Term Receivables and Trade Accounts Receivable—We have long-term installment receivables that are attributable to multi-year, multi-element term license sales agreements. 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.

Term receivable and trade accounts receivable balances were as follows:



As of	October 31, 2012		January 31, 2012
Trade accounts receivable	$	171,916	$	133,494
Term receivables, short-term	$	232,867	$	221,430
Term receivables, long-term	$	207,639	$	220,355

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.

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. We determine whether or not to extend credit to these customers based on the results of our internal credit assessment, thus, mitigating our risk of loss.

The credit risk assessment for our long-term receivables was as follows:



As of	October 31, 2012		January 31, 2012
S&P credit rating:
AAA+ through BBB-	$	107,918	$	130,545
BB+ and lower	37,213		15,161
	145,131		145,706
Internal credit assessment	62,508		74,649
Total long-term term receivables	$	207,639	$	220,355

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.

The following shows the change in allowance for doubtful accounts:



Allowance for doubtful accounts	Beginning balance		Charged to expense		Deductions⁽¹⁾			Ending balance
Nine months ended October 31, 2012	$	4,432	$	285	$	(146	)	$	4,571

(1)Specific account write-offs and foreign exchange.

We enter into agreements to sell qualifying accounts receivable from time to time to certain financing institutions on a non-recourse basis. We received net proceeds from the sale of receivables of $19,379 for the nine months ended October 31, 2012 compared to $28,295 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011.