Derivative Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

(5) DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The assets or liabilities associated with our derivative instruments and hedging activities are recorded at fair value in other current assets or accrued and other current liabilities, respectively, on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As discussed below, the accounting for gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value depends on the use of the derivative instrument and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.

We transact business in various foreign currencies and have significant international sales and expenses denominated in foreign currencies, subjecting us to foreign currency risk. We purchase foreign currency option contracts, generally with maturities of 15 months or less, to reduce the volatility of cash flows primarily related to forecasted revenue and expenses denominated in certain foreign currencies. In addition, we utilize foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate foreign exchange rate risk associated with foreign-currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities, primarily intercompany receivables and payables. The foreign currency forward contracts generally have a contractual term of approximately three months or less and are transacted near month-end. At each quarter-end, the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts generally is not significant. We do not use foreign currency option or foreign currency forward contracts for speculative or trading purposes.

Cash Flow Hedging Activities

Our foreign currency option contracts are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges. The effectiveness of the cash flow hedge contracts, including time value, is assessed monthly using regression analysis, as well as other timing and probability criteria. To qualify for hedge accounting treatment, all hedging relationships are formally documented at the inception of the hedges and must be highly effective in offsetting changes to future cash flows on hedged transactions. The effective portion of gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these hedges is initially reported, net of tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity. The gross amount of the effective portion of gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these hedges is subsequently reclassified into net revenue or research and development expenses, as appropriate, in the period when the forecasted transaction is recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In the event that the gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income are deemed to be ineffective, the ineffective portion of gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value, if any, is reclassified to interest and other income (expense), net, in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In the event that the underlying forecasted transactions do not occur, or it becomes remote that they will occur, within the defined hedge period, the gains or losses on the related cash flow hedges are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest and other income (expense), net, in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the reporting periods, all forecasted transactions occurred, and therefore, there were no such gains or losses reclassified into interest and other income (expense), net. As of September 30, 2011, we had foreign currency option contracts to purchase approximately $38 million in foreign currency and to sell approximately $72 million of foreign currency. All of the foreign currency option contracts outstanding as of September 30, 2011 will mature in the next 12 months. As of March 31, 2011, we had foreign currency option contracts to purchase approximately $40 million in foreign currency and to sell approximately $10 million of foreign currency. As of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2011, the fair value of these outstanding foreign currency option contracts was immaterial and is included in other current assets.

The effect of the gains and losses from our foreign currency option contracts in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was immaterial, and is included in interest and other income (expense), net.

Balance Sheet Hedging Activities

Our foreign currency forward contracts are not designated as hedging instruments, and are accounted for as derivatives whereby the fair value of the contracts is reported as other current assets or accrued and other current liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value are reported in interest and other income (expense), net, in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The gains and losses on these foreign currency forward contracts generally offset the gains and losses in the underlying foreign-currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities, which are also reported in interest and other income (expense), net, in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of September 30, 2011, we had foreign currency forward contracts to purchase and sell approximately $405 million in foreign currencies. Of this amount, $384 million represented contracts to sell foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars, $12 million to purchase foreign currency in exchange for U.S. dollars, and $9 million to sell foreign currency in exchange for British pounds sterling. As of March 31, 2011, we had foreign currency forward contracts to purchase and sell approximately $187 million in foreign currencies. Of this amount, $140 million represented contracts to sell foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars, $31 million to purchase foreign currency in exchange for U.S. dollars, and $16 million to sell foreign currency in exchange for British pounds sterling. As of September 30, 2011 and March 31, 2011, the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts was immaterial and is included in accrued and other liabilities.

The effect of foreign currency forward contracts in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, was as follows (in millions):

		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	Three Months Ended September 30,				Six Months Ended September 30,
		2011		2010		2011		2010
Foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments	Interest and other income (expense), net	$	16	$	(7	) $	14	$	(5	)