SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Medidata Solutions, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"), is the leading global provider of cloud-based solutions for clinical research in life sciences, offering platform technology that transforms clinical development and increases the value of its customers' research investments. The Company was organized as a New York corporation in June 1999 and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in May 2000.

Except to the extent updated or described below, the Company’s significant accounting policies as of June 30, 2015 are the same as those at December 31, 2014, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2015.

Basis of Presentation — The accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules that would ordinarily be required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2015.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2015, results of its operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015.

Income Taxes — The Company’s interim period provision for income taxes is computed by using an estimate of the annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items taken into account in the relevant period, if any. Each quarter, the annual effective income tax rate is recomputed and if there are material changes in the estimate, a cumulative adjustment is made.

Accounts Receivable — Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Unbilled receivables consist of revenue recognized in excess of billings, substantially all of which is expected to be billed and collected within one year. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, unbilled accounts receivable of $5.4 million and $8.9 million, respectively, were included in accounts receivable on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments —The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Fair values of marketable securities are based on unadjusted quoted market prices or pricing models using current market data that are observable either directly or indirectly. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

The Company uses a three-level framework for measuring the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities and gives highest priority to Level 1 inputs and lowest priority to Level 3 inputs, described as follows:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 - Other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including:


•	quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;


•	quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active;


•	inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and


•	inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 inputs must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the fair value measurement for the asset or liability.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements — There have been no changes in the expected dates of adoption or estimated effects on the Company's consolidated financial statements of recently issued accounting pronouncements from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as described below.

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU No. 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs be presented not as an asset but as a reduction of the carrying amount of the related debt liability, similar to a debt discount. ASU No. 2015-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt ASU No. 2015-03 on January 1, 2016, and such adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements aside from a balance sheet reclassification. Upon adoption, the Company will apply the new guidance on a retrospective basis and adjust the balance sheet of each period presented to appropriately reflect the period-specific effects of the new guidance.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent). ASU No. 2015-07 removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy those investments that are measured at fair value using net asset value per share as a practical expedient. It also removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured using the practical expedient, limiting the requirement to only those investments for which the practical expedient has been elected. ASU No. 2015-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt ASU No. 2015-07 on January 1, 2016, and the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one-year delay of the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. This ASU provides principles for recognizing revenue for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. ASU No. 2014-09 is now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company will adopt ASU No. 2014-09 on January 1, 2018, and is presently evaluating the impact of the adoption on its consolidated financial statements.