Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of CA, Inc. (Company) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 270, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 (2014 Form 10-K).

In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, these estimates may ultimately differ from actual results.

Operating results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.

Divestitures

Divestitures: In the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company sold its CA arcserve data protection solution assets (arcserve). In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Company identified its CA ERwin Data Modeling solution assets (ERwin) as available for sale. The results of operations associated with these businesses have been presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The effects of the discontinued operations were immaterial to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014. See Note B, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held in numerous locations throughout the world, with approximately 75% being held by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries outside the United States at December 31, 2014.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements: Fair value is the price that would be received for an asset or the amount paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The Company is required to classify certain assets and liabilities based on the following fair value hierarchy:


•	Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;


•	Level 2: Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and


•	Level 3: Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

See Note I, “Fair Value Measurements,” for additional information.

Deferred Revenue (Billed or Collected)

Deferred Revenue (Billed or Collected): The Company accounts for unearned revenue on billed amounts due from customers on a gross basis. Unearned revenue on billed installments (collected or uncollected) is reported as deferred revenue in the liability section of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred revenue (billed or collected) excludes unbilled contractual commitments executed under license and maintenance agreements that will be billed in future periods. See Note F, “Deferred Revenue,” for additional information.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company in its first quarter of fiscal year 2018 using either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. ASU 2014-09 is expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s revenue recognition policies and disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for cash and cash equivalents, including the policy for determining which items are treated as cash equivalents. Other information that may be disclosed includes (1) the nature of any restrictions on the entity's use of its cash and cash equivalents, (2) whether the entity's cash and cash equivalents are insured or expose the entity to credit risk, (3) the classification of any negative balance accounts (overdrafts), and (4) the carrying basis of cash equivalents (for example, at cost) and whether the carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for any discontinued operations. The results of operations of a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale is reported in discontinued operations if both: (a) the operations and cash flows of the component have been (or will be) eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the disposal transaction and (b) the entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal transaction. If the entity elects to allocate interest expense to a discontinued operation, it may disclose its accounting policy for this election and describe its method of allocation.

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