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Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Veeva is the leading provider of industry cloud solutions for the global life sciences industry. We were founded in 2007 on the premise that industry-specific cloud solutions could best address the operating challenges and regulatory requirements of life sciences companies. Our solutions span cloud software, data, and business consulting and are designed to meet the unique needs of our customers and their most strategic business functions—from research and development (R&D) to commercialization. Our solutions help life sciences companies develop and bring products to market faster and more efficiently, market and sell more effectively, and maintain compliance with government regulations. Our commercial solutions help life sciences companies achieve better, more intelligent engagement with healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations across multiple communication channels, and plan and execute more effective media and marketing campaigns. Our R&D solutions for the clinical, regulatory, quality, and safety functions help life sciences companies streamline their end-to-end product development processes to increase operational efficiency and maintain regulatory compliance throughout the product life cycle. We also bring the benefits of our content and data management solutions to a set of customers outside of life sciences in three regulated industries: consumer goods, chemicals, and cosmetics. Our fiscal year end is January 31.
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding annual financial reporting and include the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. On a regular basis, management evaluates these estimates and assumptions. Items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to:
the standalone selling price for each distinct performance obligation included in customer contracts with multiple performance obligations;
the determination of the period of benefit for amortization of deferred costs;
the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for business combinations; and
the fair value of our stock-based awards.
As future events cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assessing performance. We define the term “chief operating decision maker” to be our Chief Executive Officer. Our Chief Executive Officer reviews the financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating our financial performance. Accordingly, we have determined that we operate in a single reportable operating segment. Since we operate in one operating segment, all required financial segment information can be found in the consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We derive our revenues primarily from subscription services and professional services. Subscription services revenues consist of fees from customers accessing our cloud-based software solutions and fees for our data solutions. Professional services and other revenues consist primarily of fees from implementation services, configuration, data services, training, and managed services related to our solutions. Revenues are recognized when control of these services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services.
We determine revenue recognition through the following steps:
Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;
Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
Determination of the transaction price;
Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation.
Our subscription services agreements are generally non-cancelable during the term, although customers typically have the right to terminate their agreements for cause in the event of material breach.
Subscription Services Revenues
Subscription services revenues are recognized ratably over the respective non-cancelable subscription term because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Our subscription arrangements are considered service contracts, and the customer does not have the right to take possession of the software.
Professional Services and Other Revenues
The majority of our professional services arrangements are billed on a time and materials basis and revenues are recognized over time based on time incurred and contractually agreed upon rates. Certain professional services revenues are billed on a fixed fee basis and revenues are typically recognized over time as the services are delivered based on time incurred. Data services and training revenues are generally recognized as the services are performed.
Contracts with Multiple Performance Obligations
Some of our contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, we account for individual performance obligations separately when they are distinct. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. We determine the standalone selling prices based on our overall pricing objectives, taking into consideration market conditions and other factors, including other groupings such as customer type and geography.
Deferred Costs
Deferred costs represents sales commissions associated with obtaining a contract with a customer. These costs are deferred and then amortized over a period of benefit that we have determined to be three years. We determined the period of benefit by taking into consideration the expected renewal period of our customer contracts, our technology and other factors. Amortization expense is included in sales and marketing expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Certain Risks and Concentrations of Credit Risk
Our revenues are derived from subscription services, professional services and other services delivered primarily to the life sciences industry. We operate in markets that are highly competitive and rapidly changing. Significant technological changes, shifting customer needs, the emergence of competitive products or services with new capabilities, and other factors could negatively impact our future operating results.
Our financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and trade accounts receivable. Our cash equivalents and short-term investments are held by established financial institutions. We have established guidelines relative to credit ratings,
diversification and maturities that seek to maintain safety and liquidity. Deposits in these financial institutions may significantly exceed federally insured limits.
We do not require collateral from our customers and generally require payment within 30 days to 60 days of billing.
The following customers individually exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable as of the dates shown:
January 31,
20212020
Customer 112%14%
No single customer represented over 10% of our total revenues for any of the years presented.
Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Short-term Investments
Our short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and recorded at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity. We evaluate our investments to assess whether those with unrealized loss positions are other than temporarily impaired. We consider impairments to be other than temporary if they are related to deterioration in credit risk or if it is likely we will sell the securities before the recovery of their cost basis. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary are determined based on the specific identification method and are reported in other income, net, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Interest, amortization of premiums, and accretion of discount on all short-term investments are also included as a component of other income, net, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
We may sell our short-term investments at any time, without significant penalty, for use in current operations or for other purposes, even if they have not yet reached maturity. As a result, we classify our investments, including securities with maturities beyond 12 months, as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, which is not material.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets and commences once the asset is placed in service or ready for its intended use. Land is not depreciated. The estimated useful lives by asset classification are as follows:
Building30 years
Land and building improvements10 years(land improvements) and estimated useful life of building (building improvements)
Equipment and computers3 years
Furniture and fixtures5 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of remaining life of the lease term or estimated useful life
Leases
We have operating and finance leases for corporate offices and certain equipment. Additionally, we are the sublessor for certain office space.
We adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02 “Leases” (Topic 842) using the modified retrospective method as of February 1, 2019 with an immaterial amount of cumulative effect adjustment recorded to our retained earnings. Consequently, financial information for dates and periods before February 1, 2019 remain unchanged.
Subsequent to our adoption of Topic 842, we recognize lease right-of-use assets and liabilities at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. We use an estimate of our discount rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments, unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. The lease right-of-use assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives such as tenant improvement allowances. Options to extend or terminate the lease are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise the extension or termination option.
Our operating leases typically include non-lease components such as common-area maintenance costs. We have elected to exclude non-lease components from lease payments for the purpose of calculating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities and these are expensed as incurred as variable lease payments.
Leases with a term of one year or less are not recognized on our consolidated balance sheet; we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Internal-Use Software
We capitalize certain costs incurred for the development of computer software for internal use. We capitalize these costs during the development of the project, when it is determined that it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used as intended. Costs related to preliminary project activities, post-implementation activities, training, and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Internal-use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of three years, and the amortization expense is recorded as a component of cost of subscription services. Management evaluates the useful lives of these assets on an annual basis and tests for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of each year or if circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill is impaired.
We have one reporting unit and evaluate goodwill for impairment at the entity level. We completed our annual impairment test in our fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, which resulted in no impairment of the goodwill balance.
All other intangible assets associated with purchased intangibles, consisting of existing technology, databases, customer relationships, software, trade names and trademarks, data supplier and partner relationships, non-competition agreements, brand, and backlog are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated remaining economic lives. Amortization expense related to existing technology, databases, data supplier and partner relationships, software, and backlog is included in cost of subscription services. Amortization expense related to customer relationships, trade names and trademarks, and brand are included in sales and marketing expense. Amortization expense related to non-competition agreements are included in both general and administrative and research and development expense.
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group be tested for possible impairment, we first compare undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. There were no impairment charges recognized during any of the periods presented.
Business Combinations
The purchase price in a business combination is assigned to the estimated acquisition date fair values of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed with the residual recorded as goodwill. Critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets include, but are not limited to, the net present value of future
expected cash flows, future revenue growth, margins, customer retention rates, technology life, royalty rates, expected use of acquired assets, and discount rates.
Stock-based Compensation
We recognize compensation expense for all stock-based awards, including stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs), based on the estimate of fair value of the award at the grant date. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the grant date using either a Black-Scholes option-pricing model or a Monte Carlo simulation, to the extent market conditions exist, and a single option award approach. These models require that at the date of grant we determine the fair value of the underlying common stock, the expected term of the award, the expected volatility of the price of our common stock, risk-free interest rates, and expected dividend yield of our common stock. The fair value of each RSU award is measured based on the closing stock price of our common stock on the date of grant. We account for forfeitures as they occur. The compensation expense is recognized using a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally four to nine years.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of subscription services revenues consists of expenses related to our computing infrastructure provided by third parties, including salesforce.com and Amazon Web Services, personnel-related costs associated with hosting our subscription services and providing support including our data stewards, data acquisition costs, and allocated overhead, amortization expense associated with capitalized internal-use software related to our subscription services, and amortization expense associated with purchased intangibles related to our subscription services. Cost of subscription services revenues for Veeva CRM and certain of our multichannel customer relationship management applications include fees paid to salesforce.com for our use of the Salesforce Platform and the associated hosting infrastructure and data center operations that are provided by salesforce.com.
Cost of professional services and other revenues consists primarily of employee-related expenses associated with providing these services, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense, the cost of third-party subcontractors, travel costs, and allocated overhead.
Advertising Expenses
Advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred and were immaterial for each of the years presented.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
We regularly assess the realizability of our deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. We evaluate and weigh all available positive and negative evidence such as historic results, future reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, as well as prudent and feasible tax-planning strategies. Generally, more weight is given to objectively verifiable evidence such as the cumulative income in recent years.
We establish liabilities or reduce assets for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining whether the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon an audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement. We recognize interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of provision for income taxes.
Foreign Currency Exchange
Adjustments resulting from translating financial statements for those entities that do not have U.S. dollars as their functional currency are recorded as part of a separate component of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. All assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. Equity transactions are translated using historical exchange rates. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the period.
Indemnification
Our contracts generally include provisions for indemnifying customers against liabilities if our solutions infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, and we may also incur liabilities if we breach the security and/or confidentiality obligations in our contracts. To date, we have not incurred any material costs, and we have not accrued any liabilities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as a result of these obligations.
Loss Contingencies
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment or remediation can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in Fiscal 2021
Cloud Computing Arrangements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract” (Topic 350-40), which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The new standard requires capitalized costs to be amortized on a straight-line basis generally over the term of the arrangement, and the financial statement presentation for these capitalized costs would be the same as that of the fees related to the hosting arrangements. We adopted this standard on a prospective basis as of February 1, 2020 and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Credit Losses
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2016-13, including subsequent amendments, regarding “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which modifies the accounting methodology for most financial instruments. The guidance establishes a new “expected loss model” that requires entities to estimate current expected credit losses on financial instruments by using all practical and relevant information. For trade receivables and other financial assets, we are required to use a forward-looking expected loss model rather than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses which reflects losses that are probable. Additionally, any expected credit losses are to be reflected as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of available-for-sale debt securities. We adopted this standard on a modified retrospective basis as of February 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not result in any cumulative effect adjustment on our consolidated financial statements.