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Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Background Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company ("we", "us", "our", "Hewlett Packard Enterprise", "HPE" or "the Company") is an industry leading technology company that enables customers to go further, faster. With the industry's most comprehensive portfolio, spanning the cloud to the data center to workplace applications, its technology and services help customers around the world make IT more efficient, more productive and more secure. Hewlett Packard Enterprise's customers range from small- and medium-sized businesses ("SMBs") to large global enterprises. On November 1, 2015, the Company became an independent publicly-traded company through a pro rata distribution by HP Inc. ("former Parent" or "HPI"), formerly known as Hewlett-Packard Company ("HP Co."), of 100% of the outstanding shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company to HP Inc.'s stockholders (the "Separation"). Each HP Inc. stockholder of record received one share of Hewlett Packard Enterprise common stock for each share of HP Inc. common stock held on the record date. Approximately 1.8 billion shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise common stock were distributed on November 1, 2015 to HP Inc. stockholders. In connection with the Separation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's common stock began trading "regular-way" under the ticker symbol "HPE" on the New York Stock Exchange on November 2, 2015. In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into a Tax Matters Agreement with former Parent, which resulted in the indemnification of certain pre-Separation tax liabilities. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, Separation-related adjustments totaling $1.2 billion were recorded in stockholders' equity. Separation-related adjustments to equity primarily reflected the impact of the income tax indemnification and the transfer of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities between former Parent and the Company. See Note 18, "Guarantees, Indemnifications and Warranties", for a full description of the Tax Matters Agreement. Basis of Presentation Prior to October 31, 2015, the Combined Financial Statements were derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements and accounting records of former Parent, as if the Company was operating on a standalone basis during the periods presented. From and after October 31, 2015, substantially all of the assets and liabilities and operations of the Company were transferred from former Parent to the Company, and Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries in accordance with the separation agreement for the transfer from former Parent to the Company. These Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements of the Company were prepared in connection with the Separation and in accordance with United States ("U.S.") Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Prior to October 31, 2015, the Combined and Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income of the Company reflect allocations of general corporate expenses from former Parent including, but not limited to, executive management, finance, legal, information technology, employee benefits administration, treasury, risk management, procurement, and other shared services. These allocations were made on a direct usage basis when identifiable, with the remainder allocated on the basis of revenue, expenses, headcount, or other relevant measures. Management of the Company and former Parent consider these allocations to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services by, or the benefits provided to, the Company. The allocations may not, however, reflect the expense the Company would have incurred as a standalone company for the periods presented. Actual costs that may have been incurred if the Company had been a standalone company would depend on a number of factors, including the chosen organizational structure, what functions were outsourced or performed by employees and strategic decisions made in areas such as information technology and infrastructure. Former Parent's cash had not been assigned to the Company as of October 31, 2015 because those cash balances were not directly attributable to the Company. The Company reflected transfers of cash to and from former Parent's cash management system as a component of former Parent company investment on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Former Parent's long-term debt had not been attributed to the Company prior to October 31, 2015 because former Parent's borrowings were not the legal obligation of the Company. As of October 31, 2015, substantially all of the assets and liabilities and operations were transferred from former Parent to the Company and the Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Company included the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Additionally, subsequent to the Separation, the Company received a final cash allocation from HP Inc. and accrued certain general cross-indemnifications liabilities. See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions and Former Parent Company Investment", and Note 18, "Guarantees, Indemnifications and Warranties", for a full description of these items. Former Parent maintained various benefit and stock-based compensation plans at a corporate level and other benefit plans at a subsidiary level. The Company's employees participated in those programs and a portion of the cost of those plans was included in the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. See Note 4, "Retirement and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans", and Note 5, "Stock-based Compensation", for a further description. Principles of Combination and Consolidation The accompanying Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and other subsidiaries and affiliates in which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and accounts within the consolidated and combined businesses of the Company have been eliminated. Prior to the Separation, intercompany transactions between the Company and former Parent are considered to be effectively settled in the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements at the time the transaction was recorded. The total net effect of the settlement of these intercompany transactions is reflected in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows within financing activities and within the stockholders' equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Former Parent company investment. The Company accounts for investments in companies over which it has the ability to exercise significant influence but does not hold a controlling interest under the equity method of accounting, and the Company records its proportionate share of income or losses in Loss from equity interests in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings. The Company's proportionate share of losses in its equity method investments previously included in Interest and other, net, and Other, net, in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings and Statements of Cash Flows, respectively, for all prior periods, were reclassified to Loss from equity interests to conform to the current year presentation. Non-controlling interests are presented as a separate component within Total stockholders' equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net earnings attributable to non-controlling interests are recorded within Interest and other, net in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings and are not presented separately, as they were not material for any period presented. Segment Realignment The Company has implemented certain segment and business unit realignments in order to align its segment financial reporting more closely with its current business structure. Reclassifications of certain prior year segment and business unit financial information have been made to conform to the current-year presentation. None of the changes impact the Company's previously reported consolidated net revenue, earnings from operations, net earnings or net earnings per share ("EPS"). See Note 2, "Segment Information", for a further discussion of the Company's segment realignment. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Foreign Currency Translation The Company predominately uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities denominated in non-U.S. currencies are remeasured into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates for monetary assets and liabilities and at historical exchange rates for non-monetary assets and liabilities. Net revenue, costs and expenses denominated in non-U.S. currencies are recorded in U.S. dollars at the average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. The Company includes gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement in Interest and other, net in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings and gains and losses from cash flow hedges in Net revenue as the hedged revenue is recognized. Certain non-U.S. subsidiaries designate the local currency as their functional currency, and the Company records the translation of their assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at the balance sheet date as translation adjustments and includes them as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents was not material for any of the fiscal years presented. Former Parent Company Investment Former Parent company investment in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated and Combined Statements of Stockholders' Equity represents former Parent's historical investment in the Company, the net effect of transactions with and allocations from former Parent and the Company's accumulated earnings. See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions and former Parent Company Investment", for further information about transactions between the Company and former Parent. Revenue Recognition General The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services are rendered, the sales price or fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Additionally, the Company recognizes hardware revenue on sales to channel partners, including resellers, distributors or value-added solution providers at the time of delivery when the channel partners have economic substance apart from the Company, and the Company has completed its obligations related to the sale. The Company generally recognizes revenue for its standalone software sales to channel partners on receipt of evidence that the software has been sold to a specific end user. The Company limits the amount of revenue recognized for delivered elements to the amount that is not contingent on the future delivery of products or services, future performance obligations or subject to customer-specified refund or return rights. The Company reduces revenue for customer and distributor programs and incentive offerings, including price protection, rebates, promotions, other volume-based incentives, and expected returns, at the later of the date of revenue recognition or the date the sales incentive is offered. Future market conditions and product transitions may require the Company to take actions to increase customer incentive offerings, possibly resulting in an incremental reduction of revenue at the time the incentive is offered. For certain incentive programs, the Company estimates the number of customers expected to redeem the incentive based on historical experience and the specific terms and conditions of the incentive. In instances when revenue is derived from sales of third-party vendor products or services, the Company records revenue on a gross basis when the Company is a principal to the transaction and on a net basis when the Company is acting as an agent between the customer and the vendor. The Company considers several factors to determine whether it is acting as a principal or an agent, most notably whether the Company is the primary obligor to the customer, has established its own pricing and has inventory and credit risks. The Company reports revenue net of any taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority. Multiple element arrangements When a sales arrangement contains multiple elements or deliverables, such as hardware and software products, and/or services, the Company allocates revenue to each element based on a selling price hierarchy. The selling price for a deliverable is based on its vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of selling price, if available, third-party evidence ("TPE") if VSOE of selling price is not available, or estimated selling price ("ESP") if neither VSOE of selling price nor TPE is available. The Company establishes VSOE of selling price using the price charged for a deliverable when sold separately and, in rare instances, using the price established by management having the relevant authority. The Company establishes TPE of selling price by evaluating largely similar and interchangeable competitor products or services in standalone sales to similarly situated customers. The Company establishes ESP based on management judgment considering internal factors such as margin objectives, pricing practices and controls, customer segment pricing strategies and the product life-cycle. Consideration is also given to market conditions such as competitor pricing strategies and technology industry life-cycles. In most arrangements with multiple elements, the Company allocates the transaction price to the individual units of accounting at inception of the arrangement based on their relative selling price. In multiple element arrangements that include software that is more-than-incidental, the Company allocates the transaction price to the individual units of accounting for the non-software deliverables and to the software deliverables as a group using the relative selling price of each of the deliverables in the arrangement based on the selling price hierarchy. If the arrangement contains more than one software deliverable, the transaction price allocated to the group of software deliverables is then allocated to each component software deliverable. The Company evaluates each deliverable in an arrangement to determine whether it represents a separate unit of accounting. A deliverable constitutes a separate unit of accounting when it has standalone value to the customer. For elements with no standalone value, the Company recognizes revenue consistent with the pattern of the undelivered elements. If the arrangement includes a customer-negotiated refund or return right or other contingency relative to the delivered items, and the delivery and performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and substantially within the Company's control, the delivered element constitutes a separate unit of accounting. In arrangements with combined units of accounting, changes in the allocation of the transaction price among elements may impact the timing of revenue recognition for the contract but will not change the total revenue recognized for the contract. Product revenue Hardware Under the Company's standard terms and conditions of sale, the Company transfers title and risk of loss to the customer at the time product is delivered to the customer and recognizes revenue accordingly, unless customer acceptance is uncertain or significant obligations to the customer remain. The Company reduces revenue for estimated customer returns, price protection, rebates and other programs offered under sales agreements established by the Company with its distributors and resellers. The Company records revenue from the sale of equipment under sales-type leases as product revenue at the inception of the lease. The Company accrues the estimated cost of post-sale obligations, including standard product warranties, based on historical experience at the time the Company recognizes revenue. Software The Company recognizes revenue from perpetual software licenses at the inception of the license term, assuming all revenue recognition criteria have been satisfied. Term-based software license revenue is generally recognized ratably over the term of the license. The Company uses the residual method to allocate revenue to software licenses at the inception of the arrangement when VSOE of fair value for all undelivered elements, such as post-contract customer support, exists and all other revenue recognition criteria have been satisfied. The Company recognizes revenue from maintenance and unspecified upgrades or updates provided on a when-and-if-available basis ratably over the period during which such items are delivered. The Company recognizes revenue for hosting or software-as-a-service ("SaaS") arrangements as the service is delivered, generally on a straight-line basis, over the contractual period of performance. In hosting arrangements, the Company considers the rights provided to the customer (e.g. whether the customer has the contractual right to take possession of the software at any time during the hosting period without significant penalty, and the feasibility of the customer to operate or contract with another vendor to operate the software) in determining whether the arrangement includes the sale of a software license. In hosting arrangements where software licenses are sold, license revenue is generally recognized according to whether perpetual or term licenses are sold, when all other revenue recognition criteria are satisfied. Services revenue The Company recognizes revenue from fixed-price support or maintenance contracts, including extended warranty contracts and software post-contract customer support agreements, ratably over the contract period and recognizes the costs associated with these contracts as incurred. For time and material contracts, the Company recognizes revenue as services are rendered and recognizes costs as they are incurred. The Company recognizes revenue from certain fixed-price contracts, such as consulting arrangements, as work progresses over the contract period on a proportional performance basis, as determined by the percentage of labor costs incurred to date compared to the total estimated labor costs of a contract. The Company recognizes revenue on fixed-price contracts for design and build projects (to design, develop and construct software and systems) using the percentage-of-completion method. The Company uses the cost-to-cost method to measure progress toward completion as determined by the percentage of cost incurred to date compared to the total estimated costs of the project. Estimates of total project costs for fixed-price contracts are regularly reassessed during the life of a contract. Provisions for estimated losses on fixed-priced contracts are recognized in the period when such losses become known. If reasonable and reliable cost estimates for a project cannot be made, the Company uses the completed contract method and recognizes revenue and costs upon service completion. The Company generally recognizes outsourcing services revenue in the period when the service is provided and the amount earned is not contingent on the occurrence of any future event. The Company recognizes revenue using an objective measure of output for unit-priced contracts. Revenue for fixed-price outsourcing contracts with periodic billings is recognized on a straight-line basis if the service is provided evenly during the contract term. Provisions for estimated losses on outsourcing arrangements are recognized in the period when such losses become probable and estimable. The Company recognizes revenue from operating leases on a straight-line basis as service revenue over the rental period. Financing income Sales-type and direct-financing leases produce financing income, which the Company recognizes at consistent rates of return over the lease term. Deferred revenue and deferred costs The Company records amounts invoiced to customers in excess of revenue recognized as deferred revenue until the revenue recognition criteria are satisfied. The Company records revenue that is earned and recognized in excess of amounts invoiced on services contracts as trade receivables. Deferred revenue represents amounts invoiced in advance for product support contracts, software customer support contracts, outsourcing startup services work, consulting and integration projects, product sales or leasing income. The Company recognizes costs associated with outsourcing contracts as incurred, unless such costs are considered direct and incremental to the startup phase of the contract, in which case the Company defers these costs during the startup phase and subsequently amortizes such costs over the period that outsourcing services are provided, once those services commence. The Company amortizes deferred contract costs on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the contract unless facts and circumstances of the contract indicate a shorter period is more appropriate. Based on actual and projected contract financial performance indicators, the Company analyzes the recoverability of deferred contract costs using the undiscounted estimated cash flows of the contract over its remaining term. If such undiscounted cash flows are insufficient to recover the carrying amount of deferred contract costs and long-lived assets directly associated with the contract, the deferred contract costs are first impaired. If a cash flow deficiency remains after reducing the carrying amount of the deferred contract costs to zero, the Company evaluates any remaining long-lived assets related to that contract for impairment. Shipping and Handling The Company includes costs related to shipping and handling in Cost of products. Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense is based on the measurement date fair value of the award and is recognized only for those awards expected to meet the service and performance vesting conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. Stock-based compensation expense is determined at the aggregate grant level for service-based awards and at the individual vesting tranche level for awards with performance and/or market conditions. The forfeiture rate is estimated based on historical experience. Prior to November 1, 2015, the Company's employees participated in former Parent's stock-based compensation plans. Stock-based compensation expense has been allocated to the Company based on the awards and terms previously granted to the Company's employees as well as an allocation of former Parent's corporate and shared functional employee expenses. Retirement and Post-Retirement Plans The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans worldwide, of which the most significant are in the United Kingdom. There are three pension plans in the UK which are all closed to new entrants, but under which, members continue to earn benefit accruals. All of these plans provide benefits based on final pay and years of service and generally require contributions from members. These plans are accounted for as single employer benefit plans. The net benefit plan obligations and the related benefit plan expense of these plans have been recorded in the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for fiscal 2016. Prior to October 31, 2015 and with the exception of certain defined benefit pension plans, of which the Company was the sole sponsor, certain of Hewlett Packard Enterprise eligible employees, retirees and other former employees participated in certain U.S. and international defined benefit pension plans and other post-employment plans offered by former Parent. These plans, which included participants that were both Company employees and other employees of former Parent ("Shared" plans), were accounted for as multiemployer benefit plans and the related net benefit plan obligations were not included in the Company's historical Combined Balance Sheets through July 31, 2015. The related benefit plan expenses were allocated to the Company based on the Company's labor costs and allocations of corporate and other shared functional personnel. Certain benefit plans in the Company's operations only included active, retired and other former Company employees ("Direct" plans) and were accounted for as single employer benefit plans. Accordingly, the net benefit plan obligations and the related benefit plan expense of those plans have been recorded in the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for all periods presented. The most significant of these Direct plans are located in the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and the United States. In connection with the Separation, during the three months ended October 31, 2015, former Parent transferred to the Company plan assets and liabilities related to newly-created single employer plans, primarily associated with Hewlett Packard Enterprise eligible employees, retirees and other former employees. The Company generally amortizes unrecognized actuarial gains and losses on a straight-line basis over the average remaining estimated service life or, in the case of closed plans, life expectancy of participants. In some cases, actuarial gains and losses are amortized using the corridor approach. See Note 4, "Retirement and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans", for a full description of these plans and the accounting and funding policies. Advertising Costs to produce advertising are expensed as incurred during production. Costs to communicate advertising are expensed when the advertising is first run. Advertising expense totaled approximately $340 million in fiscal 2016, $224 million in fiscal 2015 and $220 million in fiscal 2014. Restructuring The Company records charges associated with former Parent-approved restructuring plans to reorganize one or more of the Company's business segments, to remove duplicative headcount and infrastructure associated with business acquisitions or to simplify business processes and accelerate innovation. Restructuring charges can include severance costs to eliminate a specified number of employees, infrastructure charges to vacate facilities and consolidate operations, and contract cancellation costs. The Company records restructuring charges based on estimated employee terminations and site closure and consolidation plans. The Company accrues for severance and other employee separation costs under these actions when it is probable that benefits will be paid and the amount is reasonably estimable. The rates used in determining severance accruals are based on existing plans, historical experiences and negotiated settlements. Taxes on Earnings For fiscal 2015 and prior, current income tax liabilities related to entities which filed jointly with former Parent are assumed to be immediately settled with former Parent and are relieved through the former Parent company investment account and the Net transfers to former Parent in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows. Income tax expense and other income tax-related information contained in these Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements are presented on a separate return basis, as if the Company filed its own tax returns. The separate return method applies the accounting guidance for income taxes to the standalone financial statements as if the Company were a separate taxpayer and a standalone enterprise for the periods presented. As of November 1, 2015, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company was formally separated from former Parent; as such, any current income tax liabilities generated by the Company will be settled by the Company and no longer included with tax filings of former Parent. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts using enacted tax rates in effect for the year the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company records accruals for uncertain tax positions when the Company believes that it is not more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The Company makes adjustments to these accruals when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of adjustments for uncertain tax positions, effects of potential settlement of certain pre-Separation Hewlett-Packard Company income tax liabilities, as well as any related interest and penalties. Accounts Receivable The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable. The Company records a specific reserve for individual accounts when the Company becomes aware of specific customer circumstances, such as in the case of a bankruptcy filing or deterioration in the customer's operating results or financial position. If there are additional changes in circumstances related to the specific customer, the Company further adjusts estimates of the recoverability of receivables. The Company maintains bad debt reserves for all other customers based on a variety of factors, including the use of third-party credit risk models that generate quantitative measures of default probabilities based on market factors, the financial condition of customers, the length of time receivables are past due, trends in the weighted-average risk rating for the portfolio, macroeconomic conditions, information derived from competitive benchmarking, significant one-time events, and historical experience. The past due or delinquency status of a receivable is based on the contractual payment terms of the receivable. The Company participated in former Parent's third-party revolving short-term financing arrangements intended to facilitate the working capital requirements of certain customers through July 31, 2015. From and after August 1, 2015, all of the Company's transactions are under its own third-party revolving short-term financing arrangements. These financing arrangements, which in certain cases provide for partial recourse, result in the transfer of the Company's trade receivables to a third party. The Company reflects amounts transferred to, but not yet collected from, the third party in Accounts receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For arrangements involving an element of recourse, the fair value of the recourse obligation is measured using market data from similar transactions and reported as a current liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Concentrations of Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, investments, receivables from trade customers and contract manufacturers, financing receivables and derivatives. Prior to October 31, 2015, the Company participated in cash management, funding arrangements and risk management programs managed by former Parent. After October 31, 2015, in connection with the Separation, the Company maintains cash and cash equivalents, investments, derivatives, and certain other financial instruments with various financial institutions. These financial institutions are located in many different geographic regions, and the Company's policy is designed to limit exposure from any particular institution. As part of its risk management processes, the Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these financial institutions. The Company has not sustained material credit losses from instruments held at these financial institutions. The Company utilizes derivative contracts to protect against the effects of foreign currency and interest rate exposures. Such contracts involve the risk of non-performance by the counterparty, which could result in a material loss. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable and financing receivables is generally diversified due to the large number of entities comprising the Company's customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographic regions. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of the financial condition of its customers and may require collateral, such as letters of credit and bank guarantees, in certain circumstances. As of October 31, 2016 and 2015, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company's gross accounts receivable balance. The Company utilizes outsourced manufacturers around the world to manufacture company-designed products. The Company may purchase product components from suppliers and sell those components to its outsourced manufacturers thereby creating receivable balances from the outsourced manufacturers. The three largest outsourced manufacturer receivable balances collectively represented 83% and 80% of the Company's manufacturer receivables of $382 million and $414 million at October 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company includes the manufacturer receivables in Other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets on a gross basis. The Company's credit risk associated with these receivables is mitigated wholly or in part by the amount the Company owes to these outsourced manufacturers, as the Company generally has the legal right to offset its payables to the outsourced manufacturers against these receivables. The Company does not reflect the sale of these components in revenue and does not recognize any profit on these component sales until the related products are sold by the Company, at which time any profit is recognized as a reduction to cost of sales. The Company obtains a significant number of components from single source suppliers due to technology, availability, price, quality or other considerations. The loss of a single source supplier, the deterioration of the Company's relationship with a single source supplier, or any unilateral modification to the contractual terms under which the Company is supplied components by a single source supplier could adversely affect the Company's revenue and gross margins. Inventory The Company values inventory at the lower of cost or market. Cost is computed using standard cost which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. Adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value are made, if required, for estimated excess or obsolescence determined primarily by future demand forecasts. Property, Plant and Equipment The Company states property, plant and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation. The Company capitalizes additions and improvements and expenses maintenance and repairs as incurred. Depreciation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are five to 40 years for buildings and improvements and three to 15 years for machinery and equipment. The Company depreciates leasehold improvements over the life of the lease or the asset, whichever is shorter. The Company depreciates equipment held for lease over the initial term of the lease to the equipment's estimated residual value. The estimated useful lives of assets used solely to support a customer services contract generally do not exceed the term of the customer contract. On retirement or disposition, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheets with any gain or loss recognized in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings. The Company capitalizes certain internal and external costs incurred to acquire or create internal use software, principally related to software coding, designing system interfaces and installation and testing of the software. The Company amortizes capitalized internal use software costs using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the software, generally from three to five years. Software Development Costs The Company capitalizes costs incurred to acquire or develop software for resale subsequent to establishing technological feasibility for the software, if significant. The Company amortizes capitalized software development costs using the greater of the straight-line amortization method or the ratio that current gross revenues for a product bear to the total current and anticipated future gross revenues for that product. The estimated useful life for capitalized software for resale is generally three years or less. Software development costs incurred subsequent to establishing technological feasibility are generally not significant. Business Combinations The Company includes the results of operations of acquired businesses in the Company's consolidated and combined results prospectively from the date of acquisition. The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the assets acquired including in-process research and development ("IPR&D"), liabilities assumed, and non-controlling interests in the acquired entity generally based on their fair values at the acquisition date. IPR&D is initially capitalized at fair value as an intangible asset with an indefinite life and assessed for impairment thereafter. When the IPR&D project is complete, it is reclassified as an amortizable purchased intangible asset and is amortized over its estimated useful life. If an IPR&D project is abandoned, the Company will record a charge for the value of the related intangible asset to the Company's Consolidated and Combined Statement of Earnings in the period it is abandoned. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair value of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and non-controlling interests in the acquired entity is recorded as goodwill. The primary items that generate goodwill include the value of the synergies between the acquired company and the Company and the value of the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies for recognition as an intangible asset. Acquisition-related expenses and post-acquisition restructuring costs are recognized separately from the business combination and are expensed as incurred. Goodwill The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. The Company is permitted to conduct a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform a two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company performs a quantitative test for all of its reporting units as part of its annual goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. As of October 31, 2016, the Company's reporting units are consistent with the reportable segments identified in Note 2, "Segment Information". In the first step of the impairment test, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount. The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using a weighting of fair values derived most significantly from the income approach, and to a lesser extent, the market approach. Under the income approach, the Company estimates the fair value of a reporting unit based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. The Company prepares cash flow projections based on management's estimates of revenue growth rates and operating margins, taking into consideration industry and market conditions. The Company bases the discount rate on the weighted-average cost of capital adjusted for the relevant risk associated with business-specific characteristics and the uncertainty related to the reporting unit's ability to execute on the projected cash flows. Under the market approach, the Company estimates fair value based on market multiples of revenue and earnings derived from comparable publicly traded companies with similar operating and investment characteristics as the reporting unit. The Company weights the fair value derived from the market approach depending on the level of comparability of these publicly traded companies to the reporting unit. When market comparables are not meaningful or not available, the Company estimates the fair value of a reporting unit using only the income approach. For the Software and Enterprise Services ("ES") reporting units, the Company primarily utilized their respective spin-off and merger transaction values to estimate fair value. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying amount of the net assets assigned to that reporting unit, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is required. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the Company performs the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. In the second step, the Company measures the reporting unit's assets, including any unrecognized intangible assets, liabilities and non-controlling interests at fair value in a hypothetical analysis to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill for the reporting unit in the same manner as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. If the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill is less than its carrying amount, the difference is recorded as an impairment loss. Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews intangible assets with finite lives and long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of assets based on the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount, the asset is impaired. The Company measures the amount of impairment loss, if any, as the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value using an income approach or, when available and appropriate, using a market approach. The Company amortizes intangible assets with finite lives using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the assets, ranging from one to ten years. Equity Method Investments Investments and ownership interests are accounted for under equity method accounting if the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have a controlling financial interest. The Company records its interest in the net earnings of its equity method investees, along with adjustments for unrealized profits or losses on intra-entity transactions and amortization of basis differences, within earnings or loss from equity interests in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings. Profits or losses related to intra-entity sales with its equity method investees are eliminated until realized by the investor or investee. Basis differences represent differences between the cost of the investment and the underlying equity in net assets of the investment and are generally amortized over the lives of the related assets that gave rise to them. The Company records its interest in the net earnings of its equity method investments based on the most recently available financial statements of the investees. The carrying amount of the investment in equity interests is adjusted to reflect the Company's interest in net earnings, dividends received and other-than-temporary impairments. The Company reviews for impairment whenever factors indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. In such a case, the decrease in value is recognized in the period the impairment occurs in the Consolidated and Combined Statement of Earnings. Debt and Marketable Equity Securities Investments Debt and marketable equity securities are generally considered available-for-sale and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable taxes, in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are calculated based on the specific identification method and included in Interest and other, net in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Earnings. The Company monitors its investment portfolio for potential impairment on a quarterly basis. When the carrying amount of an investment in debt securities exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, the Company records an impairment charge to Interest and other, net in the amount of the credit loss and the balance, if any, is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Derivatives The Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily forwards, swaps, and, at times, options, to hedge certain foreign currency and interest rate exposures. The Company also may use other derivative instruments not designated as hedges, such as forwards used to hedge foreign currency balance sheet exposures. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. See Note 12, "Financial Instruments", for a full description of the Company's derivative financial instrument activities and related accounting policies. Loss Contingencies The Company is involved in various lawsuits, claims, investigations, and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a liability for contingencies when it believes it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. See Note 17, "Litigation and Contingencies", for a full description of the Company's loss contingencies and related accounting policies. Accounting Pronouncements In October 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the existing accounting standards for income taxes. The amendments require the recognition of the income tax consequences for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Under current GAAP, current and deferred income taxes for intra-entity asset transfers are not recognized until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The amendments should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and the impact of these amendments on its Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In August 2016, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for the statement of cash flows. The amendments provide guidance on eight classification issues related to the statement of cash flows. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. For issues that are impracticable to apply retrospectively, the amendments may be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and the impact of these amendments on its Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In June 2016, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for the measurement of credit losses. The amendments require an entity to estimate its lifetime expected credit loss for most financial instruments, including trade and lease receivables, and record an allowance for the portion of the amortized cost the entity does not expect to collect. The estimate of expected credit losses should consider historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, including estimates of prepayments. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted beginning in fiscal 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and the impact of these amendments on its Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In March 2016, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for employee share-based payment arrangements. The amendments require all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies associated with share-based payments to be recognized as income tax expense or income tax benefit, respectively, rather than as additional paid-in capital. The amendments also increase the amount an employer can withhold in order to cover income taxes on awards, allows companies to recognize forfeitures of awards as they occur, and requires companies to present excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of adoption and the impact of these amendments on its Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In February 2016, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for leases. The amendments require lessees to record, at lease inception, a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use ("ROU") asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on their balance sheets. Lessees may elect to not recognize lease liabilities and ROU assets for most leases with terms of 12 months or less. The lease liability is measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The ROU asset will be based on the liability, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received, and the lessee's initial direct costs. For finance leases, lease expense will be the sum of interest on the lease obligation and amortization of the ROU asset, resulting in a front-loaded expense pattern. For operating leases, lease expense will generally be recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The amended lessor accounting model is similar to the current model, updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and the new revenue standard. The current sale-leaseback guidance, including guidance applicable to real estate, is also replaced with a new model for both lessees and lessors. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and the impact of these amendments on its Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In November 2015, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for income taxes. The amendments require companies to report their deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets each as a single non-current item on their classified balance sheets. The Company elected to adopt the amendments in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and applied them retrospectively to all periods presented, as permitted by the standard. The adoption of the amendments had no impact to its net earnings or cash flows from operations for any period presented. The following table presents the Consolidated Balance Sheet under the historical accounting method for deferred taxes and as adjusted to reflect the adoption of the amendments:
| October 31, 2015
| Historical Accounting Method |  | Effect of Adoption |  | As Adjusted
| In millions
Other current assets | $ | 7,677 |  |  | $ | (1,209 | ) |  | $ | 6,468 |
Long-term financing receivables and other assets | $ | 11,020 |  |  | $ | (145 | ) |  | $ | 10,875 |
Taxes on earnings | $ | (634 | ) |  | $ | 158 |  |  | $ | (476 | )
Other liabilities | $ | (10,098 | ) |  | $ | 1,196 |  |  | $ | (8,902 | )
In September 2015, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards to simplify the accounting for measurement period adjustments to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. The amendments require all such adjustments to be recognized in the period they are determined. Adjustments related to previous reporting periods since the acquisition date must be disclosed by income statement line item, either on the face of the income statement or within the footnotes. The Company elected to early adopt the amendments in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, as permitted by the standard. The adoption of the amendments did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. See Footnote 9, "Acquisitions and Divestitures", for additional information on measurement period adjustments recognized during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016. In May 2015, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for fair value measurements. The amendments remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share as a practical expedient. The Company elected to adopt the amendments in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and applied them retrospectively to all periods presented, as required by the standard. The adoption of the amendments had no impact to its net earnings or cash flows from operations for any period presented. In April 2015, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for intangible assets. The amendments provide explicit guidance to customers in determining the accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement, wherein the arrangements that do not convey a software license to the customer are accounted for as service contracts. The amendments also eliminate the practice of accounting for software licenses as executory contracts which may result in more software assets being capitalized. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017; however early adoption is permitted, as is retrospective application. The adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In April 2015, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for imputation of interest. The amendments require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented on the classified balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs is not affected by these amendments. The Company is required to adopt the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively with the adjusted balance sheet of each individual period presented, in order to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. The adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. In May 2014, the FASB amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. The amendments are based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services 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. In August 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update for a one year deferral of the effective date, with an option of applying the standard on the original effective date, which for the Company is the first quarter of fiscal 2018. In accordance with this deferral, the Company is required to adopt these amendments in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The amendments may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. The Company is currently assessing the impact of these amendments and the transition alternatives on its Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. The Company plans to adopt the new revenue standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, beginning November 1, 2018.

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