Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. To prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates and may result in material effects on the Company’s operating results and financial position.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Fiscal Year End

Fiscal Year End. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to October 31 and consists of 52 weeks, with the exception that approximately every five years, the Company has a 53-week year. Fiscal 2017 and 2016 are both 52-week years. The second fiscal quarters of fiscal 2017 and 2016 ended on April 29, 2017 and April 30, 2016, respectively, and the prior fiscal year ended on October 29, 2016. For presentation purposes, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes refer to the closest calendar month end.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605).” This ASU requires an entity to recognize revenue when goods are transferred or services are provided to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires disclosures enabling users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

Since the issuance of Topic 606, the FASB has issued several amendments to the ASU, including deferral of the adoption date initially proposed, clarification on accounting for licenses of intellectual property, and identifying performance obligations.

Topic 606 will be effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period. The ASU permits two retrospective methods for adoption. The Company currently anticipates adopting Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method under which the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance is recognized at the date of initial application.

The Company derives the majority of its total revenue from Technology Subscription License (TSL) contracts. The Company believes that the promised licenses of software (i.e., functional intellectual property) and the promise to provide substantive, timely, and technologically relevant updates in its TSL contracts reflect inputs to a combined item that represents a single overall promise to provide customer access to a suite of EDA software in an integrated solution that will evolve as our customers’ industries evolve through rapid technology changes. Accordingly, the Company has concluded that this single overall promise will be recognized as revenue over the term of the contract period. Accordingly, the Company expects that there will be no significant change in the nature and timing of revenue recognition for our TSL contracts under Topic 606.

The timing of revenue recognition for the Company’s upfront products, maintenance and professional services is expected to remain substantially unchanged.

The Company continues to assess all potential impacts of Topic 606 on other multiple element software arrangements that combine many software-related deliverables. As the requirement to have Vendor-Specific Objective Evidence (VSOE) for undelivered elements is not necessary to separate revenue from delivered software licenses, which is an essential criterion for separation under current standard, revenue would no longer be recognized over the arrangement period for certain of the Company's term licenses and IP licenses. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of these changes on the remainder of its arrangements.

Topic 606 also requires the deferral of incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. This will require the Company to capitalize incremental costs such as commissions and other costs directly related to obtaining customer contracts and amortize those costs over the period the assets are expected to contribute future cash flows, which will be over the life of the contract. Under the existing rules, the Company expenses commissions based on shipments.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, "Leases (Topic 842)," which supersedes the lease requirements in "Leases (Topic 840)." This ASU requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease payment liability for most leases in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. This ASU also makes some changes to lessor accounting and aligns with the new revenue recognition guidance. This ASU will be effective for fiscal 2020, including interim periods within that reporting period, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740), Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.” This ASU requires the immediate recognition of current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. This ASU will be effective for fiscal 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.