Fair Value

9 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2012

Fair Value [Abstract]

Fair Value

Fair Value

Fair value measurements on a recurring basis

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities, excluding pension assets, that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 28, 2012 and March 30, 2012:

	As of
	December 28, 2012
			Fair Value Hierarchy
(Amounts in millions)	Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds and money market deposit accounts	$	1,381	$	1,381	$	—	$	—
Time deposits	199		199		—		—
Short term investments	5		5		—		—
Derivative assets	4		—		4		—
Total assets	$	1,589	$	1,585	$	4	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	2	$	—	$	2	$	—
Total liabilities	$	2	$	—	$	2	$	—

	As of
	March 30, 2012
			Fair Value Hierarchy
(Amounts in millions)	Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds and money market deposit accounts	$	299	$	299	$	—	$	—
Time deposits	102		102		—		—
Short term investments	6		6		—		—
Derivative assets	12		—		12		—
Total assets	$	419	$	407	$	12	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	$	14	$	—	$	14	$	—
Total liabilities	$	14	$	—	$	14	$	—

The Company's money market funds and deposit accounts and time deposits are reported in cash and cash equivalents; short-term investments and derivative assets are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets; and derivative liabilities are included in other accrued expenses. Gains and losses from changes in the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities are included in earnings and reported in other (income) expense. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.

Derivative assets and liabilities include foreign currency forward contracts and currency options. The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts represents the estimated amount required to settle the contracts using current market exchange rates, and is based on the year-end foreign currency exchange rates and forward points. The fair value of currency options is estimated based on external valuation models that use the original strike price, movement and volatility in foreign currency exchange rates, and length of time to expiration as inputs.

Fair value measurements on a non-recurring basis

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include goodwill, tangible assets, intangible assets, and other contract related long-lived assets. Such assets are reviewed quarterly for impairment indicators. If a triggering event has occurred, the assets are remeasured when the estimated fair value of the corresponding asset or asset group is less than the carrying value. The fair value measurements, in such instances, are based on significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). There were no significant impairments recorded during the nine months endedDecember 28, 2012.

Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments with short-term maturities are deemed to approximate their market values. The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt, excluding capital leases, was $2,012 million and $1,073 million, and the estimated fair value was $2,237 million and $1,190 million, as of December 28, 2012, and March 30, 2012, respectively. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on the current interest rates offered to the Company for instruments with similar terms and remaining maturities and are classified as Level 2. CSC's company-owned life insurance policies are recorded at their cash surrender value.

The primary financial instruments other than derivatives (see Note 7) that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are accounts receivable. The Company’s customer base includes Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. federal and other governments and other significant, well-known companies operating in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is minimized because of the nature and diversification of the Company’s customer base. Furthermore, the Company continuously reviews its accounts receivable and records provisions for doubtful accounts as needed.

The Company’s credit risk is also affected by customers in bankruptcy proceedings; however, because most of these proceedings involve business reorganizations rather than liquidations and the nature of the Company’s services are often considered essential to the operational continuity of these customers, the Company is generally able to avoid or mitigate significant adverse financial impact in these cases. As of December 28, 2012, the Company had $16 million of accounts receivable, $11 million of related allowance for doubtful accounts, and $1 million of other assets with customers involved in bankruptcy proceedings.