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

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended August 29, 2003

OR

For the transition period from                               to                              

Commission file Number: 0-15175

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

345 Park Avenue, San Jose, California 95110-2704
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(408) 536-6000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes ý    No o

        The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of September 26, 2003 was 234,012,264.

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Operations

        Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated ("Adobe" or the "Company") offers a line of software for enterprise, government, consumer and creative professional markets. Our products enable customers to create, manage and deliver visually rich, compelling and reliable content. We license our technology to major hardware manufacturers, software developers and service providers and we offer integrated software solutions to businesses of all sizes. We distribute our products through a network of distributors and dealers, value-added resellers ("VARs"), systems integrators, independent software vendors ("ISVs") and original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"); direct to end users; and through our own website at www.adobe.com. We have operations in the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"); and Asia. Our software runs on Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Linux, UNIX and various non-personal computer platforms, depending on the product.

Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include those of Adobe and our subsidiaries, after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. Adobe has prepared the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, consistent in all material respects with those applied in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 29, 2002. The interim financial information is unaudited but reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide fair condensed consolidated balance sheets and condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments are normal and recurring except as otherwise noted. You should read these interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 29, 2002.

Fiscal Year

        Our fiscal year is a 52/53-week year ending on the Friday closest to November 30.

Reclassification

        Certain amounts in the prior fiscal year have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current fiscal year. Long-term prepaid royalties have been reclassified from goodwill and other intangibles to other assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Use of Estimates

        In the preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, we must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities, at the date of the balance sheet and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

        Cash equivalents consist of instruments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.

        We classify all of our cash equivalents and short-term investments that are free of trading restrictions or become free of trading restrictions within one year as "available-for-sale." We carry these investments at fair value, based on quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is reflected as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Gains are recognized when realized in our consolidated statements of income. Losses are recognized as realized or when we have determined that an other-than-temporary decline in fair value has occurred.

        It is our policy to review our equity holdings on a regular basis to evaluate whether or not any security has experienced an other-than-temporary decline in fair value. Our policy includes, but is not limited to, reviewing the cash position, earnings/revenue outlook, stock price performance over the past six months, liquidity and management/ownership of each company we invest in. If we believe that an other-than-temporary decline exists in one of our marketable equity securities, it is our policy to write down these equity investments to the market value and record the related write-down as an investment loss on our consolidated statements of income.

        During the three and nine months ended August 29, 2003, we recorded investment losses of $3.0 million and $13.3 million, respectively, which comprise gains and losses from our short-term and long-term investments. Of the investment losses of $3.0 million and $13.3 million, $0.1 million and $4.0 million related to other-than-temporary declines in value of our short-term investments during the three and nine months ended August 29, 2003. During the three and nine months ended August 30, 2002, we recorded investment losses of $4.2 million and $13.4 million, respectively. Of these losses, $1.3 million and $10.2 million related to other-than-temporary declines in value of our short-term investments, respectively. See also "Other Assets" for further information regarding gains and losses on our long-term investments.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 ("SFAS 142"), "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," goodwill and purchased intangibles with indefinite useful lives are no longer amortized but are reviewed periodically for impairment. With the adoption of SFAS 142 in the first quarter of fiscal 2003, we discontinued amortizing the remaining balances of goodwill and workforce-in-place.

        The provisions of SFAS 142 require that a two-step test be performed to assess goodwill for impairment. First, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed. The second step is performed if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill must be determined and compared to the carrying value of the goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss equal to the difference will be recorded.

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        Upon adoption of SFAS 142, we completed our transitional goodwill impairment test as of November 30, 2002 and determined that the carrying amount of goodwill was not impaired. We will continue to perform our goodwill impairment review annually or more frequently if facts and circumstances warrant a review.

        The following table presents net income and per share amounts for all periods presented, as adjusted, to exclude the amortization of goodwill and purchased intangibles as if the provisions of SFAS 142 had been in effect from the beginning of fiscal 2002.

        We also have a policy regarding the capitalization of computer software development costs. When material, capitalization begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility, which is generally the completion of a working prototype that has been certified as having no critical bugs and is a release candidate. To date, software development costs incurred between completion of a working prototype and general availability of the related product have not been material and, in accordance with our policy, have not been capitalized.

Other Assets

        Other assets include long-term investments, long-term prepaid royalties and security deposits. Our long-term investments include investments in privately held companies that we make either directly or indirectly through venture capital limited partnerships. We own limited partnership interests in four venture capital limited partnerships—Adobe Ventures L.P., Adobe Ventures II, L.P., Adobe Ventures III,

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L.P. and Adobe Ventures IV, L.P. (collectively "Adobe Ventures")—that invest in early stage companies with innovative technologies. In addition to the potential for financial returns, our venture activities often increase our knowledge of emerging markets and technologies, as well as expand our opportunities to provide Adobe products and services. The partnerships are managed by Granite Ventures, an independent venture capital firm and sole general partner of Adobe Ventures.

        The investments in Adobe Ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and accordingly, the investments are adjusted to reflect our share of Adobe Ventures' investment income (loss) and dividend distributions. Under the terms of the partnership agreements, the general partner has the sole and exclusive right to manage and control the partnerships. Adobe as the limited partner has certain rights, including the ability to approve the replacement of the general partner and investments that exceed certain established parameters. However, these rights are considered protective rights and do not suggest an ability to control the partnerships. Adobe Ventures carry their investments in equity securities at estimated fair market value and unrealized gains and losses are included in investment gain (loss) on our consolidated statements of income. The stock of a number of technology investments held by Adobe Ventures at August 29, 2003 is not publicly traded and, therefore, there is no established market for these securities. In order to determine the fair market value of these investments, we use the most recent round of financing involving new non-strategic investors or estimates of current market value made by Granite Ventures. It is our policy to review the fair value of these investments held by Adobe Ventures, as well as our direct investments, on a regular basis to evaluate the carrying value of the investments in these companies. This evaluation includes, but is not limited to, reviewing each company's cash position, financing needs, earnings/revenue outlook, operational performance, management/ownership changes and competition. The evaluation process is based on information that we request from these privately held companies. This information is not subject to the same disclosure regulations as U.S. publicly traded companies and as such, the basis for these evaluations is subject to the timing and the accuracy of the data received from these companies. If we believe the carrying value of a company is in excess of fair value, it is our policy to record a reserve to reduce the carrying value to fair value.

        We recognize realized gains and losses upon sale of investments using the specific identification method. During the three and nine months ended August 29, 2003, we recorded investment losses of $3.0 million and $13.3 million, respectively, which comprise gains and losses from our short-term and long-term investments. Of these losses, $2.8 million and $10.0 million related to our investments in Adobe Ventures and our cost method investments, respectively. During the three and nine months ended August 30, 2002, we recorded investment losses of $4.2 million and $13.4 million, respectively. Of these losses, $3.0 million and $10.4 million related to our Adobe Ventures and our cost method investments, respectively. See also "Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments" for further information regarding gains and losses on our short-term investments.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

        We evaluate our long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 ("SFAS 144"), "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." SFAS 144 became effective at the beginning of our fiscal 2003 and supersedes Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121 ("SFAS 121"), "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of

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Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" and the accounting and reporting provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 ("APB 30"), "Reporting the Results of Operations for a Disposal of a Segment of a Business." The adoption of SFAS 144 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        During the third quarter of fiscal 2002, we recognized a $5.5 million pre-tax impairment charge for capitalized Adobe Design Team (formerly Adobe Studio) hosted server development costs under SFAS No. 121, which was recorded on our condensed consolidated statement of income under cost of product revenue. The impairment charge was determined based on discounted future cash flows. For segment reporting purposes, the charge was included in our Creative Professional segment.

Revenue Recognition

        We recognize application products revenue upon shipment, net of estimated returns, provided collection is determined to be probable and no significant obligations remain. Application products revenue from distributors is subject to agreements allowing limited rights of return, rebates and price protection. Accordingly, we reduce revenue recognized for estimated future returns, price protection and rebates at the time the related revenue is recorded. The estimates for returns are adjusted periodically based upon historical rates of returns, inventory levels in the distribution channel and other related factors.

        We provide free technical phone support to customers for our shrink-wrapped application products under warranty. We record the estimated cost of free technical phone support upon shipment of software.

        We also license software in multiple element arrangements in which a customer purchases a combination of software, post-contract customer support ("PCS") and professional services. PCS, or maintenance, includes rights to upgrades, when and if available, telephone support, updates and enhancements. Professional services relate to consulting services and training. When vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of fair value exists for all elements in a multiple element arrangement, revenue is allocated to each element based on the relative fair value of each of the elements. VSOE of fair value is established by the price charged when the same element is sold separately. We determine VSOE of fair value of PCS based on renewal rates for the same term PCS. Revenue allocated to PCS is recognized ratably over the contractual term (typically one to two years). In a multiple element arrangement whereby VSOE of fair value of all undelivered elements exists but VSOE of fair value does not exist for one or more delivered elements, revenue is recognized using the residual method. Under the residual method, the fair value of the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the arrangement fee is recognized as revenue, assuming delivery has occurred and collection is probable.

        The arrangement fees related to fixed-priced consulting contracts are recognized using the percentage of completion method. Percentage of completion is measured monthly based primarily on input measures, such as on hours incurred to date compared to total estimated hours to complete, with consideration given to output measures, such as contract milestones, when applicable. Anticipated losses on fixed-priced contracts are recognized in the period when they become known.

        We record OEM licensing revenue, primarily royalties, when OEM partners ship products incorporating Adobe software, provided collection of such revenue is deemed probable.

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        Deferred revenue includes customer advances under OEM licensing agreements and maintenance revenue. In cases where we provide a specified free upgrade to an existing product, we defer the VSOE of fair value for the specified upgrade right, until the future obligation is fulfilled or when the right to the specified free upgrade expires.

        We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers' financial condition and generally do not require collateral. We also maintain allowances for estimated credit losses.

Guarantees and Product Warranties

        We adopted FASB Interpretation No. 45 ("FIN 45"), "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others" at the beginning of our fiscal year 2003. See "Recent Accounting Pronouncements" for further information regarding FIN 45.

        The lease agreements for our three office buildings in San Jose, California provide for residual value guarantees. These lease agreements were in place prior to December 31, 2002 and are disclosed in Note 8 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In the normal course of business, we provide indemnifications of varying scope to customers against claims of intellectual property infringement made by third parties arising from the use of our products. Historically, costs related to these indemnification provisions have not been significant and we are unable to estimate the maximum potential impact of these indemnification provisions on our future results of operations.

        We have commitments to make certain milestone and/or retention payments typically entered into in conjunction with various acquisitions, for which we have made accruals in our consolidated financial statements. In connection with the technology assets purchase of Syntrillium Software ("Syntrillium"), during the second quarter of fiscal 2003, we entered into employee retention agreements totaling $1.5 million. Upon satisfaction of certain conditions in the agreements, we are required to make an initial payment at the end of the first year of the agreement and a final payment at the end of the second year of the agreement.

        As permitted under Delaware law, we have agreements whereby we indemnify our officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was serving, at our request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer's or director's lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, we have director and officer insurance coverage that limits our exposure and enables us to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. We believe the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements in excess of applicable insurance coverage is minimal.

        As part of our limited partnership interests in Adobe Ventures, we have provided a general indemnification to Granite Ventures, an independent venture capital firm and sole general partner of Adobe Ventures, for certain events or occurrences while Granite Ventures is, or was serving, at our request in such capacity provided that Granite Ventures acts in good faith on behalf of the partnerships. We are unable to develop an estimate of the maximum potential amount of future payments that could potentially

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result from any hypothetical future claim, but believe the risk of having to make any payments under this general indemnification to be remote.

        We accrue for costs associated with future obligations which include costs for undetected bugs that are discovered only after the product is installed and used by customers. The table below summarizes the activity related to the product warranty liability during the nine month period ended August 29, 2003. The warranties accrual for the nine months ended August 29, 2003 primarily relates to new releases of our Acrobat desktop products during the quarter ended May 30, 2003.

Income Taxes

        We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. We record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount for which realization is more likely than not. We also account for any income tax contingencies in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 ("SFAS 5"), "Accounting for Contingencies."

Stock-Based Incentive Compensation

        Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2003, we adopted the disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148 ("SFAS 148"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." See "Recent Accounting Pronouncements" for further information regarding SFAS 148. We account for our fixed stock option plans and our employee stock purchase plan using the intrinsic value method. The following table sets forth the pro forma amounts

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of net income and net income per share that would have resulted if we had accounted for our employee stock plans under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123.

        For purposes of computing pro forma net income, we estimate the fair value of each option grant and employee stock purchase plan purchase right on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Additionally, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected volatility of the stock price. Because our employee stock options and employee stock purchase plan shares have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its stock-based awards.

        For purposes of the pro forma disclosures, the expected volatility assumptions we used prior to the third quarter of fiscal 2003 were based solely on the historical volatility of our common stock over the most recent period commensurate with the estimated expected life of our stock options. Beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2003, we modified our approach and expected volatility by considering other relevant factors in accordance with SFAS 123. We considered implied volatility in market-traded options on our common stock as well as third party volatility quotes. In addition, we considered historical volatility. We will continue to monitor these and other relevant factors used to measure expected volatility for future option grants.

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        Also, beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2003, we decreased our estimate of the expected life of new options granted to our employees from 3 years to 2.5 years. We based our expected life assumption on historical experience as well as the terms and vesting periods of the options granted. The reduction in the estimated expected life was a result of an analysis of our historical experience.

        The assumptions used to value the option grants and purchase rights are stated as follows:

        Option grants typically vest over a three year period and new option grants are generally made each year. Because of this, the pro forma amounts shown above may not be representative of the pro forma effect on reported net income in future years.

        In May 2003, a stock option exchange program was initiated that allowed eligible employees to exchange options granted with an option price greater than $40 per share for a lesser number of new options, according to a specified exchange ratio. For the above pro forma disclosures, the new options expected to be issued in December 2003 have been accounted for as a modification of an existing award. In accordance with SFAS 123, the grant date of the new options expected to be issued is the date of acceptance of the exchange offer.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        In April 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145 ("SFAS 145"), "Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13 and Technical Corrections." Among other provisions, SFAS 145 rescinds SFAS 4, "Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt." Accordingly, gains or losses from extinguishment of debt shall not be reported as extraordinary items unless the extinguishment qualifies as an extraordinary item under the criteria of APB 30. Gains or losses from extinguishment of debt that do not meet the criteria of APB 30 should be reclassified to income from continuing operations in all prior periods presented. SFAS 145 is effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 145, at the beginning of our fiscal year 2003, did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In July 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146 ("SFAS 146"), "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." SFAS 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities. This statement requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred.

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Previous guidance, provided under EITF No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including certain costs incurred in a restructuring)," required that an exit cost liability be recognized at the date of an entity's commitment to an exit plan. The adoption of SFAS 146, at the beginning of our fiscal year 2003, did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 148, which provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 to require more prominent and more frequent disclosures in financial statements about the effects of stock-based compensation. The transition guidance and annual disclosure provisions of SFAS 148 are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. The interim disclosure provisions are effective for financial reports containing financial statements for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 148 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See "Stock-Based Incentive Compensation" for the impact to our required pro forma disclosures.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued FIN 45 which expands on the accounting guidance of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, 57 and 107 and incorporates without change the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 34, which has been superseded. FIN 45 affects, among other things, leasing transactions involving residual guarantees, vendor and manufacturer guarantees and tax and environmental indemnities. All such guarantees are required to be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements starting with the period ending after December 15, 2002. For guarantees issued after December 31, 2002, the fair value of the obligation must be reported on the balance sheet. Existing guarantees are permitted to be grandfathered and are not recognized on the balance sheet. The adoption of FIN 45, at the beginning of our fiscal year 2003, did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See "Guarantees and Product Warranties" for additional disclosures.

        In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 ("FIN 46"), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." FIN 46 expands upon existing accounting guidance that addresses when a company should include in its financial statements the assets, liabilities and activities of another entity. A variable interest entity is a corporation, partnership, trust or any other legal structure used for business purposes that either (a) does not have equity investors with voting rights or (b) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN 46 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity's activities or is entitled to receive a majority of the entity's residual returns or both. The consolidation requirements of FIN 46 apply immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. The consolidation requirements apply to older entities in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. Disclosure requirements apply to any financial statements issued after January 31, 2003. We have considered the provisions of FIN 46 and believe it will not be necessary to include in our financial statements any assets, liabilities, or activities of the third-party entities holding our corporate headquarters leases. We have provided certain disclosures in other areas of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (see Note 8 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial

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Statements). We will continue to evaluate the impact of FIN 46 on other areas of our financial statements and disclosures.

        In April 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 149 ("SFAS 149"), Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS 149 amends and clarifies the accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities under SFAS 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS 149 is generally effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 149 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In May 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150 ("SFAS 150"), "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS 150 requires that certain financial instruments, which under previous guidance were accounted for as equity, must now be accounted for as liabilities. The financial instruments affected include mandatory redeemable stock, certain financial instruments that require or may require the issuer to buy back some of its shares in exchange for cash or other assets and certain obligations that can be settled with shares of stock. SFAS 150 is effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS 150 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS

        On May 19, 2003, we purchased the technology assets of Syntrillium, a privately held company, for $16.5 million cash. Syntrillium developed, published and marketed digital audio tools including its recording application, Cool Edit Pro, all of which have been added to our existing line of professional digital imaging and video products. By adding Cool Edit Pro and the other tools to our existing line of products, we have improved the Adobe video workflow and expanded the products and tools available to videographers, DVD authors and independent filmmakers. In connection with the purchase, we allocated $13.7 million to goodwill, $2.7 million to purchased technology and $0.2 million to tangible assets. We also accrued $0.1 million in acquisition-related legal and accounting fees. Goodwill has been allocated to our Digital Imaging and Video segment. Purchased technology is being amortized over its estimated useful life of three years. The consolidated financial statements include the operating results of the purchased technology assets from the date of purchase. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of this acquisition was not material.

        In April 2002, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Accelio Corporation ("Accelio"). Accelio was a provider of Web-enabled solutions that helped customers manage business processes driven by electronic forms. The acquisition of Accelio broadened our ePaper solution business. At the date of acquisition, the aggregate purchase price was $70.2 million, which included the issuance of 1.8 million shares of common stock of Adobe, valued at $68.4 million, and cash of $1.8 million.

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        The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation:

        Purchased technology was assigned an estimated useful life of three years. Goodwill has been allocated to our ePaper segment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, we revised our estimate of certain costs associated with our acquisition of Accelio, resulting in an increase to goodwill of approximately $2.6 million. The adjustment primarily reflected higher than estimated transaction costs and costs related to closing redundant facilities. During the six months ended May 30, 2003, we revised our estimate of certain costs associated with our acquisition of Accelio to reflect the nature of our remaining liabilities. An excess accrual of $0.6 million was reversed and goodwill was reduced accordingly. Please refer to Note 6 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the liabilities recognized in connection with this acquisition.

        In December 2001, we acquired Fotiva, Inc. ("Fotiva"). The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 ("SFAS 141"), "Business Combinations." Fotiva was a development stage software company that created solutions to help consumers manage, store, enrich and share digital photographs and other related personal media. In connection with the acquisition, substantially all of the purchase price of $5.4 million cash was allocated to in-process research and development and expensed at the time of acquisition due to the in-process state of the technology. Adobe combined Fotiva's image management technology with Adobe's digital imaging and ePaper technologies to develop a new product, Adobe Photoshop Album, which was released in the first quarter of fiscal 2003.

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NOTE 3. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

        Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following:

        Upon adoption of SFAS 142, at the beginning of fiscal 2003, we transferred the unamortized balance of workforce-in-place to goodwill. As of August 29, 2003, the goodwill balance relates to our acquisitions of Syntrillium, Accelio, GoLive Systems, Inc and GoLive Systems GmbH and Co. KG (together "GoLive") and Inscriber Technology Corporation. In accordance with SFAS 142, goodwill is no longer amortized; instead it is reviewed periodically for impairment. As required by SFAS 142, we have allocated goodwill to our reportable segments. Below is a breakdown of our goodwill, net of amortization, by reportable segment:

        Identifiable intangible assets, subject to amortization, were as follows as of August 29, 2003:

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        Identifiable intangible assets, subject to amortization, were as follows as of November 29, 2002:

        Amortization expense of identifiable intangible assets is primarily included in cost of product revenue. Amortization expense related to identifiable intangible assets was $3.7 million and $11.0 million for the three and nine months ended August 29, 2003. For the three and nine months ended August 30, 2002, amortization expense related to identifiable intangible assets, including goodwill, was $7.5 million and $20.5 million, respectively. Amortization expense, as of August 29, 2003, is expected to be as follows:

NOTE 4. OTHER ASSETS

        Other assets consisted of the following:

        We own limited partnership interests in Adobe Ventures. The limited partnership investments are accounted for under the equity method, as the partnerships are controlled by Granite Ventures, an

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independent venture capital firm and sole general partner of Adobe Ventures. As of August 29, 2003 and November 29, 2002, the estimated fair value of our investments in Adobe Ventures was $31.9 million and $34.9 million, respectively.

        In addition to these venture partnerships, we have direct investments in public and privately held companies. In total, through August 29, 2003, we have invested $220.6 million through our Adobe Ventures and direct investments. As of August 29, 2003, net returns were $345.3 million, including stock dividends to stockholders and net gains in market value of investments.

NOTE 5. ACCRUED EXPENSES

        Accrued expenses consisted of the following:

NOTE 6. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES

        In fiscal 2002, we implemented two restructuring plans. The first plan, implemented in the second quarter of fiscal 2002, was to eliminate 39 redundant sales and marketing positions held by Adobe employees worldwide as a result of the acquisition of Accelio. The restructuring included severance and related charges associated with the reduction in force and the cost of vacating a leased facility. Total restructuring and other charges were $1.6 million and the majority of these payments were paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2002. This restructuring plan was completed during the second quarter of fiscal 2003 and there was no balance remaining in accrued restructuring.

        The second plan was implemented in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 and was designed to eliminate 239 engineering, sales and marketing and general and administrative positions worldwide in order to realign our resources for our future business plans. These plans include adding resources to support our ePaper enterprise business in fiscal 2003. We incurred a restructuring charge of $11.1 million, which included severance and related charges and charges related to the closure of a facility. During the nine months ended August 29, 2003, we revised our estimate of certain costs associated with this restructuring program. The excess accrual was reversed to restructuring and other charges on our income statement. As of August 29, 2003, the remaining severance and related charges of $0.1 million is expected to be paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.

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        A summary of restructuring activities, for both plans, is as follows:

        In connection with our acquisition of Accelio in the second quarter of fiscal 2002, we recognized liabilities associated with a worldwide reduction in force of Accelio employees, transaction costs, costs related to closing redundant facilities and terminating contracts and other exit costs associated with the acquisition. During the six months ended May 30, 2003, we revised our estimate of certain costs associated with our acquisition of Accelio to reflect the nature of our remaining liabilities. The excess accrual was reversed and goodwill was reduced accordingly. As of August 29, 2003, $2.0 million remained accrued and comprised transaction, facilities and other exit costs. Transaction costs primarily relate to the liquidation of Accelio's subsidiaries and are expected to be paid through fiscal 2004. Facility costs relate to leases we assumed upon acquisition of Accelio and terminate through September 2006. Other exit costs relate to specifically identified contingent liabilities which will be paid through fiscal 2004.

        A summary of restructuring activities, related to our acquisition of Accelio, is as follows:

NOTE 7. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Stock Repurchase Program I—Ongoing Dilution Coverage

        To facilitate our stock repurchase program, designed to minimize dilution from stock issuance primarily from employee stock plans, we have repurchased shares in the open market, have sold put warrants and purchased call options.

        As of August 29, 2003, no put warrants or call options remained outstanding under this plan. In addition, there were 1.2 million shares repurchased at an average price of $32.96, during the third quarter of fiscal 2003, under this plan.

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        Authorization to repurchase shares to cover ongoing dilution is not subject to expiration. However, this repurchase program is limited to covering net dilution from stock issuances and is subject to business conditions and cash flow requirements as determined by our Board of Directors from time to time.

Stock Repurchase Program II—Additional Authorization Above Dilution Coverage

        In March 2001, subject to certain business and cash flow requirements as determined by our Board of Directors from time to time, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to an additional 5.0 million shares of our common stock over a two-year period. Under this program, we repurchased 2.0 million shares. The authorization for the remaining 3.0 million shares expired on March 2, 2003.

        On September 25, 2002, subject to certain business and cash flow requirements as determined by our Board of Directors from time to time, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to an additional 5.0 million shares of our common stock over a three-year period. As of August 29, 2003, we had not made any purchases under this 5.0 million share repurchase program. This authorization will expire in September 2005.

Stock Option Exchange Program

        In May 2003, a stock option exchange program was initiated that allowed eligible employees to exchange options granted with an option price greater than $40 per share for a lesser number of new options, according to specified exchange ratios. The program excluded executive officers and members of our Board of Directors. The cancellation date for the program was June 16, 2003. On June 17, 2003 we accepted for cancellation, options to purchase approximately 7.1 million shares of common stock. Eligible employees, subject to their continued employment with Adobe on the grant date of the new options, will receive new options to purchase approximately 3.5 million shares of common stock in exchange for such cancelled options. The new options will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date, which will be at least six months and one day from June 16, 2003.

NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitments

        We lease certain of our facilities and some of our equipment under noncancelable operating lease arrangements that expire at various dates through 2091.

        In September 2001, we entered into a real estate development agreement for the construction of an additional office building for our corporate headquarters in downtown San Jose, California. Under the agreement, the lessor will finance up to $117.0 million over a two-year period, toward the construction and associated costs of the building. As part of the agreement, we entered into a five-year lease beginning upon completion of the building, which is expected to be near the end of the calendar year 2003. We have the option to purchase the building at any time during the term for an amount equal to the lease balance. The agreement and lease are subject to standard covenants including liquidity, leverage and profitability ratios that are reported to the lessor quarterly. As of August 29, 2003, we were in compliance with all covenants. In the case of a default, the lessor may terminate all remaining commitments and may demand we

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purchase the building for an amount equal to the current lease balance, or require we remarket or relinquish the building. The agreement qualifies for operating lease accounting treatment under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13 ("SFAS 13"), "Accounting for Leases," and, as such, the building and the related obligation are not included on our balance sheet. At the end of the lease term, we can purchase the building for the lease balance, which will be approximately $117.0 million, remarket or relinquish the building. If we choose to remarket or are required to do so upon relinquishing the building, we are bound to arrange the sale of the building to an unrelated party and will be required to pay the lessor any shortfall between the net remarketing proceeds and the lease balance, up to the maximum recourse amount of $103.0 million ("residual value guarantee").

        In August 1999, we entered into a five-year lease agreement for our other office buildings that currently serve as our corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. Under the agreement, we have the option to purchase the buildings at any time during the lease term for the lease balance, which is approximately $142.5 million. The lease is subject to standard covenants including liquidity, leverage and profitability ratios that are reported to the lessor quarterly. As of August 29, 2003, we were in compliance with all covenants. In the case of a default, the lessor may demand we purchase the buildings for an amount equal to the lease balance, or require that we remarket or relinquish the buildings. The agreement qualifies for operating lease accounting treatment under SFAS 13 and, as such, the buildings and the related obligation are not included on our balance sheet. At the end of the lease term, we can purchase the buildings for the lease balance, remarket or relinquish the buildings. If we choose to remarket or are required to do so upon relinquishing the buildings, we are bound to arrange the sale of the buildings to an unrelated party and will be required to pay the lessor any shortfall between the net remarketing proceeds and the lease balance, up to the maximum recourse amount of $132.6 million ("residual value guarantee").

Royalties

        We have certain royalty commitments associated with the shipment and licensing of certain products. Royalty expense is generally based on a dollar amount per unit shipped or a percentage of the underlying revenue.

Legal Actions

        In early 2002, International Typeface Corporation ("ITC") and Agfa Monotype Corporation ("AMT"), companies which have common ownership and management, each charged, by way of informal letters to Adobe, that Adobe's distribution of font software, which generates ITC and AMT typefaces, breaches its contracts with ITC and AMT respectively pursuant to which Adobe licensed certain rights with respect to ITC and AMT typefaces. AMT and ITC further charged that Adobe violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") with respect to, or induced or contributed to, the infringement of copyrights in, ITC's and AMT's TrueType font software.

        On September 4, 2002, Adobe initiated arbitration proceedings in London, England ("the London Arbitration") against AMT, seeking a declaration that Adobe's distribution of font software that generates AMT typefaces did not breach its contract pursuant to which it licensed certain rights with respect to AMT typefaces. AMT has made a breach of contract claim in response to Adobe's arbitration demand in the

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London Arbitration, asserting that Adobe wrongfully granted and/or allowed third parties greater rights to distribute and embed AMT fonts than Adobe was licensed to grant and/or allow.

        Adobe asserts that it negotiated for and obtained express, written licenses from both AMT and ITC approximately ten years ago permitting Adobe to allow end users to embed AMT and ITC fonts in electronic documents for "print and view" and disputes the other breach of contract claims. Adobe also asserts that Adobe Acrobat 5.0, which AMT and ITC correctly acknowledge has been superseded by subsequent versions, neither violates the DMCA nor induces or contributes to the infringement of copyrights in ITC's and AMT's TrueType font software.

        On September 5, 2002, AMT and ITC filed suit against Adobe in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Illinois ("the Illinois Action"), asserting only that Adobe's distribution of the superseded 5.0 version of Adobe Acrobat violated the DMCA, as described above. The Illinois Action seeks statutory damages of $200 to $2,500 for each copy of Acrobat 5.0 found to violate the DMCA, a claim that Adobe disputes as a matter of law and fact. The Illinois Action also seeks injunctive relief with respect to Acrobat 5.0, although it specifically alleges, correctly, that Adobe no longer distributes Acrobat 5.0.

        On November 13, 2002, ITC filed another suit against Adobe in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois, this time asserting that Adobe breached its contract with ITC and that ITC, not Adobe, owns the copyrights in font software created by Adobe which generates ITC typefaces.

        If either AMT or ITC prevails on its breach of contract claims, AMT or ITC may have the right to terminate Adobe's right to distribute any of its products that then still contain font software that generates AMT or ITC typefaces. Adobe denies these claims and is vigorously defending against these actions.

        The results of any litigation are inherently uncertain and AMT and ITC may assert other claims. Adobe cannot assure that it will be able to successfully defend itself against any of the actions described above. AMT and ITC seek an unspecified aggregate dollar amount of damages. A favorable outcome for AMT or ITC in these actions could have a material adverse effect on Adobe's business, financial condition and operating results. We believe that all of AMT's and ITC's claims are without merit and will vigorously defend against them in addition to pursuing our own claims as described above.

        On September 6, 2002, Plaintiff Fred B. Dufresne filed suit against Adobe, Microsoft Corporation, Macromedia, Inc. and Trellix Corporation in the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,835,712, entitled "Client-Server System Using Embedded Hypertext Tags for Application and Database Development." The Plaintiff's complaint asserts that "Defendants have infringed, and continue to infringe, one or more claims of the 712 patent by making, using, selling and/or offering for sale, inter alia, products supporting Microsoft Active Server Pages technology." The plaintiff seeks unspecified compensatory damages, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, trebling of damages for "willful infringement," and fees and costs. Adobe disagrees with the Plaintiff's claims and intends to vigorously defend against this action.

        On November 18, 2002, Plaintiffs Shell & Slate Software Corporation and Ben Weiss filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against Adobe alleging false designation of origin, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract and other causes of action. The claim derives from the Plaintiffs' belief that the "healing brush" technique of Adobe Photoshop incorporates the Plaintiffs' trade

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secrets. The Plaintiffs seek preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, compensatory, treble and punitive damages and fees and costs. We believe that the action has no merit and intend to vigorously defend against it. On September 9, 2003, Adobe filed a counter-claim against Ben Weiss for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. Adobe seeks compensatory, statutory and punitive damages.

        From time to time, in addition to those identified above, Adobe is subject to legal proceedings, claims, investigations and proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged infringement of third-party patents and other intellectual property rights, commercial, employment and other matters. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 ("SFAS 5"), "Accounting for Contingencies," Adobe makes a provision for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. Litigation is inherently unpredictable. However, Adobe believes that it has valid defenses with respect to the legal matters pending against it. It is possible, nevertheless, that cash flows or results of operations could be affected in any particular period by the resolution of one or more of these contingencies.

NOTE 9. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

        In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("SFAS 133"), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," we recognize derivative instruments and hedging activities as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measure them at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are accounted for depending on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.

Economic Hedging—Hedges of Forecasted Transactions

        We use option and forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge certain operational ("cash flow") exposures resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These foreign exchange contracts, carried at fair value, may have maturities between one and twelve months. Such cash flow exposures result from portions of our forecasted revenues denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Japanese yen and the euro. We enter into these exchange contracts to hedge forecasted product licensing revenue in the normal course of business, and accordingly, they are not speculative in nature.

        We record changes in the intrinsic value of these cash flow hedges in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), until the forecasted transaction occurs. When the forecasted transaction occurs, we reclassify the related gain or loss on the cash flow hedge to revenue. In the event the underlying forecasted transaction does not occur, or it becomes probable that it will not occur, we reclassify the gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest and other income (loss) on the consolidated statement of income at that time. For the three and nine months ended August 29, 2003, there were no such net gains or losses recognized in other income relating to hedges of forecasted transactions that did not occur.

        The critical terms of the cash flow hedging instruments are the same as the underlying forecasted transactions. The changes in fair value of the derivatives are intended to offset changes in the expected

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cash flows from the forecasted transactions. We record any ineffective portion of the hedging instruments in other income (loss) on the consolidated statement of income. The time value of purchased derivative instruments is deemed to be ineffective and is recorded in other income (loss) over the life of the contract.

        The following table depicts the hedging activity for the three and nine months ended August 29, 2003.

Gain (Loss) on Hedges of Forecasted Transactions:

Interest Rate Hedging—Hedging of Interest Rate Sensitive Obligations

        We entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to operating lease obligations that are tied to short-term interest rates (LIBOR). The swaps allow us to exchange variable interest rate payments for fixed interest rate payments, thereby securing a fixed payment amount for a portion of the total lease obligation of $142.5 million. As of August 29, 2003, we had entered into interest rate swaps to hedge the floating cash flow payments associated with $121.8 million of our outstanding lease obligations. The swaps mature at various dates through the third quarter of 2004, consistent with the expiration of the underlying facility lease. Under the swap agreements, we will receive a variable rate based on one month LIBOR and pay fixed rates ranging from 3.13% to 5.14%. The impact of these swaps will cap a portion of our rent expense at these levels.

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Balance Sheet Hedging—Hedging of Foreign Currency Assets and Liabilities

        We hedge our net recognized foreign currency assets and liabilities with forward foreign exchange contracts to reduce the risk that our earnings and cash flows will be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These derivative instruments hedge assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies and are carried at fair value with changes in the fair value recorded as other income (loss). These derivative instruments do not subject us to material balance sheet risk due to exchange rate movements because gains and losses on these derivatives offset gains and losses on the assets and liabilities being hedged. At August 29, 2003, the outstanding balance sheet hedging derivatives had maturities of 60 days or less.

Net Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Income Relating to Balance Sheet Hedging:

NOTE 10. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

        Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130 ("SFAS 130"), "Reporting Comprehensive Income," establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements. Items of comprehensive income that we currently report are unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities categorized as available-for-sale and foreign currency translation adjustments. We also report gains and losses on derivative instruments qualifying as cash flow hedges such as (i) hedging a forecasted transaction, (ii) the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability ("cash flow hedge"), (iii) foreign currency cash-flow hedges, or (iv) interest rate hedges.

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        The following table sets forth the components of comprehensive income, net of income tax expense:

NOTE 11. NET INCOME PER SHARE

        Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, excluding unvested restricted stock. Diluted net income per share is based upon the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period plus dilutive common equivalent shares, including unvested restricted common stock, stock options and put warrants using the treasury stock method.