As described above, we exclude the following items from one or more of our non-GAAP measures:
(i) Amortization of acquired intangible assets. We incur expenses from amortization of acquired intangible assets, which include contract rights, core/developed technology, trademarks, trade names, customer relationships, covenants not to compete, and other intangibles related to acquisitions. We amortize the intangible assets over their economic lives. We exclude this item because the expense is non-cash in nature and because we believe the non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provide meaningful supplemental information regarding (a) our core operational performance and liquidity, and (b) our ability to invest in research and development and fund acquisitions and capital expenditures.
(ii) Stock compensation impact. While stock compensation expense constitutes an ongoing and recurring expense, such expense is excluded from non-GAAP results because it is not an expense that typically requires or will require cash settlement by us and because such expense is not used by us to assess the core profitability of our business operations. In addition, excluding this item from various non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to our competitors’ operating results.
(iii) Acquisition-related costs. In connection with our business combinations, we incur significant expenses which we would not have otherwise incurred as part of our business operations. These expenses include compensation expenses, professional fees and other direct expenses, concurrent restructuring activities, including employee severance and other exit costs, changes to the fair value of contingent consideration related to the acquired company, and amortization of the fair value difference of below-market value assets arising from arrangements entered into or acquired in conjunction with an acquisition. We exclude such expenses, which we would not have otherwise incurred, as they are related to acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of our business.
(iv) Restructuring charges. We initiate restructuring activities in order to align our costs in connection with both our operating plans and our business strategies based on then-current economic conditions. The amounts of the restructuring activities and frequency of occurrence may vary from time to time. Restructuring costs generally include severance and other termination benefits related to voluntary retirement programs and involuntary headcount reductions as well as facilities closures. Such restructuring costs include elimination of operational redundancy and permanent reductions in workforce and facilities closures and, therefore, are not considered by us to be a part of the core operation of our business and not used by us when assessing the core profitability and performance of our business operations. Furthermore, excluding this item from various non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to our competitors’ and our past operating results.
(v) Legal matters. From time to time we are party to legal proceedings, including tax-related matters. Legal proceedings could result in an expense or benefit due to settlements, final judgments, or accruals for loss contingencies. We exclude these types of expenses or benefits because we do not believe they are reflective of the core operation of our business.
(vi) Income tax effect of non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments. Excluding the income tax effect of non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments from the provision for income taxes assists investors in understanding the tax provision associated with those adjustments and the effect on net income.
We utilize a normalized annual non-GAAP tax rate in calculating non-GAAP financial measures to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods by eliminating the effects of non-recurring and period-specific items such as tax audit settlements, which can vary in size and frequency and not necessarily reflect our normal operations, and to more clearly align our tax rate with our expected geographic earnings mix. In projecting this rate, we evaluate our historical and projected mix of U.S. and international profit before tax, excluding the impact of the non-GAAP adjustments described above. We also consider other factors including our current tax structure, our existing tax positions, and expected recurring tax incentives.
On an annual basis we re-evaluate this rate for significant events, including changes in tax laws and regulations, that may materially affect our projections. Based upon our review, our projected normalized annual non-GAAP tax rate remains 16% through fiscal 2021.
