v2.3.0.11
Basis of Presentation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Basis of Presentation  
Basis of Presentation

1. Basis of Presentation

These statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and, in accordance with those rules and regulations, do not include all information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of Teradata Corporation ("Teradata" or the "Company") for the interim periods presented herein. The year-end 2010 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results may vary from these estimates.

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Teradata's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (the "2010 Annual Report"). The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full year. Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Accounting for arrangements prior to January 1, 2011. For transactions entered into prior to January 1, 2011, the Company allocates revenue for multiple deliverable arrangements for which VSOE exists for undelivered elements but not for the delivered elements, using the "residual method". Teradata does not typically have VSOE for its hardware and software products. Therefore, in a substantial majority of Teradata arrangements entered into prior to January 1, 2011, the residual method is used to allocate the arrangement consideration. Under the residual method, the VSOE of the undelivered elements is deferred and accounted for under the applicable revenue recognition guidance, and the remaining portion of the arrangement fee is allocated to the delivered elements and is recognized as revenue. For arrangements in which VSOE does not exist for each undelivered element, revenue for the entire arrangement is deferred and not recognized until delivery of all the elements without VSOE has occurred, unless the only undelivered element is PCS in which case the entire contract is recognized ratably over the PCS period.

Contract accounting. If an arrangement involves significant production, modification or customization of the application software or the undelivered services are essential to the functionality of the delivered software then the Company uses the percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method of accounting. The percentage-of-completion method is used when estimates of costs to complete and extent of progress toward completion are reasonably dependable. The Company typically uses labor hours or costs incurred to date as a percentage of the total estimated labor hours or costs to fulfill the contract as the most reliable and meaningful measure that is available for determining a project's progress toward completion. In circumstances when reasonable and reliable cost estimates for a project cannot be made, the completed-contract method is used whereas no revenue is recognized until the project is complete. When total cost estimates exceed revenues, the Company accrues the estimated losses immediately. For purposes of allocation of the arrangement consideration, any products for which the services are not essential are separated utilizing the relative selling price method discussed above. PCS is also separated and allocated based on VSOE and then recognized ratably over the term. The remaining contract value, which typically include application software and essential services, is then recognized utilizing the percentage-of-completion method or completed-contract methods discussed above.

Term licenses, hosting arrangements and software-as-a-service ("SaaS"). As a result of the Company's acquisition of Aprimo, Inc. ("Aprimo") on January 21, 2011 (See Note 12), Teradata's application offerings will be expanded to include, term licenses, hosting arrangements and SaaS. Teradata previously offered its software applications primarily through a perpetual licensing arrangement. In cases where the contract requires the software to be hosted by the Company and provided via an on-demand arrangement, the software is considered a subscription. If the license is of limited life and does not require the Company to host the software for the customer, the software is considered a term license. In both types of these arrangements, revenues are recognized over the term of the agreement. For hosting arrangements where customers have the right to take possession of the Company's software at any time during the hosting period, the customer's rights to the software in these circumstances are not dependent on additional software payments or significant penalties.