product line and Sanmina-SCI manufacturers our ARX product line. The subcontracting activity at Flextronics and Sanmina-SCI encompasses prototype builds, full production and direct fulfillment. Our contract manufacturers perform the following activities on our behalf: material procurement, PCB assembly and test, final assembly, system test, quality control, direct shipment and warranty repairs. We provide a rolling forecast that allows our contract manufacturers to stock component parts and other materials, plan capacity and build finished goods inventory in anticipation of end user demand. Each of the contract manufacturers procures components necessary to assemble the products in our forecast and tests the products according to our specifications. Products are then shipped to our distributors, value-added resellers, or end users. Generally, we do not own the components. Title to the products transfers from the contract manufacturers to us and then to our customers upon delivery at a designated shipment location. If the components are unused or the products are not sold within specified periods of time, we may incur carrying


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charges or obsolete material charges for components that our contract manufacturers purchased to build products to meet our forecast or customer orders.
 
Hardware platforms for our products consist primarily of commodity parts and certain custom components designed and approved by our hardware engineering group. Most of our components are purchased from sources which we believe are readily available from other suppliers. However, several components used in the assembly of our products are purchased from a single or limited source.
 
Competition
 
The expanding capabilities of our product offerings have enabled us to address a growing array of opportunities, many of which are outside the bounds of the traditional Layer 4-7 market. Within what Gartner Group has defined as the Application Acceleration market, we compete in the Application Delivery Controller (ADC) market, which encompasses the traditional Layer 4-7 market, and, to a lesser extent, the WAN Optimization Controller (WOC) market. Over the next several years, we believe these two markets will merge as WAN optimization effectively becomes a feature of Application Delivery. Today, we offer WebAccelerator as a software module on BIG-IP, and features of WANJet, our WAN optimization and traffic-shaping device, have been integrated into Version 10.0 of TMOS.
 
In 2009, approximately 90% of our products and services were sold into the ADC market where our primary competitor is Cisco Systems, Inc. Other competitors in this market include Citrix Systems, Inc., Brocade, Radware Ltd, and a number of smaller competitors including A10 Networks, Array Networks, Barracuda Networks, Crescendo Networks, and Zeus Technology Ltd. In the adjacent WAN Optimization Controller market, we compete with Riverbed, Juniper, Blue Coat Systems, Cisco and Citrix. Currently, we do not compete in the branch office segment of the WOC market, which features products offered by Riverbed Technology, Inc., BlueCoat Systems Inc., Cisco and others.
 
File virtualization remains an early-stage market, the growth of which has been slowed by the recent global economic downturn. We believe our ARX file virtualization products are unique in terms of technology and functionality and are well positioned within this emerging market. However, large storage vendors such as EMC Corporation offer competing products with overlapping functionality.
 
The principal competitive factors in the markets in which we compete include: product performance and features; customer support; brand recognition; the scope of distribution and sales channels; and pricing. Many of our competitors have a longer operating history and greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. These larger competitors also have a more extensive customer base and broader customer relationships, including relationships with many of our current and potential customers. In addition, many have large, well-established, worldwide customer support and professional services organizations and more extensive direct sales force and sales channels. Because of our relatively smaller size, market presence and resources, our larger competitors may be able to respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements. These companies may also adopt aggressive pricing policies to gain market share. As a result, our competitors could undermine our ability to win new customers and maintain our existing customer base.
 
Intellectual Property
 
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. We have obtained 47 patents in the United States and have applications pending for various aspects of our technology. Our future success depends in part on our ability to protect our proprietary rights to the technologies used in our principal products. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use trade secrets or other information that we regard as proprietary. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights as fully as do the laws of the United States. Any issued patent may not preserve our proprietary position, and competitors or others may develop technologies similar to or superior to our technology. Our failure to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.


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In addition to our own proprietary software, we incorporate software licensed from several third-party sources into our products. These licenses generally renew automatically on an annual basis. We believe that alternative technologies for these licenses are available both domestically and internationally.
 
Employees
 
As of September 30, 2009, we had 1,646 full-time employees, including 430 in product development, 696 in sales and marketing, 330 in professional services and technical support and 190 in finance, administration and operations. None of our employees are represented by a labor union. We have experienced no work stoppages and believe that our employee relations are good.
 
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers and directors as of November 20, 2009:
 
             
Name
 
Age
 
Position
 
John McAdam
    58     President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mark Anderson
    47     Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales
Jeffrey A. Christianson
    52     Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Edward J. Eames
    51     Senior Vice President of Business Operations
Dan Matte
    43     Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development
Andy Reinland
    45     Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer
John Rodriguez
    49     Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Karl Triebes
    42     Senior Vice President of Product Development and Chief Technical Officer
A. Gary Ames(2)(3)
    65     Director
Deborah L. Bevier(1)(2)
    58     Director
Karl D. Guelich(1)(3)
    67     Director
Alan J. Higginson(2)(3)
    62     Chairman of the Board of Directors
Scott Thompson(1)(3)
    52     Director
 
 
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
 
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.
 
(3) Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.
 
John McAdam has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and a director since July 2000. Prior to joining us, Mr. McAdam served as General Manager of the Web server sales business at International Business Machines Corporation from September 1999 to July 2000. From January 1995 until August 1999, Mr. McAdam served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Sequent Computer Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of high-end open systems, which was sold to International Business Machines Corporation in September 1999. Mr. McAdam holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Glasgow, Scotland.
 
Mark Anderson has served as our Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales since October 2007. He joined F5 Networks in October 2004 as Vice President of North American Sales. Prior to joining F5, Mr. Anderson served as Executive Vice President of North American Sales at Lucent Technologies from 2003 to 2004. From 2002 through 2003, Mr. Anderson was Vice President of Business Development at RadioFrame Networks. From 1997 to 2001, he served as a Sales Director at Cisco Systems, Inc. From 1986 to 1996, he was Vice President of Western U.S. Sales at Comdisco. Mr. Anderson holds a B.A. in Business and Economics from York University in Toronto.
 
Jeffrey A. Christianson has served as our Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company since December 2006. From February 2000 to July 2006, Mr. Christianson was Sr. Vice President and General Counsel


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of Western Wireless Corporation, a wireless service. From March 1996 to January 2000, Mr. Christianson served as Sr. Vice President of Business Development, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a game and software company. From September 1992 to March 1996, he served as General Counsel and Secretary of Heart Technology, Inc., a medical device company. From September 1990 to September 1992, he was Vice-President and General Counsel of Spider Staging Corporation and Vice President of Administration and Corporate Counsel for Flow International Corporation after its acquisition of Spider Staging Corporation. Mr. Christianson holds a B.A. from Whitman College and a J.D. from the University of Washington, and serves on the Board of Directors of Whitman College, the Board of Trustees of Northwest Children’s Fund, and the Board of Directors of the Humane Society for Seattle/King County.
 
Edward J. Eames has served as our Senior Vice President of Business Operations since January 2001 and as our Vice President of Professional Services from October 2000 to January 2001. From September 1999 to October 2000, Mr. Eames served as Vice President of e-Business Services for International Business Machines Corporation. From June 1992 to September 1999, Mr. Eames served as the European Services Director and the Worldwide Vice President of Customer Service for Sequent Computer Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of high-end open systems. Mr. Eames holds a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies from Bristol Polytechnic and in 1994 completed the Senior Executive Program at the London Business School.
 
Dan Matte has served as our Senior Vice President of Marketing since June 2004, and as Vice President of Product Marketing and Management from March 2002 through May 2004. He served as our Senior Director of Product Marketing and Management from February 2001 through February 2002. From March 1999 to February 2001, Mr. Matte served as our Director of Product Management. Mr. Matte joined F5 in February 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queens’s University and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.
 
Andy Reinland has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer since October 2005. Mr. Reinland joined F5 in 1998, serving as a senior financial analyst and, most recently, Vice President of Finance. Prior to joining F5, Mr. Reinland was Chief Financial Officer for RTIME, Inc., a developer of real-time 3D software for Internet applications, which was acquired by Sony. Mr. Reinland started his career in public accounting. Mr. Reinland holds a B.A. in Business from Washington State University.
 
John Rodriguez has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since October 2005. For SEC reporting purposes, Mr. Rodriguez is the principal financial officer. Rodriguez joined F5 in 2001 as Corporate Controller. His most recent position held was Vice President and Corporate Controller. Prior to F5, Mr. Rodriguez was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CyberSafe, a security solutions company, and Senior Director of Finance and Operations at Mosaix, which was acquired by Lucent Technologies. Mr. Rodriguez started his career in public accounting. Mr. Rodriguez holds a B.A. in Business from the University of Washington.
 
Karl Triebes has served as our Senior Vice President of Product Development and Chief Technical Officer since August 2004. Prior to joining us, Mr. Triebes served as Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering of Foundry Networks, Inc. from January 2003 to August 2004. From June 2001 to January 2003, he served as Foundry’s Vice President of Hardware Engineering. From May 2000 to June 2001, Mr. Triebes was Vice President of Engineering at Alcatel U.S.A., a telecommunications company. From December 1999 to May 2000, he was Assistant Vice President of Newbridge Networks Corp., a networking company subsequently acquired by Alcatel. Mr. Triebes holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University.
 
A. Gary Ames has served as one of our directors since July 2004. Mr. Ames served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MediaOne International, a provider of broadband and wireless communications from July 1995 until his retirement in June 2000. From January 1990 to July 1995, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of U S West Communications, a regional provider of residential and business telephone services, and operator and carrier services. Mr. Ames also serves as director of SuperValu, Inc. and iPass, Inc.


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Deborah L. Bevier has served as one of our directors since July 2006. Ms. Bevier has been the principal of DL Bevier Consulting LLC, an organizational and management consulting firm, since 2004. Prior to that time, from 1996 until 2003, Ms. Bevier served as a director, president and chief executive officer of Laird Norton Financial Group and its predecessor companies, an independent financial advisory services firm. From 1973 to 1996, Ms. Bevier held numerous leadership positions with KeyCorp including chairman and chief executive officer of Key Bank of Washington. Ms. Bevier currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fisher Communications, Inc. and Coinstar, Inc. Ms. Bevier holds a B.S. in Economics from SUNY New Paltz and a graduate degree from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.
 
Karl D. Guelich has served as one of our directors since June 1999 and as board chair from January 2003 through April 2004. Mr. Guelich retired from Ernst & Young LLP in 1993, where he served as the Area Managing Partner for the Pacific Northwest offices headquartered in Seattle from October 1986 to November 1992. Mr. Guelich was in private practice as a certified public accountant until August 2006. Mr. Guelich holds a B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University.
 
Alan J. Higginson has served as board chair since April 2004, and as one of our directors since May 1996. Mr. Higginson is Chairman of Hubspan, Inc., an e-business infrastructure provider. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hubspan from August 2001 to September 2007. From November 1995 to November 1998, Mr. Higginson served as President of Atrieva Corporation, a provider of advanced data backup and retrieval technology. Mr. Higginson holds a B.S. in Commerce and an M.B.A. from the University of Santa Clara.
 
Scott Thompson has served as one of our directors since January 2008. Mr. Thompson is President of PayPal, an eBay Company. From February 2005 to January 2008, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Payments, Risk and Technology at PayPal. From April 2000 to February 2005, he served as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer for Inovant/VISA International. From August 1997 to April 2000, he served as Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, Systems Group at VISA USA. Mr. Thompson holds a B.S. in Accounting from Stonehill College.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
In addition to the other information in this report, the following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating our company and its business.
 
Our success depends on our timely development of new products and features, market acceptance of new product offerings and proper management of the timing of the life cycle of our products
 
The application delivery networking and file virtualization markets are characterized by rapid technological change, frequent new product introductions, changes in customer requirements and evolving industry standards. Our continued success depends on our ability to identify and develop new products and new features for our existing products to meet the demands of these changes, and the acceptance of those products and features by our existing and target customers. If we are unable to identify, develop and deploy new products and new product features on a timely basis, our business and results of operations may be harmed.
 
The current life cycle of our products is typically 12 to 24 months. The introduction of new products or product enhancements may shorten the life cycle of our existing products, or replace sales of some of our current products, thereby offsetting the benefit of even a successful product introduction, and may cause customers to defer purchasing our existing products in anticipation of the new products. This could harm our operating results by decreasing sales, increasing our inventory levels of older products and exposing us to greater risk of product obsolescence. We have also experienced, and may in the future experience, delays in developing and releasing new products and product enhancements. This has led to, and may in the future lead to, delayed sales, increased expenses and lower quarterly revenue than anticipated. Also, in the development of our products, we have experienced delays in the prototyping of our products, which in turn has led to delays in product introductions. In addition, complexity and difficulties in managing product transitions at the end-of-life stage of a product can create excess inventory of components associated with the outgoing product


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that can lead to increased expenses. Any or all of the above problems could materially harm our business and results of operations.
 
Our success depends on sales and continued innovation of our Application Delivery Networking product lines
 
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, we derived approximately 93.7% of our net product revenues, or approximately 58.3% of our total net revenues, from sales of our Application Delivery Networking (“ADN”) product lines. We expect to continue to derive a significant portion of our net revenues from sales of our ADN products in the future. Implementation of our strategy depends upon these products being able to solve critical network availability and performance problems of our customers. If our ADN products are unable to solve these problems for our customers or if we are unable to sustain the high levels of innovation in our ADN product feature set needed to maintain leadership in what will continue to be a competitive market environment, our business and results of operations will be harmed.
 
We may not be able to compete effectively in the emerging application delivery networking and file virtualization markets
 
The markets we serve are new, rapidly evolving and highly competitive, and we expect competition to persist and intensify in the future. Our principal competitors in the application delivery networking market include Cisco, Citrix, Brocade and Radware. In the adjacent WAN Optimization Controller market, we compete with Riverbed, Juniper, Blue Coat Systems, Cisco and Citrix. In the file virtualization market, we compete with EMC. We expect to continue to face additional competition as new participants enter our markets. As we continue to expand globally, we may see new competitors in different geographic regions. In addition, larger companies with significant resources, brand recognition, and sales channels may form alliances with or acquire competing application delivery networking solutions from other companies and emerge as significant competitors. Potential competitors may bundle their products or incorporate an Internet traffic management or security component into existing products in a manner that discourages users from purchasing our products. Any of these circumstances may limit our opportunities for growth and negatively impact our financial performance.
 
Our quarterly and annual operating results are inherently unpredictable and may cause our stock price to fluctuate
 
Our quarterly and annual operating results have varied significantly in the past and will vary significantly in the future, which makes it difficult for us to predict our future operating results. In particular, we anticipate that the size of customer orders may increase as we continue to focus on larger business accounts. A delay in the recognition of revenue, even from just one account, may have a significant negative impact on our results of operations for a given period. In the past, a majority of our sales have been realized near the end of a quarter. Accordingly, a delay in an anticipated sale past the end of a particular quarter may negatively impact our results of operations for that quarter, or in some cases, that fiscal year. Additionally, we have exposure to the credit risks of some of our customers and sub-tenants. Although we have programs in place that are designed to monitor and mitigate the associated risk, there can be no assurance that such programs will be effective in reducing our credit risks adequately. We monitor individual payment capability in granting credit arrangements, seek to limit the total credit to amounts we believe our customers can pay and maintain reserves we believe are adequate to cover exposure for potential losses. If there is a deterioration of a sub-tenant’s or a major customer’s creditworthiness or actual defaults are higher than expected, future losses, if incurred, could harm our business and have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
 
Further, our operating results may be below the expectations of securities analysts and investors in future quarters or years. Our failure to meet these expectations will likely harm the market price of our common stock. Such a decline could occur, and has occurred in the past, even when we have met our publicly stated revenue and/or earnings guidance.


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The average selling price of our products may decrease and our costs may increase, which may negatively impact gross profits
 
It is possible that the average selling prices of our products will decrease in the future in response to competitive pricing pressures, increased sales discounts, new product introductions by us or our competitors or other factors. Therefore, in order to maintain our gross profits, we must develop and introduce new products and product enhancements on a timely basis and continually reduce our product costs. Our failure to do so will cause our net revenue and gross profits to decline, which will harm our business and results of operations. In addition, we may experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in future operating results due to the erosion of our average selling prices.
 
It is difficult to predict our future operating results because we have an unpredictable sales cycle
 
Our products have a lengthy sales cycle and the timing of our revenue is difficult to predict. Historically, our sales cycle has ranged from approximately two to three months and has tended to lengthen as we have increasingly focused our sales efforts on the enterprise market. Also, as our distribution strategy has evolved into more of a channel model, utilizing value-added resellers, distributors and systems integrators, the level of variability in the length of sales cycle across transactions has increased and made it more difficult to predict the timing of many of our sales transactions. Sales of our products require us to educate potential customers in their use and benefits. Sales of our products are subject to delays from the lengthy internal budgeting, approval and competitive evaluation processes that large corporations and governmental entities may require. For example, customers frequently begin by evaluating our products on a limited basis and devote time and resources to testing our products before they decide whether or not to purchase. Customers may also defer orders as a result of anticipated releases of new products or enhancements by our competitors or us. As a result, our products have an unpredictable sales cycle that contributes to the uncertainty of our future operating results.
 
Our business may be harmed if our contract manufacturers are not able to provide us with adequate supplies of our products or if a single source of hardware assembly is lost or impaired
 
We outsource the manufacturing of our hardware platforms to third party contract manufacturers who assemble these hardware platforms to our specifications. We have experienced minor delays in shipments from contract manufacturers in the past. However, if we experience major delays in the future or other problems, such as inferior quality and insufficient quantity of product, any one or a combination of these factors may harm our business and results of operations. The inability of our contract manufacturers to provide us with adequate supplies of our products or the loss of one or more of our contract manufacturers may cause a delay in our ability to fulfill orders while we obtain a replacement manufacturer and may harm our business and results of operations. In particular, we currently subcontract manufacturing of our application delivery networking products to a single contract manufacturer with whom we do not have a long-term contract. If our arrangement with this single source of hardware assembly was terminated or otherwise impaired, and we were not able to engage another contract manufacturer in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected.
 
If the demand for our products grows, we will need to increase our raw material and component purchases, contract manufacturing capacity and internal test and quality control functions. Any disruptions in product flow may limit our revenue, may harm our competitive position and may result in additional costs or cancellation of orders by our customers.
 
Our business could suffer if there are any interruptions or delays in the supply of hardware components from our third-party sources
 
We currently purchase several hardware components used in the assembly of our products from a number of single or limited sources. Lead times for these components vary significantly. The unavailability of suitable components, any interruption or delay in the supply of any of these hardware components or the inability to procure a similar component from alternate sources at acceptable prices within a reasonable time, may delay


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assembly and sales of our products and, hence, our revenues, and may harm our business and results of operations.
 
We are subject to governmental export and import controls that could subject us to liability or impair our ability to compete in international markets
 
Our products are subject to U.S. export controls and may be exported outside the U.S. only with the required level of export license or through an export license exception because we incorporate encryption technology into our products. In addition, various countries regulate the import of certain encryption technology and have enacted laws that could limit our ability to distribute our products or our customers’ ability to implement our products in those countries. Changes in our products or changes in export and import regulations may create delays in the introduction of our products in international markets, prevent our customers with international operations from deploying our products throughout their global systems or, in some cases, prevent the export or import of our products to certain countries altogether. Any change in export or import regulations or related legislation, shift in approach to the enforcement or scope of existing regulations or change in the countries, persons or technologies targeted by such regulations, could result in decreased use of our products by, or in our decreased ability to export or sell our products to, existing or potential customers with international operations. For example, we will need to comply with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive laws, which are being adopted by certain European Economic Area countries on a country-by-country basis. Failure to comply with these and similar laws on a timely basis, or at all, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Any decreased use of our products or limitation on our ability to export or sell our products would likely adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property and our products may infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties
 
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, and restrictions on disclosure of confidential and proprietary information to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology. Monitoring unauthorized use of our products is difficult, and we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent misappropriation of our technology, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States.
 
Our industry is characterized by the existence of a large number of patents and frequent claims and related litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. In the ordinary course of our business, we are involved in disputes and licensing discussions with others regarding their claimed proprietary rights and cannot assure you that we will always successfully defend ourselves against such claims. If we are found to infringe the proprietary rights of others, or if we otherwise settle such claims, we could be compelled to pay damages or royalties and either obtain a license to those intellectual property rights or alter our products so that they no longer infringe upon such proprietary rights. Any license could be very expensive to obtain or may not be available at all. Similarly, changing our products or processes to avoid infringing upon the rights of others may be costly or impractical. In addition, we have initiated, and may in the future initiate, claims or litigation against third parties for infringement of our proprietary rights, or to determine the scope and validity of our proprietary rights or those of our competitors. Any of these claims, whether claims that we are infringing the proprietary rights of others, or vice versa, with or without merit, may be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel or require us to cease using infringing technology, develop non-infringing technology or enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Further, our license agreements typically require us to indemnify our customers, distributors and resellers for infringement actions related to our technology, which could cause us to become involved in infringement claims made against our customers, distributors or resellers. Any of the above-described circumstances relating to intellectual property rights disputes could result in our business and results of operations being harmed.
 
Many of our products include intellectual property licensed from third parties. In the future, it may be necessary to renew licenses for third party intellectual property or obtain new licenses for other technology.


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These third party licenses may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. The inability to obtain certain licenses, or litigation regarding the interpretation or enforcement of license rights and related intellectual property issues, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Furthermore, we license some third party intellectual property on a non-exclusive basis and this may limit our ability to protect our intellectual property rights in our products.
 
We may not be able to sustain or develop new distribution relationships and a reduction or delay in sales to significant distribution partners could hurt our business
 
We sell our products and services through multiple distribution channels in the United States and internationally, including leading industry distributors, value-added resellers, systems integrators, and other indirect channel partners. We have a limited number of agreements with companies in these channels, and we may not be able to increase our number of distribution relationships or maintain our existing relationships. Recruiting and retaining qualified channel partners and training them in our technologies requires significant time and resources. If we are unable to establish or maintain our indirect sales channels, our business and results of operations will be harmed. In addition, one worldwide distributor of our products accounted for 15.4% of our total net revenue for fiscal year 2009. Two worldwide distributors of our products together accounted for 24.5% of our total net revenue for fiscal year 2008. A substantial reduction or delay in sales of our products to these distribution partners, if not replaced by sales to other indirect channel partners and distributors, could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
Undetected software or hardware errors may harm our business and results of operations
 
Our products may contain undetected errors or defects when first introduced or as new versions are released. We have experienced these errors or defects in the past in connection with new products and product upgrades. We expect that these errors or defects will be found from time to time in new or enhanced products after commencement of commercial shipments. These problems may cause us to incur significant warranty and repair costs, divert the attention of our engineering personnel from our product development efforts and cause significant customer relations problems. We may also be subject to liability claims for damages related to product errors or defects. While we carry insurance policies covering this type of liability, these policies may not provide sufficient protection should a claim be asserted. A material product liability claim may harm our business and results of operations.
 
Our products must successfully operate with products from other vendors. As a result, when problems occur in a network, it may be difficult to identify the source of the problem. The occurrence of software or hardware problems, whether caused by our products or another vendor’s products, may result in the delay or loss of market acceptance of our products. The occurrence of any of these problems may harm our business and results of operations.
 
Adverse general economic conditions or reduced information technology spending may adversely impact our business
 
A substantial portion of our business depends on the demand for information technology by large enterprise customers and service providers, the overall economic health of our current and prospective customers and the continued growth and evolution of the Internet. National, regional and local economic conditions, such as recessionary economic cycles, protracted economic slowdown or further deterioration of the economy could adversely impact demand for our products. The purchase of our products is often discretionary and may involve a significant commitment of capital and other resources. Continued weak economic conditions or a reduction in information technology spending even if economic conditions improve would likely result in longer sales cycles and reduced product sales, each of which would adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.


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Our investments in auction rate securities are subject to risks that may cause losses and affect the liquidity of these investments
 
At September 30, 2009, the fair value of our AAA/A- (or equivalent) rated municipal auction rate securities (“ARS”) was approximately $40.1 million. Beginning in February 2008, auctions failed for approximately $53.4 million in par value of municipal ARS we held because sell orders exceeded buy orders. We may not be able to liquidate these investments and realize their full carrying value unless the issuer calls the security, a successful auction occurs, a buyer is found outside of the auction process, or the security matures. While we do not believe the decline in the carrying values of these municipal ARS is permanent, if the issuers of these securities are unable to successfully close future auctions and their credit ratings are lowered, we may be required to record future impairment charges related to these investments, which would harm our results of operations. We believe certain of these available-for-sale investments may remain illiquid for longer than twelve months and as a result, we have classified these investments as long-term as of September 30, 2009.
 
Our operating results are exposed to risks associated with international commerce
 
As our international sales increase, our operating results become more exposed to international operating risks. These risks include risks related to recessionary economic cycles or protracted slowdowns in economies outside the United States, foreign currency exchange rates, managing foreign sales offices, regulatory, political or economic conditions in specific countries, military conflict or terrorist activities, changes in laws and tariffs, inadequate protection of intellectual property rights in foreign countries, foreign regulatory requirements and natural disasters. All of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business. We intend to continue expanding into international markets. International sales represented 44.7% and 42.5% of our net revenues for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In particular, in fiscal year 2009, we derived 8.7% of our total revenue from the Japanese market. This revenue is dependent on a number of factors outside our control, including the viability and success of our resellers and the strength of the Japanese economy.
 
Changes in governmental regulations could negatively affect our revenues
 
Our products are subject to various regulations promulgated by the United States and various foreign governments including, but not limited to, environmental regulations and regulations implementing export license requirements and restrictions on the import or export of some technologies, especially encryption technology. Changes in governmental regulation and our inability or failure to obtain required approvals, permits or registrations could harm our international and domestic sales and adversely affect our revenues, business and operations.
 
Acquisitions present many risks and we may not realize the financial and strategic goals that are contemplated at the time of the transaction
 
With respect to our past acquisitions, as well as any other future acquisitions we may undertake, we may find that the acquired businesses, products or technologies do not further our business strategy as expected, that we paid more than what the assets are later worth or that economic conditions change, all of which may generate future impairment charges. Our acquisitions may be viewed negatively by customers, financial markets or investors. There may be difficulty integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired business, and we may have difficulty retaining the key personnel of the acquired business. We may have difficulty in integrating the acquired technologies or products with our existing product lines. Our ongoing business and management’s attention may be disrupted or diverted by transition or integration issues and the complexity of managing geographically and culturally diverse locations. We may have difficulty maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies across locations. We may experience significant problems or liabilities associated with product quality, technology and other matters.
 
Our inability to successfully operate and integrate newly-acquired businesses appropriately, effectively and in a timely manner, or to retain key personnel of any acquired business, could have a material adverse


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effect on our ability to take advantage of further growth in demand for integrated traffic management and security solutions and other advances in technology, as well as on our revenues, gross margins and expenses.
 
Our success depends on our key personnel and our ability to attract and retain qualified sales and marketing, operations, product development and professional services personnel
 
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our key management, product development, sales, marketing and finance personnel, many of whom may be difficult to replace. The complexity of our application delivery networking products and their integration into existing networks and ongoing support, as well as the sophistication of our sales and marketing effort, requires us to retain highly trained professional services, customer support and sales personnel. Competition for qualified professional services, customer support and sales personnel in our industry is intense because of the limited number of people available with the necessary technical skills and understanding of our products. Our ability to retain and hire these personnel may be adversely affected by volatility or reductions in the price of our common stock, since these employees are generally granted restricted stock units or stock options. The loss of services of any of our key personnel, the inability to retain and attract qualified personnel in the future or delays in hiring qualified personnel may harm our business and results of operations.
 
We face litigation risks
 
We are a party to lawsuits in the normal course of our business. Litigation in general, and intellectual property and securities litigation in particular, can be expensive, lengthy and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. Responding to lawsuits has been, and will likely continue to be, expensive and time-consuming for us. An unfavorable resolution of these lawsuits could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
 
Our historical stock option practices and the restatement of our prior financial statements have exposed us to greater risks associated with litigation. Beginning in May 2006 several derivative actions were filed against certain current and former directors and officers (as discussed further in Part II, Item 8, Note 8, “Commitments and Contingencies — Litigation”) based on allegations relating to our historical stock option practices. We cannot assure you that this current litigation will result in the same conclusions reached by the special committee of outside directors formed by our Board of Directors to conduct a review of our stock option practices (the “Special Committee”).
 
We may in the future be subject to additional litigation arising in relation to our historical stock option practices and the restatement of our prior financial statements. Litigation may be time consuming, expensive and distracting for management from the conduct of our business. The adverse resolution of any lawsuit could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that any future litigation relating to our historical stock option practices will result in the same conclusions reached by the Special Committee. Furthermore, if we are subject to adverse findings in any of these matters, we could be required to pay damages or penalties or have other remedies imposed upon us which could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
 
The matters relating to our historical stock option practices and the restatement of our consolidated financial statements have resulted in regulatory proceedings against us and may result in future regulatory proceedings, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition
 
On November 8, 2006, we announced that the Special Committee had completed its review of our historical stock option practices. Upon completion of its review, the Special Committee found that the recorded grant dates for certain stock options granted during fiscal years 1999 to 2004 should be adjusted as the measurement date for accounting purposes and the accounting treatment used for the vesting of certain stock options was incorrect. Based on the Special Committee’s review, to correct the accounting treatment, we amended our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (as amended) for the year ended September 30, 2005 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006 to restate the consolidated financial statements contained in those reports.


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In May 2006, we received notice from both the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (the “Department of Justice”) that they were conducting informal inquiries into our historical stock option practices. We have fully cooperated with both agencies. Considerable legal and accounting expenses related to our historical stock option practices have been incurred and we may in the future be subject to additional regulatory proceedings or actions arising in relation to our historical stock option practices and the restatement of our prior period financial statements. Any potential regulatory proceeding or action may be time consuming, expensive and distracting for management from the conduct of our business. The adverse resolution of any potential regulatory proceeding or action could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. We cannot assure you that the SEC and Department of Justice inquiries, or any future regulatory action relating to our historical stock option practices, will result in the same conclusions reached by the Special Committee. Furthermore, if we are subject to adverse findings in any of these matters, we could be required to pay damages or penalties or have other remedies imposed upon us, including criminal penalties, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
 
Anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us
 
Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of those shares without any further vote or action by the shareholders. The rights of the holders of common stock may be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company without further action by our shareholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. Further, certain provisions of our bylaws, including a provision limiting the ability of stockholders to raise matters at a meeting of shareholders without giving advance notice, may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or management of our company, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. In addition, our articles of incorporation provide for a staggered board, which may make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of our Board of Directors. Similarly, state anti-takeover laws in the State of Washington related to corporate takeovers may prevent or delay a change of control of our company.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 2.   Properties
 
We lease our principal administrative, sales, marketing, research and development facilities, which are located in Seattle, Washington and consist of approximately 190,000 square feet. In April 2000, we amended and restated the lease agreement on two of the three buildings for our corporate headquarters. The lease commenced in July 2000 on the first building; and the lease on the second building commenced in October 2000. The lease for both buildings expires in 2012 with an option for renewal. The lease for the second building has been partially subleased through 2012. The lease on the third building commenced in June 2008 and will expire in 2018. In October 2006, we entered into an office lease agreement to lease a building adjacent to the three buildings that serve as our corporate headquarters. This lease expires in 2018. During 2008, we entered into two separate sublease agreements to sublease approximately 112,500 square feet of this building. These subleases expire in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
 
We believe that our existing properties are in good condition and suitable for the conduct of our business. We also lease office space for our product development personnel in Spokane, Washington, San Jose, California, Lowell, Massachusetts, Israel, Northern Ireland, and Russia and for our sales and support personnel in Illinois, Washington D.C., New York, New Jersey, Mexico, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. We believe that our future growth can be accommodated by our current facilities or by leasing additional space if necessary.


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Item 3.   Legal Proceedings
 
Derivative Suits.  Beginning on or about May 24, 2006, several derivative actions were filed against certain of our current and former directors and officers. These derivative lawsuits were filed in: (1) the Superior Court of King County, Washington, as In re F5 Networks, Inc. State Court Derivative Litigation (Case No. 06-2-17195-1 SEA), which consolidates Adams v. Amdahl, et al. (Case No. 06-2-17195-1 SEA), Wright v. Amdahl, et al. (Case No. 06-2-19159-5 SEA), and Sommer v. McAdam, et al. (Case No. 06-2-26248-4 SEA) (the “State Court Derivative Litigation”); and (2) the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, as In re F5 Networks, Inc. Derivative Litigation, Master File No. C06-0794RSL, which consolidates Hutton v. McAdam, et al. (Case No. 06-794RSL), Locals 302 and 612 of the International Union of Operating Engineers-Employers Construction Industry Retirement Trust v. McAdam et al. (Case No. C06-1057RSL), and Easton v. McAdam et al. (Case No. C06-1145RSL) (the “Federal Court Derivative Litigation”). On August 2, 2007, another derivative lawsuit, Barone v. McAdam et al. (Case No. C07-1200P) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The Barone lawsuit was designated a related case to the Federal Court Derivative Litigation on September 4, 2007. The complaints generally allege that certain of our current and former directors and officers, including, in general, each of our current outside directors (other than Deborah L. Bevier and Scott Thompson who joined our Board of Directors in July 2006 and January 2008, respectively) breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by engaging in alleged wrongful conduct concerning the manipulation of certain stock option grant dates. We are named solely as a nominal defendant against whom the plaintiffs seek no recovery. Our combined motion to consolidate and stay the State Court Derivative Litigation was granted in a court order dated April 3, 2007. Our motion to dismiss the consolidated federal derivative actions based on plaintiffs’ failure to make demand on our Board of Directors prior to filing suit was granted in a court order dated August 6, 2007 with leave to amend the allegations in plaintiffs’ complaint. Plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated federal derivative action complaint on September 14, 2007. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint based on plaintiff’s failure to make demand on our Board of Directors prior to filing suit. On July 3, 2008, before ruling on our pending dismissal motion, the federal court entered an order certifying certain issues of Washington state law to the Washington Supreme Court for resolution. On May 21, 2009, the Washington Supreme Court issued its opinion on the certified issues. Our dismissal motion remains pending before the federal court as we intend to continue to vigorously pursue dismissal of the derivative actions.
 
SEC and Department of Justice Inquiries.  In May 2006, we received notice from both the SEC and the Department of Justice that they were conducting informal inquiries into our historical stock option practices, and have fully cooperated with both agencies. Considerable legal and accounting expenses related to our historical stock option practices have been incurred to date. We may in the future be subject to additional regulatory proceedings or actions arising in relation to our historical stock option practices and the restatement of our prior period financial statements. Although regulatory proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, we do not believe the results of any pending actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
We are not aware of any pending legal proceedings other than those mentioned above that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial condition. We may in the future be party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims that we allegedly infringe upon third-party trademarks or other intellectual property rights. Such claims, even if not meritorious, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources.
 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders
 
No matters were submitted to a vote of the shareholders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.


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PART II
 
Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Market Prices of Common Stock
 
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FFIV.” The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
 
                                 
    Fiscal Year 2009   Fiscal Year 2008
    High   Low   High   Low
 
First Quarter
  $ 26.12     $ 17.75     $ 44.55     $ 25.91  
Second Quarter
  $ 24.55     $ 18.41     $ 28.21     $ 18.11  
Third Quarter
  $ 36.28     $ 20.51     $ 32.60     $ 17.70  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 40.17     $ 32.47     $ 35.85     $ 21.00  
 
The last reported sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 18, 2009 was $49.30.
 
As of November 18, 2009, there were approximately 77 holders of record of our common stock. As many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of shareholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of beneficial holders of our common stock represented by these record holders.
 
Dividend Policy
 
Our policy has been to retain cash to fund future growth. Accordingly, we have not paid dividends and do not anticipate declaring dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
 
Unregistered Securities Sold in 2009
 
We did not sell any unregistered shares of our common stock during the fiscal year 2009.
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
On October 22, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a new program to repurchase up to an additional $200 million of our outstanding common stock. Acquisitions for the share repurchase program will be made from time to time in private transactions or open market purchases as permitted by securities laws and other requirements. The program can be terminated at any time. As of November 18, 2009 we had repurchased and retired 3,482,597 shares at an average price of $26.94 per share under the new program.


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Shares repurchased and retired as of November 18, 2009 are as follows (in thousands, except shares and per share data):
 
                                 
            Total Number of
  Approximate Dollar Value
    Total Number of
      Shares Purchased
  of Shares that May Yet be
    Shares
  Average Price
  as Part of the Publicly
  Purchased
    Purchased   Paid per Share   Announced Plans   Under the Plans
 
October 1, 2008 — October 31, 2008
        $           $ 200,000  
November 1, 2008 — November 30, 2008
    543,100     $ 22.87       543,100     $ 187,553  
December 1, 2008 — December 31, 2008
    329,920     $ 22.84       329,920     $ 180,000  
January 1, 2009 — January 31, 2009
        $           $ 180,000  
February 1, 2009 — February 28, 2009
    636,895     $ 21.34       636,895     $ 166,377  
March 1, 2009 — March 31, 2009
    703,811     $ 19.58       703,811     $ 152,563  
April 1, 2009 — April 30, 2009
        $           $ 152,563  
May 1, 2009 — May 31, 2009
        $           $ 152,563  
June 1, 2009 — June 30, 2009
    463,900     $ 34.17       463,900     $ 136,689  
July 1, 2009 — July 31, 2009
    146,700     $ 35.51       146,700     $ 131,473  
August 1, 2009 — August 31, 2009
    320,700     $ 36.01       320,700     $ 119,907  
September 1, 2009 — September 30, 2009
    199,021     $ 36.85       199,021     $ 112,564  
October 1, 2009 — October 31, 2009
        $           $ 112,564  
November 1, 2009 — November 18, 2009
    138,550     $ 47.27       138,550     $ 106,008  


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Performance Measurement Comparison of Shareholder Return
 
The following graph compares the annual percentage change in the cumulative total return on shares of our common stock, the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Computer Index for the period commencing September 30, 2004, and ending September 30, 2009.
 
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
On Investment Since September 30, 2004*
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
The Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2009, the last trading day of the Company’s 2009 fiscal year, was $39.63 per share.
 
* Assumes that $100 was invested September 30, 2004 in shares of Common Stock and in each index, and that all dividends were reinvested. Shareholder returns over the indicated period should not be considered indicative of future shareholder returns.


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Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
 
The following selected consolidated historical financial data are derived from our audited financial statements. The consolidated balance sheet data as of September 30, 2009 and 2008 and the consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are derived from our audited financial statements and related notes that are included elsewhere in this report. The consolidated balance sheet data as of September 30, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 are derived from our audited financial statements and related notes which are not included in this report. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements, including the notes thereto, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included elsewhere in this report.
 
                                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data(5)
                                       
Net revenues
                                       
Products
  $ 406,529     $ 452,929     $ 392,921     $ 304,878     $ 219,603  
Services
    246,550       197,244       132,746       89,171       61,807  
                                         
Total
    653,079       650,173       525,667       394,049       281,410  
                                         
Cost of net revenues
                                       
Products
    95,209       102,400       84,094       63,619       48,990  
Services
    47,517       46,618       34,230       24,534       16,194  
                                         
Total
    142,726       149,018       118,324       88,153       65,184  
                                         
Gross profit
    510,353       501,155       407,343       305,896       216,226  
                                         
Operating expenses
                                       
Sales and marketing
    225,193       237,175       175,555       127,478       89,866  
Research and development
    103,664       103,394       69,030       49,171       31,516  
General and administrative
    55,243       56,001       49,256       39,109       25,486  
In-process research and development(1)
                14,000              
Loss on facility exit and sublease(2)
          5,271                    
Restructuring charges(3)
    4,329                          
                                         
Total
    388,429       401,841       307,841       215,758       146,868  
                                         
Income from operations
    121,924       99,314       99,502       90,138       69,358  
Other income, net
    9,724       18,950       28,191       17,431       8,076  
                                         
Income before income taxes
    131,648       118,264       127,693       107,569       77,434  
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    40,113       43,933       50,693       41,564       30,532  
                                         
Net income
  $ 91,535     $ 74,331     $ 77,000     $ 66,005     $ 46,902  
                                         
Net income per share — basic(4)
  $ 1.16     $ 0.90     $ 0.93     $ 0.82     $ 0.63  
                                         
Weighted average shares — basic(4)
    78,842       82,290       83,205       80,278       74,440  
                                         
Net income per share — diluted(4)
  $ 1.14     $ 0.89     $ 0.90     $ 0.80     $ 0.61  
                                         
Weighted average shares — diluted(4)
    80,073       83,428       85,137       83,020       77,522  
                                         
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data(5)
                                       
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments
  $ 317,128     $ 190,186     $ 258,465     $ 374,173     $ 236,181  
Restricted cash(6)
    2,729       2,748       3,959       3,929       3,871  
Long-term investments
    257,294       261,086       216,366       118,003       128,834  
Total assets
    1,068,645       939,223       944,288       729,511       537,739  
Long-term liabilities
    46,611       34,143       20,301       13,416       9,964  
Total shareholders’ equity
    799,020       718,259       770,577       616,458       460,167  


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(1) In-process research and development (“IPR&D”) expense represents the amount of IPR&D that we acquired in the Acopia Networks, Inc. (“Acopia”) acquisition.
 
(2) Loss on facility exit and sublease expense represents a charge related to the closure of our office space in Bellevue, Washington and the consolidation of our corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington.
 
(3) Restructuring charges represent the expense related to the consolidation of facilities, accelerated depreciation on tenant improvements, and a reduction in workforce that took place in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 as part of a comprehensive restructuring program.
 
(4) Share and per share amounts have been adjusted as appropriate to reflect a two-for-one stock-split effective August 2007.
 
(5) In our Form 10-K/A No. 2 (filed on December 12, 2006), we restated our consolidated financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003, and the selected consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended September 30, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001. In addition, we restated our consolidated financial statements for the quarters ended December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006 in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q/A for the quarters ended December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006, each of which was filed on December 13, 2006. All financial information included in this annual report on Form 10-K reflects our restatement.
 
(6) Restricted cash represents escrow accounts established in connection with lease agreements for our facilities.
 
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, strategies, intentions or other characterizations of future events or circumstances and are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” herein and in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements.
 
Overview
 
We are a global provider of appliances consisting of software and hardware and services that help companies efficiently and securely manage the delivery, optimization and security of application and data traffic on Internet-based networks, and to optimize the performance and utilization of data storage infrastructure and other network resources. We market and sell our products primarily through multiple indirect sales channels in the Americas (primarily the United States); Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Japan; and the Asia Pacific region (APAC). Enterprise customers (Fortune 1000 or Business Week Global 1000 companies) in the technology, telecommunications, financial services, transportation, education, manufacturing and health care industries, along with government customers, continue to make up the largest percentage of our customer base.
 
Our management team monitors and analyzes a number of key performance indicators in order to manage our business and evaluate our financial and operating performance. Those indicators include:
 
  •  Revenues.  The majority of our revenues are derived from sales of our Application Delivery Networking (“ADN”) products; BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager, BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager, BIG-IP ISP Traffic Manager, TrafficShield Application Firewall, WANJet, and WebAccelerator; FirePass SSL VPN servers; and our ARX file virtualization products. We also derive revenues from the sales of services including annual maintenance contracts, training and consulting services. We carefully monitor the sales


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  mix of our revenues within each reporting period. We believe customer acceptance rates of our new products and feature enhancements are key indicators of future trends. We also consider overall revenue concentration by customer and by geographic region as additional indicators of current and future trends.
 
  •  Cost of revenues and gross margins.  We strive to control our cost of revenues and thereby maintain our gross margins. Significant items impacting cost of revenues are hardware costs paid to our contract manufacturers, third-party software license fees, amortization of developed technology and personnel and overhead expenses. Our margins have remained relatively stable, however, factors such as sales price, product mix, inventory obsolescence, returns, component price increases and warranty costs could significantly impact our gross margins from quarter to quarter and represent significant indicators we monitor on a regular basis.
 
  •  Operating expenses.  Operating expenses are substantially driven by personnel and related overhead expenses. Existing headcount and future hiring plans are the predominant factors in analyzing and forecasting future operating expense trends. Other significant operating expenses that we monitor include marketing and promotions, travel, professional fees, computer costs related to the development of new products, facilities and depreciation expenses.
 
  •  Liquidity and cash flows.  Our financial condition remains strong with significant cash and investments and no long term debt. The increase in cash and investments for fiscal year 2009 was primarily due to cash provided by operating activities of $202.0 million. This increase was partially offset by $87.4 million of cash used to repurchase outstanding common stock under our stock repurchase program in fiscal 2009. Going forward, we believe the primary driver of cash flows will be net income from operations. Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2009 were comprised primarily of tenant improvements and information technology infrastructure and equipment to support the growth of our core business activities. We will continue to evaluate possible acquisitions of, or investments in businesses, products, or technologies that we believe are strategic, which may require the use of cash.
 
  •  Balance sheet.  We view cash, short-term and long-term investments, deferred revenue, accounts receivable balances and days sales outstanding as important indicators of our financial health. Deferred revenues continued to increase in fiscal 2009 due to the growth in the amount of annual maintenance contracts purchased on new products and maintenance renewal contracts related to our existing product installation base. Our days sales outstanding for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 was 55 days. We expect to maintain this metric in the mid 50-day range going forward.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
We believe the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our financial statements.
 
Revenue Recognition.  We sell products through distributors, resellers, and directly to end users. We recognize product revenue upon shipment, net of estimated returns, provided that collection is determined to be reasonably assured and no significant obligations remain. In certain regions where we do not have the ability to reasonably estimate returns, we defer revenue on sales to our distributors until we receive information from the channel partner indicating that the distributor has sold the product to its customer. Payment terms to domestic customers are generally net 30 days to net 45 days. Payment terms to international customers range from net 30 days to net 90 days based on normal and customary trade practices in the


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individual markets. We have offered extended payment terms ranging from three to six months to certain customers, in which case revenue is recognized when payments are made.
 
Whenever product, training and post-contract customer support (“PCS”) elements are combined into a package with a single “bundled” price, a portion of the sales price is allocated to each element of the bundled package based on their respective fair values as determined when the individual elements are sold separately. We determine fair value based on the type of customer and region in which the package is sold. Where fair value of certain elements are not available, we recognize revenue on the “residual method” based on the fair value of undelivered elements. Revenues from the sale of product are recognized when the product has been shipped and the customer is obligated to pay for the product. When rights of return are present and we cannot estimate returns, we recognize revenue when such rights of return lapse. Revenues for PCS are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service contract term. PCS includes a limited period of telephone support updates, repair or replacement of any failed product or component that fails during the term of the agreement, bug fixes and rights to upgrades, when and if available. Consulting services are customarily billed at fixed rates, plus out-of-pocket expenses, and revenues are recognized when the consulting has been completed. Training revenue is recognized when the training has been completed.
 
Reserve for Doubtful Accounts.  Estimates are used in determining our allowance for doubtful accounts and are based upon an assessment of selected accounts and as a percentage of our remaining accounts receivable by aging category. In determining these percentages, we evaluate historical write-offs, current trends in the credit quality of our customer base, as well as changes in the credit policies. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition and do not require any collateral. If there is deterioration of a major customer’s credit worthiness or actual defaults are higher than our historical experience, our allowance for doubtful accounts may not be sufficient.
 
Reserve for Product Returns.  In some instances, product revenue from distributors is subject to agreements allowing rights of return. Product returns are estimated based on historical experience and are recorded at the time revenues are recognized. Accordingly, we reduce recognized revenue for estimated future returns at the time revenue is recorded. When rights of return are present and we cannot estimate returns, revenue is recognized when such rights lapse. The estimates for returns are adjusted periodically based upon changes in historical rates of returns and other related factors. It is possible that these estimates will change in the future or that the actual amounts could vary from our estimates.
 
Accounting for Income Taxes.  We utilize the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Accordingly, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate as part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure, including assessing the risks associated with tax audits, together with assessing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Due to the evolving nature and complexity of tax rules combined with the large number of jurisdictions in which we operate, it is possible that our estimates of our tax liability could change in the future, which may result in additional tax liabilities and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Stock-Based Compensation.  We account for stock-based compensation using the straight-line attribution method for recognizing compensation expense over the requisite service period of the related award. We recognized $56.1 million and $60.6 million of stock-based compensation expense for the years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, there was $82.5 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost, the majority of which will be recognized over the next two years. Going forward, stock-based compensation expenses may increase as we issue additional equity-based awards to continue to attract and retain key employees.
 
We issue incentive awards to our employees through stock-based compensation consisting of stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The value of RSUs is determined using the fair value method, which in this case, is based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of our common stock on the date of grant. Alternatively, in determining the fair value of stock options, we use the Black-Scholes option pricing model that employs the following key assumptions. Expected volatility is based on the annualized


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daily historical volatility of our stock price over the expected life of the option. Expected term of the option is based on historical employee stock option exercise behavior, the vesting terms of the respective option and a contractual life of ten years. Our stock price volatility and option lives involve management’s best estimates at that time, both of which impact the fair value of the option calculated under the Black-Scholes methodology and, ultimately, the expense that will be recognized over the life of the option.
 
We recognize compensation expense for only the portion of stock options or RSUs that are expected to vest. Therefore, we apply estimated forfeiture rates that are derived from historical employee termination behavior. Based on historical differences with forfeitures of stock-based awards granted to our executive officers and Board of Directors versus grants awarded to all other employees, we developed separate forfeiture expectations for these two groups. In fiscal 2009, the average estimated forfeiture rate for grants awarded to our executive officers and Board of Directors was approximately 4% and the average estimated forfeiture rate for grants awarded to all other employees was approximately 11%. If the actual number of forfeitures differs from those estimated by management, additional adjustments to stock-based compensation expense may be required in future periods.
 
In August 2009, we granted 420,000 RSUs to certain current executive officers. Fifty percent of the aggregate number of RSUs granted at such time vest in equal quarterly increments over two years, until such portion of the grant is fully vested on August 1, 2011. Twenty-five percent of the RSU grant, or a portion thereof, is subject to our achievement of specified quarterly revenue and EBITDA goals during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2010. Fifty percent of the quarterly performance stock grant is based on achieving at least 80% of the quarterly revenue goal and the other 50% is based on achieving at least 80% of the quarterly EBITDA goal (the “2009 Performance Award”). The quarterly performance stock grant is paid linearly above 80% of the targeted goals. At least 100% of both goals must be attained in order for the quarterly performance stock grant to be awarded over 100%. Each goal is evaluated individually and subject to the 80% achievement threshold and 100% over-achievement threshold. The remaining twenty-five percent is subject to our achievement of specified quarterly goals during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, as will be set by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.
 
In August 2008, we granted 383,400 RSUs to certain current executive officers. Fifty percent of the aggregate number of RSUs granted at such time vest in equal quarterly increments over two years, until such portion of the grant is fully vested on August 1, 2010. Twenty-five percent of the RSU grant, or a portion thereof, was subject to our achievement of specified percentage increases in total revenue during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, relative to the same periods in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (the “2008 Performance Award”). Approximately half of this twenty-five percent was earned in fiscal 2009. The remaining twenty-five percent or a portion thereof, is subject to our achievement of specified quarterly revenue and EBITDA goals during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2010. Fifty percent of the quarterly performance stock grant is based on achieving at least 80% of the quarterly revenue goal and the other 50% is based on achieving at least 80% of the quarterly EBITDA goal. The quarterly performance stock grant is paid linearly above 80% of the targeted goals. At least 100% of both goals must be attained in order for the quarterly performance stock grant to be awarded over 100%. Each goal is evaluated individually and subject to the 80% achievement threshold and 100% over-achievement threshold.
 
In August 2007, we granted 276,400 RSUs to certain current executive officers. Fifty percent of the aggregate number of RSUs granted at such time vest in equal quarterly increments over two years, and was fully vested on August 1, 2009. Twenty-five percent of the RSU grant was subject to our achievement of specified percentage increases in total revenue during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, relative to the same periods in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (the “2007 Performance Award”). This twenty-five percent was fully earned in fiscal 2008. The remaining twenty-five percent was subject to our achievement of specified percentage increases in total revenue during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, relative to the same periods in fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Approximately half of this twenty-five percent was earned in fiscal 2009.


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We recognize compensation costs for awards with performance conditions when we conclude it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. We reassess the probability of vesting at each balance sheet date and adjust compensation costs based on our probability assessment. Performance conditions for these awards were not met in the second and third fiscal quarters of 2009 and as such, no compensation cost was incurred.
 
Common stock repurchase.  On October 22, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a new program to repurchase up to an additional $200 million of our outstanding common stock. As of November 18, 2009, we had repurchased and retired 3,482,597 shares at an average price of $26.94 per share.
 
Goodwill and intangible assets.  We have a significant amount of goodwill and intangible assets on our balance sheet related to acquisitions. Intangible assets are carried and reported at acquisition cost, net of accumulated amortization subsequent to acquisition. Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to five years. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate impairment might exist. Projected undiscounted net cash flows expected to be derived from the use of those assets are compared to the respective net carrying amounts to determine whether any impairment exists. Impairment, if any, is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets.
 
The determination of the net carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets and the extent to which, if any, there is impairment are dependent on material estimates and judgments on our part, including the useful life over which the intangible assets are to be amortized, and the estimates of the value of future net cash flows, which are based upon further estimates of future revenues, expenses and operating margins. We review our goodwill annually for impairment in the second fiscal quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. The first step of the test identifies whether potential impairment may have occurred, while the second step of the test measures the amount of the impairment, if any. Impairment is recognized when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its fair value. In March 2009, we completed our annual impairment test and concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill. The Company has considered the assumptions used in the test and notes that no reasonably possible changes would reduce the fair value of the reporting unit to such a level that would cause an impairment charge. Additionally, as a result of the current economic environment, we considered potential impairment indicators at September 30, 2009 and noted no indicators of impairment.
 
Investments.  Our investments are diversified among high-credit quality debt securities in accordance with our investment policy. The majority of our investments are classified as available-for-sale, and are reported at fair market value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses and declines in value of these investments judged to be other than temporary are included in other income (expense). To date, we have not deemed it necessary to record any charges related to other-than-temporary declines in the estimated fair values of our marketable debt securities. However, the fair value of our investments is subject to volatility. Declines in the fair value of our investments judged to be other than temporary could adversely affect our future operating results.
 
Our investments also include auction rate securities (“ARS”) that are classified as available-for-sale and as trading investment securities. ARS that are classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair market value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in stockholders’ equity. We believe these investments may remain illiquid for longer than twelve months and as a result, we have classified these investments as long-term as of September 30, 2009. ARS securities classified as trading investment securities are reported at fair value with the related changes in fair value recorded to other income (expense). These ARS have been classified as short term, as we have the opportunity to liquidate these securities within the next twelve months through a guaranteed program with our investment manager. We used the income approach to determine the fair value of our ARS using a discounted cash flow analysis. The assumptions we used in preparing the discounted cash flow model include estimates for interest rates; estimates for discount rates using yields of comparable traded instruments adjusted for illiquidity and other risk factors, amount of cash flows and expected holding periods for the ARS.


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Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    (In thousands, except for percentages)  
 
Net Revenues
                       
Products
  $ 406,529     $ 452,929     $ 392,921  
Services
    246,550       197,244       132,746  
                         
Total
  $ 653,079     $ 650,173     $ 525,667  
                         
Percentage of net revenues
                       
Products
    62.2 %     69.7 %     74.7 %
Services
    37.8       30.3       25.3  
                         
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                         
 
Net Revenues.  Total net revenues increased slightly in fiscal year 2009 from the prior year, compared to an increase of 23.7% in fiscal year 2008 from fiscal year 2007. Given the current economic environment, we did not experience the same level of net revenue growth that we have had in prior periods and as a result net revenue for fiscal year 2009 remained relatively flat with fiscal 2008. The change in net revenue was primarily due to a reduction in the volume of product sales, offset by an increase in service revenue as a result of our increased installed base of products. International revenues represented 44.7%, 42.5% and 41.6% of net revenues in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We expect international sales will continue to represent a significant portion of net revenues, although we cannot provide assurance that international revenues as a percentage of net revenues will remain at current levels.
 
Net product revenues decreased 10.2% in fiscal year 2009 from fiscal year 2008 and increased 15.3% in fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007. The decrease of $46.4 million in net product sales for fiscal year 2009 was primarily due to a $36.1 million reduction in the volume of sales of our ADN products, a $5.4 million reduction in the sales of our ARX file virtualization products, and a $4.9 million reduction in the volume of sales of our FirePass products, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Sales of our ADN products represented 93.7%, 92.0% and 94.5% of total product revenues in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Net service revenues increased 25.0% in fiscal year 2009 from fiscal year 2008 and increased 48.6% in fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007. The increases in service revenue were the result of increased purchases or renewals of maintenance contracts driven by additions to our installed base of products.
 
Avnet Technology Solutions, one of our worldwide distributors, accounted for 15.4%, 14.0% and 13.2% of our total net revenue in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Ingram Micro, Inc., another worldwide distributor, accounted for 10.5% and 11.6% of our total net revenues in fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. No other distributors accounted for more than 10% of total net revenue.
 


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    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    (In thousands, except for percentages)  
 
Cost of net revenues and Gross margin
                       
Products
  $ 95,209     $ 102,400     $ 84,094  
Services
    47,517       46,618       34,230  
                         
Total
    142,726       149,018       118,324  
                         
Gross margin
  $ 510,353     $ 501,155     $ 407,343  
                         
Cost of net revenues and Gross margin (as a percentage of related net revenue)
                       
Products
    23.4 %     22.6 %     21.4 %
Services
    19.3       23.6       25.8  
                         
Total
    21.9       22.9       22.5  
                         
Gross margin
    78.1 %     77.1 %     77.5 %
                         
 
Cost of Net Product Revenues.  Cost of net product revenues consist of finished products purchased from our contract manufacturers, manufacturing overhead, freight, warranty, provisions for excess and obsolete inventory and amortization expenses in connection with developed technology from acquisitions. Product cost decreased to $95.2 million in fiscal year 2009 as compared to $102.4 million in fiscal year 2008. The year over year decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the volume of units shipped. In fiscal year 2008, the year over year increase from $84.1 million in fiscal year 2007 was primarily due to a higher volume of units shipped. The fiscal year 2008 increase also included shipments of our ARX file virtualization products and increased indirect manufacturing costs over prior periods.
 
Cost of Net Service Revenues.  Cost of net service revenues consist of the salaries and related benefits of our professional services staff, travel, facilities and depreciation expenses. Cost of net service revenues as a percentage of net service revenues decreased to 19.3% in fiscal year 2009 from 23.6% in fiscal year 2008 and 25.8% in fiscal year 2007 primarily due to the scalability of our existing customer support infrastructure and increased revenue from maintenance contracts. Professional services headcount at the end of fiscal year 2009 increased to 330 from 323 at the end of fiscal year 2008 and 279 at the end of fiscal year 2007. In addition, cost of net service revenues included stock-based compensation expense of $4.8 million, $4.0 million and $2.4 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 

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    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    (In thousands, except for percentages)  
 
Operating expenses
                       
Sales and marketing
  $ 225,193     $ 237,175     $ 175,555  
Research and development
    103,664       103,394       69,030  
General and administrative
    55,243       56,001       49,256  
In-process research and development
                14,000  
Loss on facility exit and sublease
          5,271        
Restructuring charges
    4,329              
                         
Total
  $ 388,429     $ 401,841     $ 307,841  
                         
Operating expenses (as a percentage of net revenue)
                       
Sales and marketing
    34.5 %     36.5 %     33.4 %
Research and development
    15.9       15.9       13.1  
General and administrative
    8.4       8.6       9.4  
In-process research and development
                2.7  
Loss on facility exit and sublease
          0.8        
Restructuring charges
    0.7              
                         
Total
    59.5 %     61.8 %     58.6 %
                         
 
Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expenses consist of salaries, commissions and related benefits of our sales and marketing staff, the costs of our marketing programs, including public relations, advertising and trade shows, travel, facilities and depreciation expenses. Sales and marketing expense decreased 5.1% in fiscal year 2009 as compared to year over year increases of 35.1% and 37.7% in fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease in sales and marketing expense was primarily due to cost reduction initiatives we implemented in response to the slowing economic environment and a $6.9 million decrease in commissions expense corresponding to the decrease in product revenue for fiscal year 2009, compared to the prior year. The fiscal year 2008 increase over the prior year was primarily due to a full year of expenses related to our ARX file virtualization personnel as compared to the 17 days of comparable expenses in fiscal year 2007. Sales and marketing headcount at the end of fiscal 2009 decreased to 696 from 716 at the end of fiscal 2008 and 669 at the end of fiscal 2007. The decrease in headcount was primarily related to a reduction in workforce that took place in the second fiscal quarter of 2009 as part of our restructuring program. Sales and marketing expense included stock-based compensation charges of $22.6 million, $24.1 million and $15.8 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Research and Development.  Research and development expenses consist of the salaries and related benefits for our product development personnel, prototype materials and other expenses related to the development of new and improved products, facilities and depreciation expenses. In fiscal year 2009, research and development expenses remained relatively consistent with the prior year as compared to year over year increases of 49.8% and 40.4% in fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in research and development expense in fiscal years 2008 and 2007 was primarily due to increased personnel costs which totaled $19.7 million and $12.2 million, respectively, which is consistent with the increased revenue for the corresponding periods. The fiscal year 2008 increase over the prior year was also attributed to a full year of expenses related to our ARX file virtualization personnel as compared to the 17 days of comparable expenses in fiscal year 2007. Research and development headcount at the end of fiscal 2009 decreased to 430 from 460 at the end of fiscal 2008 and 450 at the end of fiscal 2007. The decrease in headcount was primarily related to a reduction in workforce that took place in the second fiscal quarter of 2009 as part of our restructuring program. Research and development expense included stock-based compensation charges of $16.7 million, $16.3 million and $10.2 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We expect research and development expenses to remain consistent as a percentage of net revenue in the foreseeable future.

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General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses consist of the salaries, benefits and related costs of our executive, finance, information technology, human resource and legal personnel, third-party professional service fees, bad debt charges, facilities and depreciation expenses. General and administrative expenses remained relatively consistent in fiscal year 2009 as compared with year over year increases of 13.7% in fiscal year 2008 and 25.9% in fiscal year 2007. The increase in fiscal year 2008 of $6.7 million was due primarily to an increase of $3.2 million in stock-based compensation charges and an increase of $3.5 million in salary and benefit expenses. General and administrative headcount at the end of fiscal 2009 decreased to 190 from 195 at the end of fiscal 2008 and increased from 184 at the end of fiscal 2007. The decrease in headcount was primarily related to a reduction in workforce that took place in the second fiscal quarter of 2009 as part of our restructuring program. General and administrative expense included stock-based compensation charges of $11.6 million, $15.9 million and $12.6 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
In-process Research and Development.  Acquired in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) expense was $14.0 million in 2007 and reflects the amount allocated to IPR&D that we acquired in the Acopia Networks, Inc. (“Acopia”) acquisition. IPR&D represents the present value of estimated after-tax cash flows expected to be generated by purchased technology, which, at the acquisition date, had not yet reached technological feasibility. We based our estimates and projections related to IPR&D on assumptions we believed to be reasonable at the time of the acquisition but that are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. If we do not successfully develop this product, our business, operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected.
 
Loss on Facility Exit and Sublease.  During 2008, we exited a research and development facility in Bellevue, Washington for which there was remaining operating lease obligations through 2014. In addition, during this period we consolidated our corporate headquarters, partially subleasing the building located at 333 Elliott Avenue West in Seattle, Washington for which there were remaining operating lease obligations through 2018. As a result of the expected loss on the facility exit and sublease agreements, we recorded a charge of $5.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
 
Restructuring.  Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 we implemented a comprehensive restructuring program as part of an overall initiative to reduce certain operating expenses. Restructuring actions included the consolidation of facilities, accelerated depreciation on tenant improvements and a reduction in workforce. In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we recorded restructuring expenses of $4.3 million, which included a $2.1 million charge for severance and related costs and a $2.2 million charge for the exit of certain offices worldwide. We had $0.6 million of accrued restructuring cost at September 30, 2009, which we expect to offset future rent expenses through September 2012.
 


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    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    (In thousands, except for percentages)  
 
Other Income and Income Taxes
                       
Income from operations
  $ 121,924     $ 99,314     $ 99,502  
Other income, net
    9,724       18,950       28,191  
                         
Income before income taxes
    131,648       118,264       127,693  
Provision for income taxes
    40,113       43,933       50,693  
                         
Net income
  $ 91,535     $ 74,331     $ 77,000  
                         
Other Income and Income Taxes (as percentage of net revenue)
                       
Income from operations
    18.7 %     15.3 %     18.9 %
Other income, net
    1.5       2.9       5.4  
                         
Income before income taxes
    20.2       18.2       24.3  
Provision for income taxes
    6.2       6.8       9.6  
                         
Net income
    14.0 %     11.4 %     14.6 %
                         
 
Other Income, Net.  Other income, net, consists of interest income and foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Other income, net decreased 48.7% in fiscal year 2009, as compared to fiscal year 2008 and decreased 32.8% in fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007. Interest income was $9.9 million, $17.5 million and $27.3 million for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease in other income, net for fiscal year 2009 as compared to fiscal year 2008 was primarily due to decreased interest income of $7.6 million and decreased foreign currency transaction gains of $1.5 million. The decrease in interest income for fiscal year 2009 was primarily due to a decline in interest rates for the year. The decrease in other income, net for fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007 was primarily due to decreased interest income as a result of reduced investment balances. Investment balances decreased in fiscal year 2008 as a result of the repurchase of outstanding common stock under our stock repurchase program and additional cash required for the acquisition of Acopia in September 2007.
 
Provision for Income Taxes.  We recorded a 30.5% provision for income taxes for fiscal year 2009 compared to 37.1% in fiscal year 2008 and 39.7% in fiscal year 2007. The reduction in the effective tax rate from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2009 is largely attributable to the deduction for tax purposes of compensation related to equity awards in a major foreign tax jurisdiction, the reinstatement of the federal research and development credit in fiscal year 2009 and deductions obtained for U.S. tax purposes relative to the cessation of operations of a foreign subsidiary in the quarter ending September 30, 2009.
 
At September 30, 2009, we did not have a valuation allowance on any of our deferred tax assets in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate because we believe that the assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making this determination we have considered projected future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the appropriateness of a valuation allowance. Our net deferred tax assets as of fiscal year end 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $57.0 million, $52.8 million and $43.3 million, respectively. Our worldwide effective tax rate may fluctuate based on a number of factors, including variations in projected taxable income in our various geographic locations in which we operate, changes in the valuation of our net deferred tax assets, resolution of potential exposures, tax positions taken on tax returns filed in the various geographic locations in which we operate, and the introduction of new accounting standards or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof in the various geographic locations in which we operate. We have recorded liabilities to address potential tax exposures related to business and income tax positions we have taken that could be challenged by taxing authorities. The ultimate resolution of these potential exposures may be greater or less than the liabilities recorded which could result in an adjustment to our future tax expense. In addition, on May 4, 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama proposed significant changes to the U.S. international tax laws that would limit U.S. deductions for expenses related to un-repatriated foreign-source income and modify the

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U.S. foreign tax credit and “check-the-box” rules. We cannot determine whether these proposals will be enacted into law or what, if any, changes may be made to such proposals prior to their being enacted into law. If the U.S. tax laws change in a manner that increases our tax obligation, our operating results could suffer.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We have funded our operations with our cash balances, cash generated from operations and proceeds from public offerings of our securities.
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,
    2009   2008   2007
        (In thousands)    
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
                       
Cash and cash equivalents and investments
  $ 574,422     $ 451,272     $ 474,831  
Cash provided by operating activities
    201,981       193,692       169,650  
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (99,109 )     13,710       (188,141 )
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (70,706 )     (181,719 )     35,486  
 
Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term investments totaled $574.4 million as of September 30, 2009 compared to $451.3 million as of September 30, 2008, representing an increase of $123.2 million. The increase was primarily due to cash provided by operating activities of $202.0 million for fiscal year 2009, compared to $193.7 million for fiscal year 2008, which was partially offset by $87.4 million of additional cash required for the repurchase of outstanding common stock under our stock repurchase program in fiscal 2009. In fiscal year 2008, the decrease was primarily due to approximately $200 million of cash used to repurchase outstanding common stock under our stock repurchase program in fiscal 2008, partially offset by cash provided by operating activities of $193.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2008.
 
At September 30, 2009, we held $40.1 million of tax-exempt ARS, which are variable-rate debt securities and have a long-term maturity with the interest rates being reset through Dutch auctions that are typically held every 7, 28 or 35 days. The securities have historically traded at par and are callable at par at the option of the issuer. Interest is typically paid at the end of each auction period or semi-annually. We limit our investments in ARS to securities that carry a AAA/A- (or equivalent) rating from recognized rating agencies and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. At the time of initial investment and at the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of our ARS were in compliance with our investment policy.
 
Beginning in February 2008, auctions failed for approximately $53.4 million in par value of municipal ARS we held because sell orders exceeded buy orders. When these auctions failed to clear, higher interest rates for those securities went into effect. However, the funds associated with these failed auctions will not be accessible until the issuer calls the security, a successful auction occurs, a buyer is found outside of the auction process or the security matures. The underlying assets of the municipal ARS we hold, including the securities for which auctions have failed, are generally student loans which are guaranteed by the U.S. government.
 
We have no reason to believe that any of the underlying issuers of our ARS are presently at risk of default. Through September 30, 2009, we have continued to receive interest payments on the ARS in accordance with their terms. We believe we will be able to liquidate our investments without significant loss primarily due to the government guarantee of the underlying securities. However, due to recent changes and uncertainty in the ARS market, we believe certain of these available-for-sale investments may remain illiquid for longer than twelve months and as a result, we have classified $19.0 million (par value) of securities as long-term as of September 30, 2009.
 
In October 2008, we entered into an agreement (“the Agreement”) with UBS whereby UBS would purchase eligible ARS it sold to us prior to February 13, 2008. Under the terms of the Agreement, and at our discretion, UBS will purchase eligible ARS from us at par value (“Put Option”) during the period of June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012. Amounts eligible total $26.1 million (par value) at September 30, 2009. We expect to sell our eligible ARS under the Agreement. However, if we do not exercise our rights to sell our eligible


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ARS under the Agreement before July 2, 2012 the Put Option will expire and UBS will have no further rights or obligations to buy our ARS. So long as we hold our ARS, they will continue to accrue interest as determined by the auction process or the terms of the ARS if the auction process fails. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we transferred these ARS from available-for-sale to trading investment securities. We elected to measure the Put Option under the fair value option, and recorded a benefit in other income of approximately $1.5 million pre-tax for the year ended September 30, 2009, and recorded a corresponding long term investment. As a result of accepting the Put Option and reclassifying the ARS from available-for-sale to trading investment securities, we recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of approximately $1.5 million pre-tax as of September 30, 2009, reflecting a reversal of the related unrealized loss that was previously recorded in other comprehensive loss. The recording of the fair value of the Put Option and the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment loss resulted in no impact to the consolidated income statement for the year ended September 30, 2009.
 
Cash provided by operating activities during fiscal year 2009 was $202.0 million compared to $193.7 million in fiscal year 2008 and $169.7 million in fiscal year 2007. Cash provided by operating activities resulted primarily from cash generated from net income, after adjusting for non-cash charges such as stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization charges and changes in operating assets and liabilities.
 
Cash used in investing activities was $99.1 million for fiscal year 2009, compared to cash provided by investing activities of $13.7 million for fiscal year 2008 and cash used in investing activities of $188.1 million for fiscal year 2007. The cash used in investing activities in fiscal year 2009 was primarily the result of the purchase of investments and capital expenditures related to maintaining our operations worldwide partially offset by the maturity of investments. The cash provided by investing activities in fiscal year 2008 was primarily the result of the maturity of investments partially offset by the purchase of investments. The cash used in fiscal year 2007 was primarily the result of the purchase of investments partially offset by the sale of investments and $207.1 million of cash payments, net of cash acquired, to shareholders of Acopia, which was acquired in September 2007.
 
Cash used in financing activities was $70.7 million for fiscal year 2009, compared to cash used in financing activities of $181.7 million for fiscal year 2008 and cash provided by financing activities of $35.5 million in fiscal years 2007. In the first quarter of fiscal 2009, our Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program to repurchase up to an additional $200 million of our outstanding common stock. Cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2009 included $87.4 million to repurchase common stock under this plan, which was partially offset by the exercise of employee stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. Cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2008 included $200 million to repurchase common stock under a previous stock repurchase program, which was partially offset by the exercise of employee stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. During fiscal year 2007 our financing activities consisted entirely of cash proceeds and tax benefits received from the exercise of stock options and stock purchases under our employee stock purchase plan.
 
Based on our current operating and capital expenditure forecasts, we believe that our existing cash and investment balances, excluding ARS, together with cash generated from operations should be sufficient to meet our operating requirements for the foreseeable future.
 
Obligations and Commitments
 
The following table summarizes our contractual payment obligations and commitments as of September 30, 2009:
 
                                                         
    Payment Obligations by Year  
    2010     2011     2012     2013     2014     Thereafter     Total  
    (In thousands)  
 
Operating leases
  $ 17,704     $ 14,371     $ 11,905     $ 7,102     $ 6,603     $ 20,402     $ 78,087  
Purchase obligations
    15,497                                     15,497  
                                                         
Total
  $ 33,201     $ 14,371     $ 11,905     $ 7,102     $ 6,603     $ 20,402     $ 93,584  
                                                         


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We lease our facilities under operating leases that expire at various dates through 2018.
 
Purchase obligations are comprised of purchase commitments with our contract manufacturers. The agreement with our primary contract manufacturer allows them to procure component inventory on our behalf based on our production forecast. We are obligated to purchase component inventory that the contract manufacturer procures in accordance with the forecast, unless cancellation is given within applicable lead times.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued ASC 810-10, Consolidation — Overall (“ASC 810-10”), which amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. ASC 810-10 is effective for the Company’s fiscal years beginning October 1, 2009 and the Company does not expect its adoption to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), which establishes principles and requirements for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in an acquisition, at their fair value as of the acquisition date. ASC 805 is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after October 1, 2009. This standard will change the Company’s accounting treatment for business combinations on a prospective basis.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 820-10-65, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures — Overall — Transition and Open Effective Date Information (“ASC 820-10-65”). ASC 820-10-65 provides guidance on how to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities when the volume and level of activity for the asset/liability has significantly decreased. This statement also provides guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. In addition, ASC 820-10-65 requires disclosure in interim and annual periods of the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques. The Company adopted the statement in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of ASC 820-10-65 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 320-10, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities — Overall (“ASC 320-10”). This guidance amends the requirements for the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairments for debt securities by modifying the pre-existing “intent and ability” indicator. Under ASC 320-10, an other-than-temporary impairment is triggered when there is an intent to sell the security, it is more likely than not that the security will be required to be sold before recovery, or the security is not expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. Additionally, this guidance changes the presentation of an other-than-temporary impairment in the income statement for those impairments involving credit losses. The credit loss component will be recognized in earnings and the remainder of the impairment will be recorded in other comprehensive income. The Company adopted ASC 320-10 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this statement did not impact the Company as there have been no credit losses or other-than-temporary impairment losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities in prior periods.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 825-10-65, Financial Instruments — Overall — Transition and Open Effective Date Information (“ASC 825-10-65”). This guidance requires interim disclosures regarding the fair values of financial instruments that are within the scope of ASC 825-10. Additionally, this guidance requires disclosure of the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments on an interim basis as well as changes of the methods and significant assumptions from prior periods. The Company adopted ASC 820-10-65 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this statement does not change the accounting treatment for these financial instruments.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855-10, Subsequent Events — Overall (“ASC 855-10”), which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It requires the disclosure of the date


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through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for selecting that date, that is, whether that date represents the date the financial statements were issued or were available to be issued. The Company adopted ASC 855-10 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, (amendments to FASB ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition) (“ASU 2009-13”) and ASU 2009-14, Certain Arrangements That Include Software Elements, (amendments to FASB ASC Topic 985, Software) (“ASU 2009-14”). ASU 2009-13 requires entities to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of the delivered goods and services based on a selling price hierarchy. The amendments eliminate the residual method of revenue allocation and require revenue to be allocated using the relative selling price method. ASU 2009-14 removes tangible products from the scope of software revenue guidance and provides guidance on determining whether software deliverables in an arrangement that includes a tangible product are covered by the scope of the software revenue guidance. ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14 should be applied on a prospective basis for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption of ASU 2009-13 or ASU 2009-14 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Risk.  Our cash equivalents consist of high-quality securities, as specified in our investment policy guidelines. The policy limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue or issuer to a maximum of 5% of the total portfolio with the exception of U.S. treasury securities, commercial paper and money market funds, which are exempt from size limitation. The policy requires investments in securities that mature in three years or less, with the average maturity being no greater than one and a half years. These securities are subject to interest rate risk and will decrease in value if interest rates increase. A decrease of one percent in the average interest rate would have resulted in a decrease of approximately $1.3 million in our interest income for the fiscal year 2009.
 
                                         
    Maturing in
    Three Months
  Three Months
  Greater Than
       
    or Less   to One Year   One Year   Total   Fair Value
    (In thousands, except for percentages)
 
September 30, 2009
                                       
Included in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 19,790     $     $     $ 19,790     $ 19,790  
Weighted average interest rate
    1.0 %                        
Included in short-term investments
  $ 59,981     $ 146,310     $     $ 206,291     $ 206,291  
Weighted average interest rates
    3.1 %     3.0 %                  
Included in long-term investments
  $     $     $ 257,294     $ 257,294     $ 257,294  
Weighted average interest rates
                2.8 %            
September 30, 2008
                                       
Included in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 16,570     $     $     $ 16,570     $ 16,570  
Weighted average interest rate
    3.3 %                        
Included in short-term investments
  $ 28,019     $ 83,864     $     $ 111,883     $ 111,883  
Weighted average interest rates
    5.6 %     4.4 %                  
Included in long-term investments
  $     $     $ 261,086     $ 261,086     $ 261,086  
Weighted average interest rates
                4.6 %            
September 30, 2007
                                       
Included in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 7,965     $     $     $ 7,965     $ 7,965  
Weighted average interest rate
    5.1 %                        
Included in short-term investments
  $ 123,044     $ 81,125     $     $ 204,169     $ 204,169  
Weighted average interest rates
    5.3 %     5.0 %                  
Included in long-term investments
  $     $     $ 216,366     $ 216,366     $ 216,366  
Weighted average interest rates
                5.2 %            


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At September 30, 2009, the fair value of our AAA/A- (or equivalent) rated municipal ARS was approximately $40.1 million. ARS are collateralized long-term debt instruments that provide liquidity through a Dutch auction process that resets the applicable interest rate at pre-determined intervals, typically every 7, 28 or 35 days. Beginning in February 2008, auctions failed for approximately $53.4 million in par value of municipal ARS we held because sell orders exceeded buy orders. When these auctions failed to clear, higher interest rates for those securities went into effect. However, the funds associated with these failed auctions will not be accessible until the issuer calls the security, a successful auction occurs, a buyer is found outside of the auction process, we exercise the Put Option with UBS, or the security matures. The underlying assets of the municipal ARS we hold, including the securities for which auctions have failed, are generally student loans which are guaranteed by the U.S. government. Based on our expected operating cash flows and our other sources of cash, we do not believe that any reduction in liquidity of our municipal ARS will have a material impact on our overall ability to meet our liquidity needs. We have no intent to sell, won’t be required to sell, and believe we will hold these securities until recovery. The trading investment securities of $24.6 million (par value) have been classified as short-term and the available-for-sale securities of $15.5 million (par value) have been classified as long-term at September 30, 2009.
 
Foreign Currency Risk.  The majority of our sales and expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars and as a result, we have not experienced significant foreign currency transaction gains and losses to date. While we have conducted some transactions in foreign currencies during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 and expect to continue to do so, we do not anticipate that foreign currency transaction gains or losses will be significant at our current level of operations. However, as we continue to expand our operations internationally, transaction gains or losses may become significant in the future. We have not engaged in foreign currency hedging to date. However, we may do so in the future.


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Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
         
    Page
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
       
    46  
    47  
    48  
    49  
    50  
    51  
Schedule II
       
    80  


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of F5 Networks, Inc.:
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of F5 Networks, Inc. and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for uncertain tax positions in fiscal year 2008.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Seattle, WA
November 20, 2009


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
 
                 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
ASSETS
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 110,837     $ 78,303  
Short-term investments
    206,291       111,883  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $4,748 and $4,348
    106,973       97,057  
Inventories
    13,819       10,148  
Deferred tax assets
    8,010       5,910  
Other current assets
    22,252       20,068  
                 
Total current assets
    468,182       323,369  
                 
Restricted cash
    2,729       2,748  
Property and equipment, net
    39,371       47,557  
Long-term investments
    257,294       261,086  
Deferred tax assets
    49,018       46,917  
Goodwill
    231,883       231,892  
Other assets, net
    20,168       25,654  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,068,645     $ 939,223  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 18,891     $ 13,092  
Accrued liabilities
    53,232       48,051  
Deferred revenue
    150,891       125,678  
                 
Total current liabilities
    223,014       186,821  
                 
Other long-term liabilities
    14,373       14,822  
Deferred revenue, long-term
    32,238       19,321  
                 
Total long-term liabilities
    46,611       34,143  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
               
Shareholders’ equity
               
Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding
           
Common stock, no par value; 200,000 shares authorized, 78,325 and 79,094 shares issued and outstanding
    462,786       477,299  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (2,337 )     (6,076 )
Retained earnings
    338,571       247,036  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    799,020       718,259  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,068,645     $ 939,223  
                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Net revenues
                       
Products
  $ 406,529     $ 452,929     $ 392,921  
Services
    246,550       197,244       132,746  
                         
Total
    653,079       650,173       525,667  
                         
Cost of net revenues
                       
Products
    95,209       102,400       84,094  
Services
    47,517       46,618       34,230  
                         
Total
    142,726       149,018       118,324  
                         
Gross profit
    510,353       501,155       407,343  
                         
Operating expenses
                       
Sales and marketing
    225,193       237,175       175,555  
Research and development
    103,664       103,394       69,030  
General and administrative
    55,243       56,001       49,256  
In-process research and development
                14,000  
Loss on facility exit and sublease
          5,271        
Restructuring charges
    4,329              
                         
Total
    388,429       401,841       307,841  
                         
Income from operations
    121,924       99,314       99,502  
Other income, net
    9,724       18,950       28,191  
                         
Income before income taxes
    131,648       118,264       127,693  
Provision for income taxes
    40,113       43,933       50,693  
                         
Net income
  $ 91,535     $ 74,331     $ 77,000  
                         
Net income per share — basic
  $ 1.16     $ 0.90     $ 0.93  
                         
Weighted average shares — basic
    78,842       82,290       83,205  
                         
Net income per share — diluted
  $ 1.14     $ 0.89     $ 0.90  
                         
Weighted average shares — diluted
    80,073       83,428       85,137  
                         
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
 
                                         
                Accumulated
             
                Other
    Retained
    Total
 
    Common Stock     Comprehensive
    Earnings
    Shareholders’
 
    Shares     Amount     Income/(Loss)     (Deficit)     Equity  
                (In thousands)              
 
Balance, September 30, 2006
    81,556     $ 521,791     $ (1,038 )   $ 95,705     $ 616,458  
                                         
Exercise of employee stock options
    1,257       15,690                   15,690  
Issuance of stock under employee stock purchase plan
    288       7,546                   7,546  
Issuance of restricted stock
    1,278                          
Tax benefit from employee stock transactions
          12,197                   12,197  
Stock-based compensation
          41,212                   41,212  
Net income
                      77,000        
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                (686 )            
Unrealized gain on securities, net of tax
                1,160              
Comprehensive income
                            77,474  
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2007
    84,379     $ 598,436     $ (564 )   $ 172,705     $ 770,577  
                                         
Exercise of employee stock options
    664       7,794                   7,794  
Issuance of stock under employee stock purchase plan
    473       10,708                   10,708  
Issuance of restricted stock
    1,284                          
Repurchase of common stock
    (7,706 )     (200,000 )                 (200,000 )
Tax loss from employee stock transactions
          (221 )                 (221 )
Stock-based compensation
          60,582                   60,582  
Net income
                      74,331        
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                (1,614 )            
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax
                (3,898 )            
Comprehensive income
                            68,819  
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2008
    79,094     $ 477,299     $ (6,076 )   $ 247,036     $ 718,259  
                                         
Exercise of employee stock options
    498       7,243                   7,243  
Issuance of stock under employee stock purchase plan
    561       11,574                   11,574  
Issuance of restricted stock
    1,516                          
Repurchase of common stock
    (3,344 )     (87,436 )                 (87,436 )
Tax loss from employee stock transactions
          (1,958 )                 (1,958 )
Stock-based compensation
          56,064                   56,064  
Net income
                      91,535        
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                387              
Unrealized gain on securities, net of tax
                3,352              
Comprehensive income
                            95,274  
                                         
Balance, September 30, 2009
    78,325     $ 462,786     $ (2,337 )   $ 338,571     $ 799,020  
                                         
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Operating activities
                       
Net income
  $ 91,535     $ 74,331     $ 77,000  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Realized (gain) loss on disposition of assets and investments
    (9 )     58       140  
Stock-based compensation
    56,064       60,582       41,212  
Provisions for doubtful accounts and sales returns
    2,638       2,749       1,209  
Depreciation and amortization
    26,407       23,623       15,862  
Deferred income taxes
    (6,057 )     (5,606 )     6,429  
In-process research and development
                14,000  
Gain on auction rate securities put option
    (3,901 )            
Loss on trading auction rate securities
    3,901              
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts acquired:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (12,555 )     (7,940 )     (30,004 )
Inventories
    (3,671 )     523       (2,366 )
Other current assets
    (523 )     428       (4,420 )
Other assets
    (226 )     (3,544 )     (1,492 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    10,248       4,006       16,592  
Deferred revenue
    38,130       44,482       35,488  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    201,981       193,692       169,650  
                         
Investing activities
                       
Purchases of investments
    (414,857 )     (494,082 )     (902,250 )
Maturities of investments
    328,110       535,494       937,716  
Investment of restricted cash
    13       1,216       (9 )
Acquisition of intangible assets
    (706 )            
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
          (995 )     (207,144 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (11,669 )     (27,923 )     (16,454 )
                         
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (99,109 )     13,710       (188,141 )
                         
Financing activities
                       
Tax (loss) benefit from nonqualified stock options
    (1,958 )     (221 )     12,197  
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the purchase of stock under employee stock purchase plan
    18,688       18,502       23,289  
Repurchase of common stock
    (87,436 )     (200,000 )      
                         
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (70,706 )     (181,719 )     35,486  
                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    32,166       25,683       16,995  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    368       (1,676 )     (445 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    78,303       54,296       37,746  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 110,837     $ 78,303     $ 54,296  
                         
Supplemental Information
                       
Cash paid for taxes
  $ 48,586     $ 48,804     $ 32,762  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
 
1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
The Company
 
F5 Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) provides products and services to help companies manage their Internet Protocol (IP) traffic and file storage infrastructure efficiently and securely. The Company’s application delivery networking products improve the performance, availability and security of applications on Internet-based networks. Internet traffic between network-based applications and clients passes through these devices where the content is inspected to ensure that it is safe and modified as necessary to ensure that it is delivered securely and in a way that optimizes the performance of both the network and the applications. The Company’s storage virtualization products simplify and reduce the cost of managing files and file storage devices, and ensure fast, secure, easy access to files for users and applications. The Company also offers a broad range of services that include consulting, training, maintenance and other technical support services.
 
Accounting Principles
 
The Company’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used in accounting for revenue recognition, reserves for doubtful accounts, product returns, obsolete and excess inventory, warranties, valuation allowances on deferred tax assets and purchase price allocations. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company invests its cash and cash equivalents in deposits with three major financial institutions, which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its cash and cash equivalents.
 
Investments
 
The Company classifies the majority of its investment securities as available-for-sale. Investment securities, consisting of corporate and municipal bonds and notes and United States government securities, are reported at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses and declines in value of securities judged to be other than temporary are included in other income (expense). The cost of investments for purposes of computing realized and unrealized gains and losses is based on the specific identification method. Investments in securities with maturities of less than one year or where management’s intent is to use the investments to fund current operations are classified as short-term investments. Investments, other than certain auction rate securities (“ARS”) with maturities of greater than one year are classified as long-term investments.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company has ARS that are classified as available-for-sale securities and are reported as long term, as the Company does not believe that they will be able to liquidate these securities in the next twelve months. The Company has no intent to sell, won’t be required to sell, and believes it will hold these securities until recovery. The Company also has ARS that are classified as trading investment securities and are reported as short term, as the Company has the option to liquidate these securities within the next twelve months through a guaranteed program with the Company’s investment manager. The Company used a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of ARS. The assumptions the Company used in preparing the discounted cash flow model include estimates for interest rates; estimates for discount rates using yields of comparable traded instruments adjusted for illiquidity and other risk factors, amount of cash flows and expected holding periods for the ARS.
 
Concentration of Credit Risk
 
The Company extends credit to customers and is therefore subject to credit risk. The Company performs initial and ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and does not require collateral. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded to account for potential bad debts. Estimates are used in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts and are based upon an assessment of selected accounts and as a percentage of remaining accounts receivable by aging category. In determining these percentages, the Company evaluates historical write-offs, and current trends in customer credit quality, as well as changes in credit policies. At September 30, 2009, Avnet Technology Solutions and Ingram Micro, Inc. accounted for 11.6% and 10.7% of our accounts receivable, respectively.
 
The Company maintains its cash and investment balances with high credit quality financial institutions. Included within the Company’s investment portfolio are investments in ARS. The Company’s ARS investments are currently not liquid as a result of continued auction failures. If the issuers are not able to meet their payment obligations or if the Company sells its ARS investments before they recover, the Company may lose some or all of its principal invested or may be required to further reduce the carrying value.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
Short-term and long-term investments are recorded at fair value as the underlying securities are classified as available-for-sale with any unrealized gain or loss being recorded to other comprehensive income and trading investment securities are marked-to-market through other income at each reporting period. The fair value is determined using quoted market prices for the securities held with the exception of ARS, which are valued based on a discounted cash flow model.
 
Inventories
 
The Company outsources the manufacturing of its pre-configured hardware platforms to contract manufacturers, who assemble each product to the Company’s specifications. As protection against component shortages and to provide replacement parts for its service teams, the Company also stocks limited supplies of certain key product components. The Company reduces inventory to net realizable value based on excess and obsolete inventories determined primarily by historical usage and forecasted demand. Inventories consist of hardware and related component parts and are recorded at the lower of cost or market (as determined by the first-in, first-out method).


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    Years Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
 
Finished goods
  $ 11,221     $ 6,391  
Raw materials
    2,598       3,757  
                 
    $ 13,819     $ 10,148  
                 
 
Restricted Cash
 
Restricted cash primarily represents escrow accounts established in connection with lease agreements for the Company’s corporate headquarters and, to a lesser extent, the Company’s international facilities. Under the terms of the lease for the Company’s corporate headquarters, the amount required to be held in escrow reduces and eventually eliminates at various dates throughout the duration of the lease term. During fiscal year 2009, the amount required to be held in escrow was $2.4 million as set forth in the lease agreement for the Company’s corporate headquarters.
 
Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from two to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements. The cost of normal maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred and expenditures for major improvements are capitalized at cost. Gains or losses on the disposition of assets are reflected in the income statements at the time of disposal.
 
Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    Years Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
 
Computer equipment
  $ 54,974     $ 50,878  
Office furniture and equipment
    9,467       10,334  
Leasehold improvements
    35,092       34,069  
                 
      99,533       95,281  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (60,162 )     (47,724 )
                 
    $ 39,371     $ 47,557  
                 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense totaled approximately $18.4 million, $16.3 million, and $11.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Goodwill
 
Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired as of the acquisition date. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances, and goodwill is written down when impaired. Goodwill of $150.2 million was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Acopia Networks, Inc. (“Acopia”) in the fourth quarter of 2007, goodwill of $32.0 million was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Swan Labs, Inc. (“Swan Labs”) in fiscal year 2006, goodwill of $25.5 million was recorded in connection with the acquisition of MagniFire


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Websystems, Inc. in fiscal year 2004 and goodwill of $24.2 million was recorded in connection with the acquisition of uRoam, Inc. in fiscal year 2003.
 
The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test during the second fiscal quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. The first step of the test identifies whether potential impairment may have occurred, while the second step of the test measures the amount of the impairment, if any. Impairment is recognized when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its fair value. In March 2009, the Company completed its annual impairment test and concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill. The Company has considered the assumptions used in the test and notes that no reasonably possible changes would reduce the fair value of the reporting unit to such a level that would cause an impairment charge. Additionally, as a result of the current economic environment, the Company considered potential impairment indicators throughout the year and at September 30, 2009 and noted no indicators of impairment.
 
Other Assets
 
Other assets primarily consist of software development costs, acquired and developed technology and customer relationships.
 
Software development costs are charged to research and development expense in the period incurred until technological feasibility is established. Thereafter, until the product is released for sale, software development costs are capitalized and reported at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value of each product. Capitalized software development cost are amortized over the remaining estimated economic life of the product. The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment of recoverability of costs require considerable judgment by the Company with respect to certain internal and external factors, including, but not limited to, anticipated future gross product revenues, estimated economic life and changes in hardware and software technology. The Company did not capitalize any software development costs in fiscal year 2009. During fiscal year 2008, the Company capitalized $1.7 million of software development costs. The Company did not capitalize any software development costs in fiscal year 2007. Amortization costs related to capitalized software development were $421,000, $202,000, and $249,000 for fiscal years 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively and have been recorded as additional cost of product revenues.
 
Acquired and developed technology and customer relationship assets are recorded at cost and amortized over their estimated useful lives of five years. The estimated useful life of these assets is assessed and evaluated for reasonableness periodically. Acquired technology of $15.0 million in fiscal 2007 and $8.0 million in fiscal 2006 was recorded in connection with the acquisitions of Acopia and Swan Labs, respectively. Amortization expense related to acquired technology, which is charged to cost of product revenues, totaled $5.3 million, $6.1 million and $3.4 million during the fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Amortization of all other intangible assets, including customer relationships, patents and trademarks was $1,003,000, $969,000 and $486,000 during the fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
The Company assesses the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When such events occur, management determines whether there has been impairment by comparing the anticipated undiscounted net future cash flows to the related asset’s carrying value. If impairment exists, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. No impairment of long-lived assets was noted as of and for the year ended September 30, 2009.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company’s products are integrated with software that is essential to the functionality of the equipment. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the accounting guidance for software products and disclosure under GAAP.
 
The Company sells products through distributors, resellers, and directly to end users. The Company recognizes product revenue upon shipment, net of estimated returns, provided that collection is determined to be reasonably assured and no significant performance obligations remain. In certain regions where the Company does not have the ability to reasonably estimate returns, the Company defers revenue on sales to its distributors until they have received information from the channel partner indicating that the distributor has sold the product to its customer. Payment terms to domestic customers are generally net 30 days to net 45 days. Payment terms to international customers range from net 30 days to net 90 days based on normal and customary trade practices in the individual markets. The Company offers extended payment terms to certain customers, in which case, revenue is recognized when payments are due.
 
Whenever product, training and post-contract customer support (“PCS”) elements are sold together, a portion of the sales price is allocated to each element based on their respective fair values as determined when the individual elements are sold separately. The Company determines fair value based on the type of customer and region in which the package is sold. Where fair value of certain elements are not available, the Company recognizes revenue on the “residual method” based on the fair value of undelivered elements. Revenues from the sale of product are recognized when the product has been shipped and the customer is obligated to pay for the product. When rights of return are present and the Company cannot estimate returns, it recognizes revenue when such rights of return lapse. Revenues for PCS are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service contract term. PCS includes a limited period of telephone support updates, repair or replacement of any failed product or component that fails during the term of the agreement, bug fixes and rights to upgrades, when and if available. Consulting services are customarily billed at fixed rates, plus out-of-pocket expenses, and revenues are recognized when the consulting has been completed. Training revenue is recognized when the training has been completed.
 
The Company accounts for taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis and excluded from revenues.
 
Shipping and Handling
 
Shipping and handling fees charged to the Company’s customers are recognized as product revenue in the period shipped and the related costs for providing these services are recorded as a cost of sale.
 
Guarantees and Product Warranties
 
In the normal course of business to facilitate sales of its products, the Company indemnifies other parties, including customers, resellers, lessors, and parties to other transactions with the Company, with respect to certain matters. The Company has agreed to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations or covenants, or out of intellectual property infringement or other claims made against certain parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim. The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors, and the Company’s bylaws contain similar indemnification obligations to the Company’s agents. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement.
 
The Company offers warranties of one year for hardware for those customers without service contracts, with the option of purchasing additional warranty coverage in yearly increments. The Company accrues for


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
warranty costs as part of its cost of sales based on associated material product costs and technical support labor costs. Accrued warranty costs as of September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were not considered material.
 
Research and Development
 
Research and development expenses consist of salaries and related benefits of product development personnel, prototype materials and expenses related to the development of new and improved products, and an allocation of facilities and depreciation expense. Research and development expenses are reflected in the statements of income as incurred.
 
In-Process Research and Development
 
Acquired in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) reflects the amount allocated to IPR&D that the Company acquired in acquisitions. IPR&D represents the present value of estimated after-tax cash flows expected to be generated by purchased technology, which, at the acquisition date, had not yet reached technological feasibility and had no alternative future use. The Company recorded $14.0 million of IPR&D in fiscal 2007 related to its acquisition of Acopia.
 
Advertising
 
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. The Company incurred $1.3 million, $1.5 million and $2.2 million in advertising costs during the fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Income Taxes
 
The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The realization of deferred tax assets is based on historical tax positions and estimates of future taxable income. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
 
In fiscal year 2008, the Company began assessing whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. The Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits to be recognized in the financial statements from such a position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The new guidance also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures.
 
Foreign Currency
 
The functional currency for the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the local currency in which the respective entity is located, with the exception of F5 Networks, Ltd., in the United Kingdom that uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. An entity’s functional currency is determined by the currency of the economic environment in which the majority of cash is generated and expended by the entity. The financial statements of all majority-owned subsidiaries and related entities, with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, have been translated into U.S. dollars. All assets and liabilities of the respective entities are translated at year-end exchange rates and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates during the respective period. Translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholder’s equity.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are a result of the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency, including U.S. dollars. Gains and losses on those foreign currency transactions are included in determining net income or loss for the period of exchange. The net effect of foreign currency gains and losses was not significant during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
 
Segments
 
The Company discloses certain information about its operating segments, which are determined consistent with the way management organizes and evaluates financial information internally for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Management has determined that the Company operated in one segment for fiscal 2009 and prior years and will continue to evaluate its reporting structure prospectively.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation using the straight-line attribution method for recognizing compensation expense. The Company recognized $56.1 million, $60.6 million and $41.2 million of stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, there was $82.5 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost, the majority of which will be recognized over the next two years. Going forward, stock-based compensation expenses may increase as the Company issues additional equity-based awards to continue to attract and retain key employees.
 
The Company issues incentive awards to its employees through stock-based compensation consisting of stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). On August 3, 2009, the Company awarded approximately 1.7 million RSUs to employees and executive officers pursuant to the Company’s annual equity awards program. The value of RSUs is determined using the fair value method, which in this case, is based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Alternatively, in determining the fair value of stock options, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model that employs the following key assumptions.
 
                                                 
    Stock Option Plan
    Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
    Years Ended September 30,     Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007     2009     2008     2007  
 
Risk-free interest rate
    2.01 %     2.87 %     4.46 %     0.31 %     1.73 %     5.03 %
Expected dividend
                                   
Expected term
    4.2 years       4.1 years       6.3 years       0.5 years       0.5 years       0.5 years  
Expected volatility
    53.01 %     52.64 %     65.76 %     47.00 %     65.91 %     42.62 %
 
The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the foreseeable future. Expected volatility is based on the annualized daily historical volatility of the Company’s stock price commensurate with the expected life of the option. Expected term of the option is based on an evaluation of the historical employee stock option exercise behavior, the vesting terms of the respective option and a contractual life of ten years. The Company’s stock price volatility and option lives involve management’s best estimates at that time, both of which impact the fair value of the option calculated under the Black-Scholes methodology and, ultimately, the expense that will be recognized over the life of the option. The Company recognizes compensation expense for only the portion of options or stock units that are expected to vest. Therefore, the Company applies estimated forfeiture rates that are derived from historical employee termination behavior. Based on historical differences with forfeitures of stock-based awards granted to the Company’s executive officers and Board of Directors versus grants awarded to all other employees, the Company has developed separate forfeiture expectations for these two groups. The average estimated forfeiture rate for grants awarded to the Company’s executive officers and


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Board of Directors was approximately 4% and the average estimated forfeiture rate for grants awarded to all other employees was approximately 11% in fiscal 2009. If the actual number of forfeitures differs from those estimated by management, additional adjustments to compensation expense may be required in future periods.
 
In August 2009, the Company granted 420,000 RSUs to certain current executive officers. Fifty percent of the aggregate number of RSUs granted at such time vest in equal quarterly increments over two years, until such portion of the grant is fully vested on August 1, 2011. Twenty-five percent of the RSU grant, or a portion thereof, is subject to the Company achieving specified quarterly revenue and EBITDA goals during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2010. Fifty percent of the quarterly performance stock grant is based on achieving at least 80% of the quarterly revenue goal and the other 50% is based on achieving at least 80% of the quarterly EBITDA goal. The quarterly performance stock grant is paid linearly above 80% of the targeted goals. At least 100% of both goals must be attained in order for the quarterly performance stock grant to be awarded over 100%. Each goal is evaluated individually and subject to the 80% achievement threshold and 100% over-achievement threshold. The remaining twenty-five percent is subject to the Company achieving specified quarterly goals during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, as will be set by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
In August 2008, the Company granted 383,400 RSUs to certain current executive officers. Fifty percent of the aggregate number of RSUs granted at such time vest in equal quarterly increments over two years, until such portion of the grant is fully vested on August 1, 2010. Twenty-five percent of the RSU grant, or a portion thereof, was subject to the Company achieving specified percentage increases in total revenue during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, relative to the same periods in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (the “2008 Performance Award”). Approximately half of this twenty-five percent was earned in fiscal year 2009. The remaining twenty-five percent is subject to the Company achieving specified quarterly revenue and EBITDA goals during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2010, as set by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
 
In August 2007, the Company granted 276,400 RSUs to certain current executive officers. Fifty percent of the aggregate number of RSUs granted at such time vest in equal quarterly increments over two years, and was fully vested on August 1, 2009. Twenty-five percent of the RSU grant was subject to the Company achieving specified percentage increases in total revenue during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, relative to the same periods in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (the “2007 Performance Award”). This twenty-five percent was fully earned in fiscal 2008. The remaining twenty-five percent was subject to the Company achieving specified percentage increases in total revenue during the period beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, relative to the same periods in fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Approximately half of this twenty-five percent was earned in fiscal 2009.
 
The Company recognizes compensation costs for awards with performance conditions when it concludes it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. The Company reassesses the probability of vesting at each balance sheet date and adjusts compensation costs based on the probability assessment. Performance conditions for these awards were not met in the second and third fiscal quarters of 2009 and as such, no compensation cost was incurred.
 
Earnings Per Share
 
Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common and dilutive common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share data):
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
 
Numerator
                       
Net income
  $ 91,535     $ 74,331     $ 77,000  
Denominator
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    78,842       82,290       83,205  
Dilutive effect of common shares from stock options and restricted stock units
    1,231       1,138       1,932  
                         
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    80,073       83,428       85,137  
                         
Basic net income per share
  $ 1.16     $ 0.90     $ 0.93  
                         
Diluted net income per share
  $ 1.14     $ 0.89     $ 0.90  
                         
 
Approximately 0.4 million, 0.6 million, and 0.2 million of common shares potentially issuable from stock options for the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price was greater than the market price.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued ASC 810-10, Consolidation — Overall (“ASC 810-10”), which amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. ASC 810-10 is effective for the Company’s fiscal years beginning October 1, 2009 and the Company does not expect its adoption to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), which establishes principles and requirements for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in an acquisition, at their fair value as of the acquisition date. ASC 805 is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after October 1, 2009. This standard will change the Company’s accounting treatment for business combinations on a prospective basis.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 820-10-65, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures — Overall — Transition and Open Effective Date Information (“ASC 820-10-65”). ASC 820-10-65 provides guidance on how to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities when the volume and level of activity for the asset/liability has significantly decreased. This statement also provides guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. In addition, ASC 820-10-65 requires disclosure in interim and annual periods of the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques. The Company adopted the statement in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of ASC 820-10-65 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 320-10, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities — Overall (“ASC 320-10”). This guidance amends the requirements for the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairments for debt securities by modifying the pre-existing “intent and ability” indicator. Under ASC 320-10, an other-than-temporary impairment is triggered when there is an intent to sell the security, it is more likely than not that the security will be required to be sold before recovery, or the security is not expected to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. Additionally, this guidance changes the presentation of


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
an other-than-temporary impairment in the income statement for those impairments involving credit losses. The credit loss component will be recognized in earnings and the remainder of the impairment will be recorded in other comprehensive income. The Company adopted ASC 320-10 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this statement did not impact the Company as there have been no credit losses or other-than-temporary impairment losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities in prior periods.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 825-10-65, Financial Instruments — Overall — Transition and Open Effective Date Information (“ASC 825-10-65”). This guidance requires interim disclosures regarding the fair values of financial instruments that are within the scope of ASC 825-10. Additionally, this guidance requires disclosure of the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments on an interim basis as well as changes of the methods and significant assumptions from prior periods. The Company adopted ASC 820-10-65 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this statement does not change the accounting treatment for these financial instruments.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855-10, Subsequent Events — Overall (“ASC 855-10”), which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for selecting that date, that is, whether that date represents the date the financial statements were issued or were available to be issued. The Company adopted ASC 855-10 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, (amendments to FASB ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition) (“ASU 2009-13”) and ASU 2009-14, Certain Arrangements That Include Software Elements, (amendments to FASB ASC Topic 985, Software) (“ASU 2009-14”). ASU 2009-13 requires entities to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of the delivered goods and services based on a selling price hierarchy. The amendments eliminate the residual method of revenue allocation and require revenue to be allocated using the relative selling price method. ASU 2009-14 removes tangible products from the scope of software revenue guidance and provides guidance on determining whether software deliverables in an arrangement that includes a tangible product are covered by the scope of the software revenue guidance. ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14 should be applied on a prospective basis for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect adoption of ASU 2009-13 or ASU 2009-14 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
 
2.   Fair Value Measurements
 
In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosure under GAAP, the Company determines fair value using a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity, and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances and expands disclosure about fair value measurements.
 
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in our principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, essentially the exit price.
 
The levels of fair value hierarchy are:
 
Level 1:  Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities at the measurement date.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Level 2:  Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
 
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data available. These inputs reflect management’s assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
 
Level 1 investments are valued based on quoted market prices in active markets and include the Company’s cash equivalent investments. Level 2 investments, which include investments that are valued based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, include the Company’s certificates of deposit, corporate bonds and notes, municipal bonds and notes and U.S. government securities.
 
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by the Company. The Company considers observable data to be market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market.
 
The Company adopted the fair value hierarchy for financial assets and liabilities on October 1, 2008, the first day of fiscal 2009. The adoption did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its non-financial assets and liabilities, which will be effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2010.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis subject to the disclosure requirements at September 30, 2009, were as follows (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using        
    Quoted Prices in
    Significant
             
    Active Markets for
    Other Observable
    Significant
    Fair Value at
 
    Identical Securities
    Inputs
    Unobservable Inputs
    September 30,
 
    (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     2009  
 
Cash equivalents
  $ 19,789     $     $     $ 19,789  
Short-term investments
                               
Available-for-sale securities — certificates of deposit
          3,122             3,122  
Available-for-sale securities — corporate bonds and notes
          34,524             34,524  
Available-for-sale securities — municipal bonds and notes
          107,345             107,345  
Available-for-sale securities — U.S. government securities
          36,741             36,741  
Trading securities — auction rate securities
                24,559       24,559  
Long-term investments
                               
Available-for-sale securities — corporate bonds and notes
          48,678             48,678  
Available-for-sale securities — municipal bonds and notes
          72,979             72,979  
Available-for-sale securities — U.S. government securities
          120,092             120,092  
Available-for-sale securities — auction rate securities
                15,545       15,545  
Put option (Note 3)
                1,491       1,491  
                                 
Total
  $ 19,789     $ 423,481     $ 41,595     $ 484,865  
                                 
 
Due to the auction failures of the Company’s ARS that began in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, there are still no quoted prices in active markets for identical assets as of September 30, 2009. Therefore, the Company has classified its ARS as level 3 financial assets. The following table provides a reconciliation between the beginning and ending balances of items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the table above that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (in thousands):
 
                 
    Significant
    Significant
 
    Unobservable Inputs
    Unobservable Inputs
 
    (Level 3)(1)     (Level 3)(2)  
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 43,151     $ 53,350  
Total losses realized or unrealized:
               
Included in earnings (other income, net)
    114       (1,491 )
Included in other comprehensive income
    (56 )     (3,455 )
Recognition of put option to earnings
    (114 )     1,491  
Settlements
    (1,500 )     (8,300 )
Transfers into and/or out of level 3
           
                 
Balance, September 30, 2009
  $ 41,595     $ 41,595  
                 


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
(1) Beginning balance represents the fair value of the Company’s investments in ARS as of June 30, 2009
 
(2) Beginning balance represents the fair value (par value) of the Company’s investments in ARS as of February 1, 2008 prior to auction failures
 
Financial assets are considered Level 3 when their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Level 3 financial assets also include certain investment securities for which there is limited market activity such that the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation. Level 3 investment securities primarily include certain ARS for which there was a decrease in the observation of market pricing. At September 30, 2009, these securities were valued primarily using internal cash flow valuation that incorporates transaction details such as contractual terms, maturity, timing and amount of future cash flows, as well as assumptions about liquidity and credit valuation adjustments of marketplace participants at September 30, 2009.
 
3.   Short-Term and Long-Term Investments
 
Short-term investments consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Cost or
    Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
       
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
 
September 30, 2009
                               
Certificates of deposit
  $ 3,120     $ 2     $     $ 3,122  
Corporate bonds and notes
    34,325       201       (2 )     34,524  
Municipal bonds and notes
    106,491       854             107,345  
Auction rate securities
    24,559                   24,559  
U.S. government securities
    36,646       96       (1 )     36,741  
                                 
    $ 205,141     $ 1,153     $ (3 )   $ 206,291  
                                 
 
                                 
    Cost or
    Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
       
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
 
September 30, 2008
                               
Corporate bonds and notes
  $ 3,033     $     $ (69 )   $ 2,964  
Municipal bonds and notes
    40,587       138       (30 )     40,695  
U.S. government securities
    68,301       38       (115 )     68,224  
                                 
    $ 111,921     $ 176     $ (214 )   $ 111,883  
                                 


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Long-term investments consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Cost or
    Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
       
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
 
September 30, 2009
                               
Corporate bonds and notes
  $ 48,194     $ 508     $ (24 )   $ 48,678  
Municipal bonds and notes
    72,202       777             72,979  
Auction rate securities
    19,000             (3,455 )     15,545  
U.S. government securities
    119,447       649       (4 )     120,092  
                                 
    $ 258,843     $ 1,934     $ (3,483 )   $ 257,294  
                                 
 
                                 
    Cost or
    Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
       
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
 
September 30, 2008
                               
Corporate bonds and notes
  $ 12,815     $     $ (456 )   $ 12,359  
Municipal bonds and notes
    100,154       57       (361 )     99,850  
Auction rate securities
    52,250             (4,728 )     47,522  
U.S. government securities
    101,534       111       (290 )     101,355  
                                 
    $ 266,753     $ 168     $ (5,835 )   $ 261,086  
                                 
 
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities at September 30, 2009, by contractual years-to-maturity, are presented below (in thousands):
 
                 
    Cost or
       
    Amortized
       
    Cost     Fair Value  
 
One year or less
  $ 205,141     $ 206,291  
Over one year through five years
    258,843       257,294  
                 
    $ 463,984     $ 463,585  
                 
 
The cost or amortized cost values of the Company’s ARS include $19.0 million of available-for-sale securities and $24.6 million of trading investment securities as of September 30, 2009 and $52.3 million of available-for-sale securities and no trading investment securities as of September 30, 2008.
 
The following table summarizes investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months and those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than 12 months as of September 30, 2009 (in thousands):
 
                                                 
          12 Months or
       
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater     Total  
          Gross
          Gross
          Gross
 
    Fair
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Unrealized
 
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
 
September 30, 2009
                                               
Corporate bonds and notes
    12,461       26                   12,461       26  
Auction rate securities
                15,545       3,455       15,545       3,455  
U.S. government securities
    22,997       5                   22,997       5  
                                                 
Total
  $ 35,458     $ 31     $ 15,545     $ 3,455     $ 51,003     $ 3,486  
                                                 


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company invests in securities that are rated investment grade or better. The unrealized losses on investments for fiscal 2009 were primarily caused by reductions in the values of the ARS due to the illiquid markets and were partially offset by unrealized gains related to interest rate decreases.
 
ARS are variable-rate debt securities. The Company limits its investments in ARS to securities that carry an AAA/A- (or equivalent) rating from recognized rating agencies and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. At the time of the Company’s initial investment and at the date of this report, all ARS were in compliance with the Company’s investment policy. In the past, the auction process allowed investors to obtain immediate liquidity if so desired by selling the securities at their face amounts. Liquidity for these securities has historically been provided by an auction process that resets interest rates on these investments on average every 7-35 days. However, as has been reported in the financial press, the disruptions in the credit markets adversely affected the auction market for these types of securities.
 
Beginning in February 2008, auctions failed for approximately $53.4 million in par value of municipal ARS the Company held because sell orders exceeded buy orders. The funds associated with failed auctions will not be accessible until a successful auction occurs or a buyer is found outside the auction process.
 
In October 2008, the Company entered into an agreement (“the Agreement”) with UBS whereby UBS would purchase eligible ARS it sold to the Company prior to February 13, 2008. Under the terms of the Agreement, and at the Company’s discretion, UBS will purchase eligible ARS from the Company at par value (“Put Option”) during the period of June 30, 2010 through July 2, 2012. The Company expects to sell its eligible ARS under the Agreement. However, if the Company does not exercise its rights to sell its eligible ARS under the Agreement before July 2, 2012 this Put Option will expire and UBS will have no further rights or obligations to buy the Company’s ARS. So long as the Company holds its ARS, they will continue to accrue interest as determined by the auction process or the terms of the ARS if the auction process fails. The Company elected to measure the Put Option under the fair value option, and recorded a benefit of approximately $1.5 million pre-tax for the year ended September 30, 2009. These securities were recorded as short term at September 30, 2009, as the Company has the option to liquidate these securities within the next twelve months. The Company transferred these ARS from available-for-sale to trading investment securities in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. As a result of accepting the Put Option and reclassifying the ARS from available-for-sale to trading investment securities, the Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of approximately $1.5 million pre-tax as of September 30, 2009, reflecting a reversal of the related unrealized loss that was previously recorded in other comprehensive loss. The recording of the fair value of the Put Option and the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment loss resulted in no impact to the consolidated income statement for year ended September 30, 2009. The Company believes that the appropriate presentation of these available-for-sale securities of $15.5 million is long-term investments as reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2009, as the Company does not believe it will be able to liquidate these securities in the next twelve months.
 
4.   Business Combinations
 
The Company’s acquisitions are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The total purchase price is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values is recorded as goodwill. The fair value assigned to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on estimates and assumptions provided by management, and other information compiled by management, including independent valuations, prepared by valuation specialists that utilize established valuation techniques appropriate for the technology industry. Goodwill is not amortized but instead is tested for impairment at least annually.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Fiscal Year 2007 Acquisition of Acopia
 
On September 12, 2007, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Acopia, a privately held Delaware corporation headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts for $207.8 million in cash. The Company also incurred $2.2 million of direct transaction costs for a total purchase price of approximately $210.0 million. Acopia provides high-performance, intelligent file virtualization solutions. These solutions are complementary to Company’s strategy of optimizing the application infrastructure from the core of the datacenter to the edge of the network. As a result of the merger, the Company acquired all the assets of Acopia, all property, equipment and other assets that Acopia used in its business and assumed all the liabilities of Acopia. The results of operations of Acopia have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.
 
The purchase price allocation is as follows (in thousands):
 
         
Assets acquired
       
Cash
  $ 1,855  
Fair value of assets
    4,364  
Deferred tax assets, net
    26,799  
Developed technology, customer relationships and other intangibles
    17,500  
In-process research and development
    14,000  
Goodwill
    152,296  
         
Total assets acquired
  $ 216,814  
         
Liabilities assumed
       
Accrued liabilities
  $ (2,093 )
Deferred revenue
    (4,708 )
         
Total liabilities assumed
    (6,801 )
         
Net assets acquired
  $ 210,013  
         
 
Of the total estimated purchase price, $15.0 million was allocated to developed technology, $14.0 million to in-process research and development, $2.1 million to customer relationships and $0.4 million to trade name and a specific non-compete agreement. To determine the value of the developed technology, a combination of cost and market approaches were used. The cost approach required an estimation of the costs required to reproduce the developed technology. The market approach measures the fair value of the technology through an analysis of recent comparable transactions. To determine the value of customer relationships, the income approach was used. The income approach estimates the fair value based on the earnings and cash flow capacity of an asset.
 
Developed technology, customer relationships and trade name will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life of five years. The non-compete agreement will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the thirty-six month term of the agreement.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
5.   Balance Sheet Details
 
Other Assets
 
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    Years Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
 
Acquired and developed technology and software development cost
  $ 11,393     $ 17,079  
Deposits and other
    8,775       8,575  
                 
    $ 20,168     $ 25,654  
                 
 
Amortization expense related to other assets was approximately $6.7 million, $7.3 million, and $4.2 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                                                 
    2009     2008  
    Gross
                Gross
             
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Net Carrying
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Net Carrying
 
    Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amount     Amortization     Amount  
 
Acquired and developed technology and software development cost
  $ 33,474     $ (22,081 )   $ 11,393     $ 33,474     $ (16,395 )   $ 17,079  
Customer relationships
    2,699       (1,354 )     1,345       2,699       (814 )     1,885  
Patents and trademarks
    2,964       (1,459 )     1,505       2,259       (1,103 )     1,156  
Trade names
    200       (83 )     117       200       (43 )     157  
Non-compete covenants
    200       (139 )     61       200       (72 )     128  
                                                 
    $ 39,537     $ (25,116 )   $ 14,421     $ 38,832     $ (18,427 )   $ 20,405  
                                                 
 
Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows (in thousands):
 
         
2010
  $ 6,033  
2011
  $ 4,188  
2012
  $ 3,613  
2013
  $ 118  
2014
  $ 51  
         
    $ 14,003  
         


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Accrued Liabilities
 
Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    Years Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
 
Payroll and benefits
  $ 33,302     $ 28,249  
Sales and marketing
    1,768       1,719  
Restructuring
    478        
Warranty
    600       600  
Income taxes
    8,230       8,913  
Other
    8,854       8,570  
                 
    $ 53,232     $ 48,051  
                 
 
Other Long Term Liabilities
 
Other long term liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    Years Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
 
Income tax accrual
  $ 6,050     $ 4,095  
Deferred rent and other
    8,323       10,727  
                 
    $ 14,373     $ 14,822  
                 
 
6.   Income Taxes
 
The United States and international components of income before income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
 
United States
  $ 128,537     $ 109,344     $ 121,595  
International
    3,111       8,920       6,098  
                         
    $ 131,648     $ 118,264     $ 127,693  
                         


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The provision for income taxes (benefit) consists of the following (in thousands):
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
 
Current
                       
U.S. federal
  $ 41,948     $ 45,820     $ 42,439  
State
    1,631       1,718       2,240  
Foreign
    1,790       2,489       1,208  
                         
Total
    45,369       50,027       45,887  
Deferred
                       
U.S. federal
    (3,317 )     (5,783 )     5,288  
State
    25       (331 )     302  
Foreign
    (1,964 )     20       (784 )
                         
Total
    (5,256 )     (6,094 )     4,806  
                         
    $ 40,113     $ 43,933     $ 50,693  
                         
 
The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate as follows (in thousands):
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
 
Income tax provision at statutory rate
  $ 46,075     $ 41,393     $ 44,694  
State taxes, net of federal benefit
    2,121       2,187       2,432  
Impact of international operations
    (1,262 )     (696 )     (1,689 )
Research and development and other credits
    (5,954 )     (1,709 )     (4,795 )
Domestic manufacturing deduction
    (3,346 )     (2,326 )      
In-process research and development write-down
                5,180  
Impact of stock compensation
    2,411       4,491       3,482  
Other
    68       593       1,389  
                         
    $ 40,113     $ 43,933     $ 50,693  
                         


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The tax effects of the temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008  
 
Deferred tax assets
               
Net operating loss carry-forwards
  $ 27,853     $ 29,784  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    1,581       1,446  
Accrued compensation and benefits
    3,399       2,978  
Inventories and related reserves
    1,871       497  
Other accruals and reserves
    22,469       21,299  
Depreciation
    3,169       2,275  
Tax credit carry-forwards
    4,296       3,664  
                 
      64,638       61,943  
Deferred tax liabilities
               
Purchased intangibles and other
    (7,610 )     (9,116 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 57,028     $ 52,827  
                 
 
At September 30, 2009, the Company had U.S. net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $69.7 million, a portion of which begins to expire in fiscal 2022 if not utilized. All U.S. net operating loss carry-forwards relate to entities acquired by the Company and are limited in use by I.R.C. Sec. 382. At September 30, 2009, the Company also had net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $15.6 million related to operations in the United Kingdom that carry forward indefinitely. At September 30, 2009 the Company also had federal research and development credit carry-forwards of approximately $2.4 million which, if not utilized, will begin to expire in 2022 and state research and development and investment credit carry-forwards of approximately $1.9 million, which if not utilized, may begin to expire in fiscal year 2017. The aforementioned credit carry-forwards are limited in use under I.R.C. Sec. 383. At September 30, 2008 the Company had approximately $80.6 million of net operating loss carry-forwards of which approximately $413,000 were related to operations in the United Kingdom which carry-forward indefinitely. At September 30, 2008, the Company had federal research credit and other credit carry-forwards of approximately $2.4 million and state research and investment credit carry-forwards of approximately $1.2 million.
 
United States income and foreign withholding taxes have not been provided on approximately $5.2 million of undistributed earnings from the Company’s international subsidiaries. The Company has not recognized a deferred tax liability for the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries because the Company currently does not expect to remit those earnings in the foreseeable future. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries is not practicable because such liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing if and when remittance occurs.
 
Several occurrences in fiscal year 2009 are responsible for the significant change in the effective tax rate between fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2008. The significant change in the effective tax rate between fiscal year 2009 and 2008 was the result of the Company deducting for tax purposes compensation related to equity awards in a major foreign tax jurisdiction effective for the quarter ending March 31, 2009, the reinstatement into law on October 3, 2008 retroactive to January 1, 2008 of the federal tax credit for increasing research activities for qualifying expenditures through December 31, 2009 and deductions obtained for U.S. tax purposes relative to the cessation of operations of a foreign subsidiary in the quarter ending September 30, 2009.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company recognizes the financial statement impact of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest impact that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.
 
The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits in fiscal years 2009 and 2008:
 
                 
    2009     2008  
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 4,075     $ 3,810  
Gross increases related to prior period tax positions
    642        
Gross increases related to current period tax positions
    1,124       265  
                 
Balance, end of period
  $ 5,841     $ 4,075  
                 
 
The Company recognizes interest and, if applicable, penalties (not included in the “unrecognized tax benefits” table above) for any uncertain tax positions. This interest and penalty expense will be a component of income tax expense. In the years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company accrued approximately $193,000 and $146,000, respectively, of interest expense related to its liability for unrecognized tax benefits. No penalties were recognized in fiscal 2009 or 2008 or accrued for at September 30, 2009 and 2008.
 
All unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. Due to an ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service it is reasonably possible that the reserves may change within the next 12 months.
 
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as the income tax of multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company has concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for fiscal years through September 30, 2005 and is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2008. Major jurisdictions where there are wholly owned subsidiaries of F5 Networks, Inc. which require income tax filings include the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and Germany. Periods open for review by local taxing authorities are fiscal years 2006, 2003, 2004 and 2003 for the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and Germany, respectively. Within the next four fiscal quarters, the statute of limitations will begin to close on the fiscal years ended 2005 and 2006 tax returns filed in various states and the fiscal year ended 2006 federal income tax return.
 
7.   Shareholders’ Equity
 
Common Stock
 
Equity Incentive Plans
 
In fiscal 2005, the Company modified the method in which it issues incentive awards to its employees through stock-based compensation. In prior years, stock-based compensation consisted only of stock options. Beginning in 2005, the majority of awards consisted of restricted stock unit awards and to a lesser degree stock options. Employees vest in restricted stock units and stock options ratably over the corresponding service term, generally one to four years. The Company’s stock options expire 10 years from the date of grant. Restricted stock units are payable in shares of the Company’s common stock as the periodic vesting requirements are satisfied. The value of a restricted stock unit is based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The value of restricted stock units is determined using the intrinsic value method and is based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Alternatively, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of its stock options. Compensation expense related to restricted stock units and


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
stock options is recognized over the vesting period. The Company has adopted a number of stock-based compensation plans as discussed below.
 
1998 Equity Incentive Plan.  In November 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 1998 Plan, which provides for discretionary grants of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock purchase awards and stock bonuses for employees and other service providers. The 1998 Plan expired on November 11, 2008. Upon certain changes in control of the Company, all outstanding and unvested options or stock awards under the 1998 Plan will vest at the rate of 50%, unless assumed or substituted by the acquiring entity. During the fiscal years 2009 and 2008, the Company issued no stock options, stock purchase awards or stock bonuses under this plan. As of September 30, 2009, there were options to purchase 562,261 shares outstanding, no unvested stock bonuses, and no shares available for awards under the 1998 Plan.
 
1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  In May 1999, the board of directors approved the adoption of the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. A total of 6,000,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan permits eligible employees to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock through periodic payroll deductions of up to 15% of base compensation. No employee may purchase more than $25,000 worth of stock, determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such option is granted, in one calendar year. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan has been implemented in a series of offering periods, each 6 months in duration. The price at which the common stock may be purchased is 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the first day of the applicable offering period or on the last day of the respective purchase period. As of September 30, 2009 there were 2,432,528 shares available for awards under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  In July 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Employee Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2000 Plan, which provides for discretionary grants of non-qualified stock options, stock purchase awards and stock bonuses for non-executive employees and other service providers. A total of 7,000,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2000 Plan. Upon certain changes in control of the Company, all outstanding and unvested options or stock awards under the 2000 Plan will vest at the rate of 50%, unless assumed or substituted by the acquiring entity. As of September 30, 2009, there were options to purchase 490,455 shares outstanding and no shares available for awards under the 2000 Plan. The Company terminated the 2000 Plan effective November 1, 2008 and no additional shares may be issued from the 2000 Plan.
 
New Hire Incentive Plans.  In August 2004, the Company adopted a non-qualified stock option plan, or the Triebes Plan, in connection with the hiring of Karl Triebes, the Company’s Senior Vice President of Product Development and Chief Technical Officer. The Triebes Plan provided for a grant of 600,000 non-qualified stock options for Mr. Triebes. As of September 30, 2009, there were options to purchase 113,000 shares outstanding and no shares available for awards under the Triebes Plan. Upon certain changes in control of the Company, 100% of all outstanding and unvested options remaining under the Triebes Plan will vest and become immediately exercisable.
 
Acquisition Incentive Plans.  In July 2003, the Company adopted the uRoam Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan, or the uRoam Plan, in connection with the hiring of the former employees of uRoam, Inc. A total of 500,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the uRoam Plan. The plan provided for discretionary grants of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock purchase awards and stock bonuses. The Company has not granted any stock purchase awards or stock bonuses under this plan. As of September 30, 2009 there were options to purchase 21,330 shares outstanding and no shares available for awards under the uRoam Plan.
 
In July 2004, the Company adopted the MagniFire Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan, or the MagniFire Plan, in connection with the hiring of the former employees of MagniFire Websystems, Inc. A total of


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
830,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the MagniFire Plan. The plan provides for discretionary grants of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock purchase awards and stock bonuses. The Company has not granted any stock purchase awards or stock bonuses under this plan. As of September 30, 2009 there were options to purchase 32,798 shares outstanding and no shares available for awards under the MagniFire Plan.
 
Options that expire under the uRoam Plan or the MagniFire Plan, whether due to termination of employment or otherwise, are not available for future grant.
 
In August 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Acopia Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2007 Acopia Plan. The 2007 Acopia Plan provides for discretionary grants of non-statutory stock options and stock units for employees, directors and consultant of Acopia to whom the Company offers employment in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Acopia. A total of 600,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2007 Acopia Plan. Upon certain changes in control of the Company, the surviving entity will either assume or substitute all outstanding Stock Awards under the 2007 Acopia Plan. During the fiscal year 2009, the Company issued no stock options or stock units under the 2007 Acopia Plan. As of September 30, 2009, there were no stock options outstanding and no shares available for awards under the 2007 Acopia Plan. The Company terminated the 2007 Acopia Plan effective November 1, 2008 and no additional shares may be issued from the 2007 Acopia Plan.
 
In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Acopia, the Company assumed the Acopia 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, or the Acopia Plan. Unvested options to acquire Acopia’s common stock were converted into options to acquire the Company’s common stock in connection with the acquisition. A total of 2,230,703 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the Acopia Plan. The plan provides for discretionary grants of non-qualified and incentive stock options, restricted stock awards and other stock-based awards to persons who were employees, officers, directors, consultants or advisors to Acopia on or prior to September 12, 2007. During the fiscal year 2009, the Company issued no stock options or stock units under the Acopia Plan. As of September 30, 2009, there were options to purchase 139,147 shares outstanding and no shares available for awards under the Acopia Plan. The Company terminated the Acopia Plan effective November 1, 2008 and no additional shares may be issued from the Acopia Plan.
 
2005 Equity Incentive Plan.  In December 2004, the Company adopted the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2005 Plan, which provides for discretionary grants of non-statutory stock options and stock units for employees, including officers, and other service providers. A total of 12,400,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2005 Plan. Upon certain changes in control of the Company, the surviving entity will either assume or substitute all outstanding Stock Awards under the 2005 Plan. During the fiscal year 2009, the Company issued no stock options and 1,892,582 stock units under the 2005 Plan. As of September 30, 2009, there were options to purchase 60,000 shares outstanding and 5,193,620 shares available for awards under the 2005 Plan.
 
A majority of the restricted stock units granted in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 vest quarterly over a two-year period. The restricted stock units were granted during fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 with a per-share weighted average fair value of $36.31, $30.47 and $40.98, respectively. Restricted stock units were granted during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005 with a per share weighted average fair value of $22.30. The fair value of restricted stock vested during fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $41.0 million, $36.5 million and $45.3 million, respectively.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
A summary of restricted stock unit activity under the 2005 Plan is as follows:
 
                 
          Weighted
 
          Average
 
    Outstanding
    Grant Date
 
    Stock Units     Fair Value  
 
Balance, September 30, 2007
    1,968,416     $ 30.84  
Units granted
    1,700,162       29.13  
Units vested
    (1,224,797 )     28.93  
Units cancelled
    (162,654 )     37.31  
                 
Balance, September 30, 2008
    2,281,127     $ 30.13  
Units granted
    1,892,582       36.75  
Units vested
    (1,232,598 )     27.79  
Units cancelled
    (134,852 )     32.50  
                 
Balance, September 30, 2009
    2,806,259     $ 35.51  
 
A summary of stock option activity under all of the Company’s plans is as follows:
 
                 
    Options Outstanding  
          Weighted
 
          Average
 
    Number of
    Exercise Price
 
    Shares     per Share  
 
Balance at September 30, 2007
    2,755,691     $ 16.10  
Options granted
           
Options exercised
    (664,610 )     11.73  
Options cancelled
    (125,004 )     18.52  
                 
Balance at September 30, 2008
    1,966,077     $ 17.43  
Options granted
           
Options exercised
    (498,174 )     14.54  
Options cancelled
    (48,912 )     30.40  
                 
Balance at September 30, 2009
    1,418,991     $ 17.99  
                 
 
No stock options were granted in fiscal years 2009 or 2008. The weighted-average fair value per share at the date of grant for options granted with exercise prices equal to market was $15.95 for fiscal year 2007. For fiscal year 2007, there were no options granted with exercise prices less than market.
 
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $8.4 million, $10.2 million and $32.0 million, respectively.
 
                                         
          Weighted
    Weighted
             
          Average
    Average
             
          Remaining
    Exercise
    Aggregate
       
    Number of
    Contractual
    Price
    Intrinsic
       
    Shares     Life (in Years)     per Share     Value(1)        
                      (In thousands)        
 
Stock options outstanding
    1,418,991       3.56     $ 17.99     $ 31,775          
                                         
Exercisable
    1,338,561       3.33     $ 17.43     $ 30,794          
                                         
Vested and expected to vest
    1,417,349       3.55     $ 17.98     $ 31,761          
                                         
 
 
(1) Aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the fair value of the Company’s common stock underlying these options at September 30, 2009 and the related exercise prices.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
As of September 30, 2009, equity based awards (including stock option and stock units) are available for future issuance as follows:
 
         
    Awards
 
    Available for
 
    Grant  
 
Balance, September 30, 2007
    6,039,029  
Granted
    (2,251,852 )
Exercised
     
Cancelled
    314,558  
Additional shares reserved (terminated), net
    (36,343 )
         
Balance, September 30, 2008
    4,065,392  
         
Granted
    (1,892,582 )
Exercised
     
Cancelled
    264,579  
Additional shares reserved (terminated), net
    2,756,231  
         
Balance, September 30, 2009
    5,193,620  
         
 
As of September 30, 2009, there was $82.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, related to unvested stock options and restricted stock units, the majority of which will be recognized ratably over the next two years. A forfeiture assumption of approximately four percent is utilized when arriving at the amount of stock compensation expense for executive officers and the Company’s Board of Directors. A forfeiture assumption of approximately eleven percent is utilized when arriving at the amount of stock compensation expense for all other employees. The Company recognized $56.1 million, $60.6 million and $41.2 million of pre-tax stock compensation expense for the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
8.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Operating Leases
 
The majority of the Company’s operating lease payments relate to the Company’s three building corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington. The lease on the first and second buildings commenced in July and October of 2000. The lease for both buildings expires in 2012 with an option for renewal. The second building has been partially subleased through 2012. The lease on the third building commenced in June 2008 and will expire in 2018. The Company also leases additional office space for product development and sales and support personnel in the United States and internationally.
 
In October 2006, the Company entered into an office lease agreement to lease a total of approximately 137,000 square feet of office space in a building known as 333 Elliott West, which is adjacent to the three buildings that serve as the Company’s corporate headquarters. The lease expires in 2018. During 2008, the Company entered into two separate sublease agreements to sublease approximately 112,500 square feet of building 333 Elliott West. These sublease terms expire in 2011 and 2013, respectively.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Future minimum operating lease payments, net of sublease income, are as follows (in thousands):
 
                         
    Gross Lease
    Sublease
    Net Lease
 
    Payments     Income     Payments  
 
2010
    17,704       7,159       10,545  
2011
    14,371       6,832       7,539  
2012
    11,905       4,844       7,061  
2013
    7,102       1,983       5,119  
2014
    6,603       338       6,265  
Thereafter
    20,402       85       20,317  
                         
    $ 78,087     $ 21,241     $ 56,846  
                         
 
Rent expense under non-cancelable operating leases amounted to approximately $15.6 million, $15.8 million, and $10.4 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
Purchase Obligations
 
Purchase obligations are comprised of purchase commitments with our contract manufacturers. The agreement with our primary contract manufacturer allows them to procure component inventory on our behalf based on our production forecast. We are obligated to purchase component inventory that the contract manufacturer procures in accordance with the forecast, unless cancellation is given within applicable lead times. As of September 30, 2009, our purchase obligations were $15.5 million.
 
Litigation
 
Derivative Suits.  Beginning on or about May 24, 2006, several derivative actions were filed against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company. These derivative lawsuits were filed in: (1) the Superior Court of King County, Washington, as In re F5 Networks, Inc. State Court Derivative Litigation (Case No. 06-2-17195-1 SEA), which consolidates Adams v. Amdahl, et al. (Case No. 06-2-17195-1 SEA), Wright v. Amdahl, et al. (Case No. 06-2-19159-5 SEA), and Sommer v. McAdam, et al. (Case No. 06-2-26248-4 SEA) (the “State Court Derivative Litigation”); and (2) the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, as In re F5 Networks, Inc. Derivative Litigation, Master File No. C06-0794RSL, which consolidates Hutton v. McAdam, et al. (Case No. 06-794RSL), Locals 302 and 612 of the International Union of Operating Engineers-Employers Construction Industry Retirement Trust v. McAdam et al. (Case No. C06-1057RSL), and Easton v. McAdam et al. (Case No. C06-1145RSL)(the “Federal Court Derivative Litigation”). On August 2, 2007, another derivative lawsuit, Barone v. McAdam et al. (Case No. C07-1200P), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. It is expected that this lawsuit will be consolidated with the other lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The complaints generally allege that certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers, including, in general, each of the Company’s current outside directors (other than Deborah L. Bevier and Scott Thompson who joined the Company’s Board of Directors in July 2006 and January 2008, respectively) breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by engaging in alleged wrongful conduct concerning the manipulation of certain stock option grant dates. The Company is named solely as a nominal defendant against whom the plaintiffs seek no recovery. The Company’s combined motion to consolidate and stay the State Court Derivative Litigation was granted in a court order dated April 3, 2007. The Company’s motion to dismiss the consolidated federal derivative actions based on plaintiffs’ failure to make demand on the Company’s Board of Directors prior to filing suit was granted in a court order dated August 6, 2007 with leave to amend the allegations in plaintiffs’ complaint. Plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated federal derivative action complaint on September 14, 2007. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint based on plaintiff’s failure to make demand on the Company’s Board of


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Directors prior to filing suit. On July 3, 2008, before ruling on the Company’s pending dismissal motion, the federal court entered an order certifying certain issues of Washington state law to the Washington Supreme Court for resolution. On May 21, 2009, the Washington Supreme Court issued its opinion on the certified issues. The Company’s dismissal motion remains pending before the federal court as the Company intends to continue to vigorously pursue dismissal of the derivative actions.
 
SEC and Department of Justice Inquiries.  In May 2006, the Company received notice from both the SEC and the Department of Justice that they were conducting informal inquiries into the Company’s historical stock option practices. The Company has fully cooperated with both agencies. Considerable legal and accounting expenses related to the Company’s historical stock option practices have been incurred to date. The Company may in the future be subject to additional regulatory proceedings or actions arising in relation to its historical stock option practices and the restatement of its prior period financial statements. Although regulatory proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, the Company does not believe the results of any pending actions will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse impact its consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
The Company is not aware of any pending legal proceedings other than those mentioned above that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results, or financial condition. The Company may in the future be party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims that we allegedly infringe upon third-party trademarks or other intellectual property rights. Such claims, even if not meritorious, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources.
 
9.   Restructuring Charges
 
In January 2009, the Company initiated a restructuring plan to reduce its operating expenses which included the consolidation of facilities, accelerated depreciation on tenant improvements and a reduction in workforce. These initiatives are intended to conserve or generate cash in response to the uncertainties associated with the recent deterioration in the global economy. As a result of these initiatives, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $4.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. As of September 30, 2009, there was $0.6 million in accrued expenses that will offset futures lease payments through September 2012.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the following activity was recorded (in thousands):
 
                                         
    Closure/
    Employee
                   
    Consolidation
    Severance, Benefits
                   
    of Facilities     and Related Costs     Total              
 
Accrued expenses, January 1, 2009
  $     $     $                  
Restructuring charges
    2.2       2.1       4.3                  
Cash payments
    (0.8 )     (2.1 )     (2.9 )                
Non-cash charges
    (0.8 )           (0.8 )                
                                         
Accrued expenses, September 30, 2009
  $ 0.6     $     $ 0.6                  
                                         
 
10.   Facility Exit and Sublease Agreements
 
During fiscal year 2008, the Company exited a research and development facility in Bellevue, Washington for which it has remaining operating lease obligations through 2014. In addition, the Company consolidated its corporate headquarters, partially subleasing the building located at 333 Elliott Avenue West in Seattle, Washington for which it has remaining operating lease obligations through 2018. As a result of the expected loss on the facility exit and sublease agreements, the Company recorded a charge of $5.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
11.   Employee Benefit Plans
 
The Company has a 401(k) savings plan whereby eligible employees may voluntarily contribute a percentage of their compensation. The Company may, at its discretion, match a portion of the employees’ eligible contributions. Contributions by the Company to the plan during the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008, and 2007 were approximately $3.3 million, $3.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Contributions made by the Company vest over four years.
 
12.   Geographic Sales and Significant Customers
 
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. For fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company was organized as, and operated in, one reportable segment: the development, marketing and sale of application delivery networking products that optimize the security, performance and availability of network applications, servers and storage systems. The Company manages its business based on four geographic regions: the Americas (primarily the United States); Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Japan; and the Asia Pacific region (APAC). The Company’s chief operating decision-making group reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis accompanied by information about revenues by geographic region. The Company’s foreign offices conduct sales, marketing and support activities. Management evaluates performance based primarily on revenues in the geographic locations in which the Company operates. Revenues are attributed by geographic location based on the location of the customer. The Company’s assets are primarily located in the United States and not allocated to any specific region. Therefore, geographic information is presented only for net product revenue.
 
The following presents revenues by geographic region (in thousands):
 
                         
    Years Ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2007  
 
Americas
  $ 361,230     $ 373,906     $ 307,087  
EMEA
    150,776       138,810       92,674  
Japan
    56,792       58,736       64,346  
Asia Pacific
    84,281       78,721       61,560  
                         
    $ 653,079     $ 650,173     $ 525,667  
                         
 
Net revenues from international customers are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars and totaled $291.8 million, $276.3 million, and $218.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. One worldwide distributor accounted for 15.4%, 14.0% and 13.2% of total net revenue for the fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Another worldwide distributor accounted for 10.5% and 11.6% of total net revenue for the fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
13.   Quarterly Results of Operations
 
The following presents the Company’s unaudited quarterly results of operations for the eight quarters ended September 30, 2009. The information should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This unaudited information has been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that were considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s operating results for the quarters presented.
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended  
    Sept. 30,
    June 30,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    Sept. 30,
    June 30,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
 
    2009     2009     2009     2008     2008     2008     2008     2007  
    (Unaudited and in thousands)  
 
Net revenues
                                                               
Products
  $ 108,880     $ 95,619     $ 94,135     $ 107,895     $ 115,790     $ 114,786     $ 112,148     $ 110,205  
Services
    66,250       62,612       60,014       57,674       55,473       50,799       46,993       43,979  
                                                                 
Total
    175,130       158,231       154,149       165,569       171,263       165,585       159,141       154,184  
                                                                 
Cost of net revenues
                                                               
Products
    24,294       21,955       25,037       23,923       26,584       26,158       24,969       24,689  
Services
    12,162       11,710       11,545       12,100       12,329       12,020       11,719       10,550  
                                                                 
Total
    36,456       33,665       36,582       36,023       38,913       38,178       36,688       35,239  
                                                                 
Gross profit
    138,674       124,566       117,567       129,546       132,350       127,407       122,453       118,945  
                                                                 
Operating expenses
                                                               
Sales and marketing
    58,395       55,427       51,933       59,438       60,461       60,483       58,053       58,178  
Research and development
    25,515       25,070       25,977       27,102       26,367       26,277       26,418       24,332  
General and administrative
    14,619       12,764       12,055       15,805       14,632       13,459       14,484       13,426  
Loss on facility exit and sublease
                            5,271                    
Restructuring charges
                4,329                                
                                                                 
Total operating expenses
    98,529       93,261       94,294       102,345       106,731       100,219       98,955       95,936  
                                                                 
Income from operations
    40,145       31,305       23,273       27,201       25,619       27,188       23,498       23,009  
Other income, net
    1,682       3,027       2,136       2,879       3,513       3,716       5,589       6,132  
                                                                 
Income before income taxes
    41,827       34,332       25,409       30,080       29,132       30,904       29,087       29,141  
                                                                 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    13,477       11,556       6,423       8,657       9,431       11,770       11,342       11,390  
                                                                 
Net income
  $ 28,350     $ 22,776     $ 18,986     $ 21,423     $ 19,701     $ 19,134     $ 17,745     $ 17,751  
                                                                 
Net income per share — basic
  $ 0.36     $ 0.29     $ 0.24     $ 0.27     $ 0.25     $ 0.24     $ 0.21     $ 0.21  
                                                                 
Weighted average shares — basic
    78,499       78,603       78,925       79,337       79,754       81,096       82,974       84,854  
                                                                 
Net income per share — diluted
  $ 0.36     $ 0.29     $ 0.24     $ 0.27     $ 0.24     $ 0.23     $ 0.21     $ 0.21  
                                                                 
Weighted average shares — diluted
    79,613       79,612       79,570       80,003       80,785       81,951       83,805       86,141  
                                                                 
 
14.   Subsequent Events
 
The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through November 20, 2009, which is the date the financial statements were issued and no such events were identified.


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F5 NETWORKS, INC.
 
 
                                         
    Balance at
  Charges to
  Charges to
      Balance
    Beginning
  Costs and
  Other
      at End
Description
  of Period   Expenses   Accounts   Deductions   of Period
    (In thousands)
 
Year Ended September 30, 2009
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 1,788     $ 706     $     $ (17 )   $ 2,477  
Allowance for sales returns
  $ 2,560     $ 1,933     $ (1,073 )   $ (1,149 )   $ 2,271  
Year Ended September 30, 2008
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 1,054     $ 1,103     $     $ (369 )   $ 1,788  
Allowance for sales returns
  $ 2,107     $ 1,649     $ (5,071 )   $ 3,875     $ 2,560  
Year Ended September 30, 2007
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 900     $ 59     $     $ 95     $ 1,054  
Allowance for sales returns
  $ 1,958     $ 1,149     $ (3,036 )   $ 2,036     $ 2,107  


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Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None.
 
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that required information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required timeframe, as specified in the rules set forth by the Securities Exchange Commission. Our disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2009 and, based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2009.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.
 
Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2009. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Based on the results of this assessment and on those criteria, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2009.
 
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2009 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
During the fourth fiscal quarter, there were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
Item 9B.   Other Information
 
None.


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PART III
 
Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
 
Certain information required by this item regarding the company’s directors and executive officers is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Board of Directors — Nominees and Continuing Directors,” “Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board — Audit Committee” and “— Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers” and “— Director Nomination,” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management — Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the company’s definitive Proxy Statement that will be furnished to the SEC no later than January 28, 2010 (the “Proxy Statement”). Additional information regarding the company’s directors and executive officers is set forth in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.”
 
Item 11.   Executive Compensation
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled “Executive Compensation” and “Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board — Compensation Committee” and “— Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “— Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement.
 
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Proxy Statement.
 
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled “Board of Directors — Director Independence” and “Corporate Governance — Related Person Transactions Policy and Procedures” and “— Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” in the Proxy Statement.
 
Item 14.   Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the section entitled “Executive Compensation — Fees Paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP” and “— Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures” and “— Annual Independence Determination” in the Proxy Statement.
 
PART IV
 
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
(a) Documents filed as part of this report are as follows:
 
1. Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
Our Consolidated Financial Statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
2. Financial Statement Schedule:
 
Our consolidated valuation and qualifying accounts and receivables (Schedule II) financial statement schedule is listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements. All other schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes hereto.
 
3. Exhibits:
 
The required exhibits are included at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are described in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the first exhibit.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
F5 Networks, Inc.
 
  By: 
/s/  JOHN MCADAM
John McAdam
Chief Executive Officer and President
 
Dated: November 20, 2009
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
             
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
             
By:  
/s/  JOHN MCADAM

John McAdam
  Chief Executive Officer,
President, and Director
(principal executive officer)
  November 20, 2009
             
By:  
/s/  JOHN RODRIGUEZ

John Rodriguez
  Senior Vice President,
Chief Accounting Officer
(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
  November 20, 2009
             
By:  
/s/  A. GARY AMES

A. Gary Ames
  Director   November 20, 2009
             
By:  
/s/  DEBORAH L. BEVIER

Deborah L. Bevier
  Director   November 20, 2009
             
By:  
/s/  KARL D. GUELICH

Karl D. Guelich
  Director   November 20, 2009
             
By:  
/s/  ALAN J. HIGGINSON

Alan J. Higginson
  Director   November 20, 2009
             
By:  
/s/  SCOTT THOMPSON

Scott Thompson
  Director   November 20, 2009


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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
             
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Exhibit Description
 
  2 .1     Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 31, 2004, by and among the Registrant, Fire5, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, MagniFire Websystems, Inc., and Lucent Venture Partners III LLC(1)
  2 .2     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 6, 2005, among the Registrant, Sparrow Acquisition Corp., Swan Labs Corporation and the other parties referred to therein.(2)
  2 .3     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 6, 2007, among the Registrant, Checkmate Acquisition Corp., Acopia Networks, Inc. and Charles River Ventures, LLC.(19)
  3 .1     Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant(3)
  3 .2     Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant(3)
  3 .3     Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of F5 Networks, Inc.(23)
  3 .4     Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of F5 Networks, Inc.(24)
  4 .1     Specimen Common Stock Certificate(3)
  10 .1     Amended and Restated Office Lease Agreement dated April 3, 2000, between the Registrant and 401 Elliott West LLC(4)
  10 .2     Sublease Agreement dated March 30, 2001 between the Registrant and Cell Therapeutics, Inc.(5)
  10 .3     uRoam Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan(6) §
  10 .4     Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each of its directors and certain of its officers(3) §
  10 .5     1998 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended(7) §
  10 .6     Form of Option Agreement under the 1998 Equity Incentive Plan(3) §
  10 .7     Amended and Restated Directors’ Nonqualified Stock Option Plan(3) §
  10 .8     Form of Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated Directors’ Nonqualified Stock Option Plan(3) §
  10 .9     Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan(3) §
  10 .10     Form of Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan(3) §
  10 .11     1999 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan(3) §
  10 .12     Form of Option Agreement under 1999 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan(3) §
  10 .13     NonQualified Stock Option Agreement between John McAdam and the Registrant dated July 24, 2000(8) §
  10 .14     2000 Employee Equity Incentive Plan(9) §
  10 .15     Form of Option Agreement under the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan(10) §
  10 .16     NonQualified Stock Option Agreement between M. Thomas Hull and the Registrant dated October 20, 2003(11) §
  10 .17     1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended(12) §
  10 .18     MagniFire Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan(13) §
  10 .19     NonQualified Stock Option Agreement between Karl Triebes and the Registrant dated August 16, 2004(13)
  10 .20     Incentive Compensation Plan for Executive Officers(13) §
  10 .21     2005 Equity Incentive Plan(14) §
  10 .22     Form of Restricted Stock Unit agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (with acceleration upon change of control)(15) §
  10 .23     Form of Restricted Stock Unit agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (no acceleration upon change of control)(15) §
  10 .24     Amendment to F5 Networks, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan Award Agreement, dated March 8, 2006, between the Registrant and John Rodriquez(16) §


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Exhibit
       
Number
     
Exhibit Description
 
  10 .25     Amendment to F5 Networks, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan Award Agreement, dated March 8, 2006, between the Registrant and Andy Reinland(16) §
  10 .26     Compensation arrangement for current and future members to special committees of the Registrant’s Board of Directors effective September 1, 2006(17) §
  10 .27     Office Lease Agreement with Selig Real Estate Holdings IIX, L.L.C. dated October 31, 2006(18)
  10 .28     First Amendment to Sublease Agreement dated April 13, 2001 between the Registrant and Cell Therapeutics, Inc.(20)
  10 .29     Second Amendment to Sublease Agreement dated March 6, 2002 between the Registrant and Cell Therapeutics, Inc.(20)
  10 .30     Third Amendment to Sublease Agreement dated as of December 22, 2005 between the Registrant and Cell Therapeutics, Inc.(20)
  10 .31     Assumed Acopia Networks, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan(21) §
  10 .32     Acopia Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan(21) §
  10 .33     Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Acopia Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan (with acceleration upon change of control)(22) §
  10 .34     Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Acopia Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan (no acceleration upon change of control)(22) §
  10 .35     Form of Change of Control Agreement between F5 Networks, Inc. and each of John McAdam, John Rodriguez, Karl Triebes, Edward J. Eames, Dan Matte and certain other executive officers(25)
  10 .36     1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended January 2009(24)
  10 .37     2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended January 2009(24)
  10 .38     Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan as amended (with acceleration upon change of control) as revised July 2009(26)
  21 .1*     Subsidiaries of the Registrant
  23 .1*     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
  31 .1*     Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  31 .2*     Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32 .1*     Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
Filed herewith.
 
§  Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
(1) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 31, 2004 and filed with the SEC on June 2, 2004.
 
(2) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 4, 2005 and filed with the SEC on October 5, 2005.
 
(3) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-75817.
 
(4) Incorporated by reference from Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000.
 
(5) Incorporated by reference from Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.
 
(6) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-109895.
 
(7) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-104169.
 
(8) Incorporated by reference from Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000.
 
(9) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-51878.
 
(10) Incorporated by reference from Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2001.
 
(11) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-112022.
 
(12) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-116187.

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(13) Incorporated by reference from Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.
 
(14) Incorporated by reference from Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.
 
(15) Incorporated by reference from Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.
 
(16) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2006 and filed with the SEC on March 10, 2006.
 
(17) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 1, 2006 and filed with the SEC on September 5, 2006.
 
(18) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 31, 2006 and filed with the SEC on November 3, 2006.
 
(19) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 6, 2007 and filed with the SEC on August 8, 2007.
 
(20) Incorporated by reference from Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006.
 
(21) Incorporated by reference from Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-146195.
 
(22) Incorporated by reference from Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2007.
 
(23) Incorporated by reference from Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008.
 
(24) Incorporated by reference from Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
 
(25) Incorporated by reference from Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 29, 2009 and filed with the SEC on May 4, 2009.
 
(26) Incorporated by reference from Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.


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