Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]

The condensed consolidated financial statements include our financial statements and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We do not have off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other similar relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as special purpose entities. In the ordinary course of business, we lease certain real properties, primarily field sales offices, research and development facilities, and equipment as described in Note 7. “Commitments and Contingencies.”

Revenue Recognition

We report revenue in two categories based on how the revenue is generated: (i) system and software and (ii) service and support.

System and software revenues – We derive system and software revenues from the sale of licenses of software products, emulation hardware systems, and finance fee revenues from our long-term installment receivables resulting from product sales. We primarily license our products using two different license types:

1. Term licenses – We use this license type primarily for software sales. This license type provides the customer with the right to use a fixed list of software products for a specified time period, typically three years, with payments spread over the license term, and does not provide the customer with the right to use the products after the end of the term. Term license arrangements may allow the customer to share products between multiple locations and remix product usage from the fixed list of products at regular intervals during the license term. We generally recognize product revenue from term license arrangements upon product delivery and start of the license term. In a term license agreement where we provide the customer with rights to unspecified or unreleased future products, we recognize revenue ratably over the license term.

2. Perpetual licenses – We use this license type for software and emulation hardware system sales. This license type provides the customer with the right to use the product in perpetuity and typically does not provide for extended payment terms. We generally recognize product revenue from perpetual license arrangements upon product delivery assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.

We include finance fee revenues from the accretion of the discount on long-term installment receivables in system and software revenues.

Service and support revenues – We derive service and support revenues from software and hardware post-contract maintenance or support services and professional services, which include consulting, training, and other services. We recognize revenues ratably over the support services term. We record professional service revenues as the services are provided to the customer.

We determine whether product revenue recognition is appropriate based upon the evaluation of whether the following four criteria have been met:

1. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists – Generally, we use either a customer signed contract or qualified customer purchase order as evidence of an arrangement for both term and perpetual licenses. For professional service engagements, we generally use a signed professional services agreement and a statement of work to evidence an arrangement. Sales through our distributors are evidenced by an agreement governing the relationship, together with binding purchase orders from the distributor on a transaction-by-transaction basis.

2. Delivery has occurred – We generally deliver software and the corresponding access keys to customers electronically. Electronic delivery occurs when we provide the customer access to the software. We may also deliver the software on a compact disc. With respect to emulation hardware systems, we transfer title to the customer upon shipment. Our software license and emulation hardware system agreements generally do not contain conditions for acceptance.

3. Fee is fixed or determinable – We assess whether a fee is fixed or determinable at the outset of the arrangement, primarily based on the payment terms associated with the transaction. We have established a history of collecting under the original contract with installment terms without providing concessions on payments, products, or services. Additionally, for installment contracts, we determine that the fee is fixed or determinable if the arrangement has a payment schedule that is within the term of the licenses and the payments are collected in equal or nearly equal installments, when evaluated on a cumulative basis. If the fee is not deemed to be fixed or determinable, we recognize revenue as payments become due and payable.

Significant judgment is involved in assessing whether a fee is fixed or determinable. We must also make these judgments when assessing whether a contract amendment to a term arrangement (primarily in the context of a license extension or renewal) constitutes a concession. Our experience has been that we are able to determine whether a fee is fixed or determinable for term licenses. If we no longer were to have a history of collecting under the original contract without providing concessions on term licenses, revenue from term licenses would be required to be recognized when payments under the installment contract become due and payable. Such a change could have a material impact on our results of operations.

4. Collectibility is probable – To recognize revenue, we must judge collectibility of the arrangement fees on a customer-by-customer basis pursuant to our credit review process. We typically sell to customers with whom there is a history of successful collection. We evaluate the financial position and a customer’s ability to pay whenever an existing customer purchases new products, renews an existing arrangement, or requests an increase in credit terms. For certain industries for which our products are not considered core to the industry or the industry is generally considered troubled, we impose higher credit standards. If we determine that collectibility is not probable based upon our credit review process or the customer’s payment history, we recognize revenue as payments are received.

Multiple element arrangements involving software licenses – For multiple element arrangements involving software and other software-related deliverables, vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (VSOE) must exist to allocate the total fee among all delivered and non-essential undelivered elements of the arrangement. If undelivered elements of the arrangement are essential to the functionality of the product, we defer revenue until the essential elements are delivered. If VSOE does not exist for one or more non-essential undelivered elements, we defer revenue until such evidence exists for the undelivered elements, or until all elements are delivered, whichever is earlier. If VSOE of all non-essential undelivered elements exist but VSOE does not exist for one or more delivered elements, we recognize revenue using the residual method. Under the residual method, we defer revenue related to the undelivered elements based upon VSOE and we recognize the remaining portion of the arrangement fee as revenue for the delivered elements, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. If we can no longer establish VSOE for non-essential undelivered elements of multiple element arrangements, we defer revenue until all elements are delivered or VSOE is established for the undelivered elements, whichever is earlier.

We base our VSOE for certain elements of an arrangement upon the pricing in comparable transactions when the element is sold separately. We primarily base our VSOE for term and perpetual support services upon customer renewal history where the services are sold separately. We also base VSOE for professional services and installation services for emulation hardware systems upon the price charged when the services are sold separately.

Multiple element arrangements involving hardware – For multiple element arrangements involving our emulation hardware systems, we allocate revenue to each element based on the relative selling price of each deliverable. In order to meet the separation criteria to allocate revenue to each element we must determine the standalone selling price of each element using a hierarchy of evidence. The authoritative guidance requires that, in the absence of VSOE or third-party evidence (TPE), a company must develop an estimated selling price (ESP). ESP is defined as the price at which the vendor would transact if the deliverable was sold by the vendor regularly on a standalone basis. A company should consider market conditions as well as entity-specific factors when estimating a selling price.

When VSOE or TPE does not exist, we base our ESP for certain elements in arrangements on either costs incurred to manufacture a product plus a reasonable profit margin or standalone sales to similar customers. In determining profit

margins, we consider current market conditions, pricing strategies related to the class of customer, and the level of penetration we have with the customer. In other cases, we may have limited sales on a standalone basis to the same or similar customers and/or guaranteed pricing on future purchases of the same item.

Noncontrolling Interest with Redemption Feature

As of July 31, 2012, our balance sheet includes a noncontrolling interest resulting from a business combination in which we acquired majority ownership in a privately-held company. In conjunction with this business combination, we also entered into an agreement which allows the other owners of the company to require us to purchase their noncontrolling interest at a future date for a price based on a formula defined in the agreement. The noncontrolling interest adjusted for this redemption feature is presented on the condensed consolidated balance sheet under the caption “Noncontrolling interest with redemption feature.” Because the redemption of the noncontrolling interest is outside of our control, we have presented this interest outside of stockholders’ equity.

The noncontrolling interest with redemption feature is recognized at the greater of:


i.	The calculated redemption value as of the balance sheet date, as if it were redeemable; or


ii.	The initial noncontrolling interest value adjusted for the noncontrolling interest holders' share of:


a.	cumulative net income (loss); and


b.	other changes in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Adjustments based on the calculated redemption value are recorded directly to retained earnings. To the extent this adjustment is considered to be material, we would adjust the numerator in our earnings per share calculation in the current period.

The results of the majority-owned subsidiary are presented in our consolidated results with an adjustment reflected on the face of our statement of income and the face of our statement of comprehensive income for the noncontrolling investors’ interest in the results of the subsidiary.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210) Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2011-11 requires entities to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions subject to a master netting arrangement. ASU 2011-11 is intended to facilitate comparison between those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of U.S. GAAP and those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). ASU 2011-11 is effective retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 31, 2013 and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not anticipate a material impact on our financial statements upon adoption, other than additional disclosures.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The FASB's authoritative guidance for the hierarchy of valuation techniques is based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs reflect our market assumptions. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:

•Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;


•	Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations whose significant inputs are observable; and

•Level 3—One or more significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.

We use an income approach to determine the fair value of our foreign currency exchange contracts. The net gains or losses for foreign currency exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges, which are linked to a specific transaction, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity until the forecasted transaction occurs or the hedge is no longer effective. Once the forecasted transaction occurs or the hedge is no longer effective, we reclassify the gains or losses attributable to the foreign currency exchange contracts to our consolidated statement of income. Foreign currency exchange contracts are recorded at fair value utilizing observable market inputs at measurement date and standard valuation techniques.

We recognize changes in fair value for foreign currency exchange contracts entered into to offset the variability in exchange rates on certain short-term monetary assets and liabilities in other income (expense), net, in our consolidated statement of income. The fair value of foreign currency exchange contracts is included in other receivables, if the balance is an asset, or accrued liabilities, if the balance is a liability, on our consolidated balance sheet.

Business Combination Contingent Consideration Policy [Policy Text Block]

In connection with certain acquisitions, payment of a portion of the purchase price is contingent typically upon the acquired business’ achievement of certain revenue goals. As of July 31, 2012, of the total recorded balance, $1,989 was included in accrued liabilities and $4,161 was included in other long-term liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of January 31, 2012, of the total recorded balance, $510 was included in accrued liabilities and $5,610 was included in other long-term liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

We have estimated the fair value of our contingent consideration as the present value of the expected payments over the term of the arrangements.

Notes Payable Fair Value Determination Policy [Policy Text Block]

We based the fair value of notes payable on the quoted market price or rates available to us for instruments with similar terms and maturities.

Receivables, Policy

We include balances under term agreements that are due within one year in trade accounts receivable, net and balances that are due more than one year from the balance sheet date in term receivables, long-term. We discount the total product portion of the agreements to reflect the interest component of the transaction. We amortize the interest component of the transaction, using the effective interest method, to system and software revenues over the period in which payments are made and balances are outstanding. We determine the discount rate at the outset of the arrangement based upon the current credit rating of the customer. We reset the discount rate periodically considering changes in prevailing interest rates but do not adjust previously discounted balances.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Unbilled Receivables, Policy

Trade accounts receivable include billed amounts whereas term receivables, short-term are comprised of unbilled amounts. Term receivables, short-term represent the portion of long-term installment agreements that are due within one year. Billings for term agreements typically occur 30 days prior to the contractual due date, in accordance with individual contract installment terms. Term receivables, long-term represent unbilled amounts which are scheduled to be collected beyond one year.

Financing Receivable Credit Quality

We perform a credit risk assessment of all customers using the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) credit rating as our primary credit-quality indicator. The S&P credit ratings are based on the most recent S&P score available. For customers that do not have an S&P credit rating, we base our credit risk assessment on an internal credit assessment which is based on selected short-term financial ratios. Our internal credit assessment is based upon results provided in the customers’ most recent financial statements.

Allowance For Uncollectible Accounts Receivable

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivable and term receivables for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. We regularly evaluate the collectibility of our trade accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. When we become aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, such as in the case of bankruptcy or deterioration in the customer’s operating results, financial position, or credit rating, we record a specific reserve for bad debt to reduce the related receivable to the amount believed to be collectible. We also record unspecified reserves for bad debt for all other customers based on a variety of factors including length of time the receivables are past due, the financial health of the customers, the current business environment, and historical experience. Current economic conditions we consider include forecasted spending in the semiconductor industry, consumer spending for electronics, integrated circuit research and development spending, and volatility in gross domestic product. If these factors change or circumstances related to specific customers change, we adjust the estimates of the recoverability of receivables resulting in either additional selling expense or a reduction in selling expense in the period such determination is made.

Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]

When we consider the potential loss from any dispute or legal matter probable and the amount or the range of loss can be estimated, we will accrue a liability for the estimated loss. To the extent there is a reasonable possibility (within the meaning of ASC 450 Contingencies) that losses could exceed amounts already accrued, if any, and the additional loss or range of loss is able to be estimated, we would disclose the additional loss or range of loss. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, we base accruals on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation matters and may revise estimates.

Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities or Restructurings, Policy

Special charges primarily consist of costs incurred for employee terminations due to a reduction of personnel resources driven by modifications of business strategy or business emphasis. Employee severance and related costs include severance benefits, notice pay, and outplacement services. These rebalance charges generally represent the aggregate of numerous unrelated rebalance plans which impact several employee groups, none of which is individually material to our financial position or results of operations. We determine termination benefit amounts based on employee status, years of service, and local statutory requirements. We communicate termination benefits to the affected employees prior to the end of the quarter in which we record the charge. Special charges may also include expenses incurred related to acquisitions, excess facility costs, and asset related charges.