Special Charges (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2016

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

The following is a summary of the components of special charges:



	Three months ended April 30,
	2016		2015
Employee severance and related costs	$	2,088	$	9,863
Litigation costs	807		1,575
Voluntary early retirement program	—		25,435
Other costs, net	96		104
Total special charges	$	2,991	$	36,977

Special charges generally include expenses incurred related to employee severance, certain litigation costs, acquisitions, excess facility costs, and asset related charges.

We offered the voluntary early retirement program in North America during the three months ended April 30, 2015 and 110 employees elected to participate. The costs presented here are for severance benefits.

Employee severance and related costs include severance benefits and notice pay. These rebalance charges generally represent the aggregate of numerous unrelated rebalance plans which impact several employee groups, none of which is individually material to our financial position or results of operations. We determine termination benefit amounts based on employee status, years of service, and local statutory requirements. We record the charge for estimated severance benefits in the quarter that the rebalance plan is approved.

Approximately 21% of the employee severance and related costs for the three months ended April 30, 2016 were paid during the period. We expect to pay the remainder during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2017. Substantially all of the employee severance and related costs for the three months ended April 30, 2015 were paid during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2016. There were no significant modifications to the amount of those charges.

Litigation costs consist of professional service fees for services rendered, related to patent litigation involving us, EVE, and Synopsys regarding emulation technology.

Accrued special charges are included in accrued and other liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The following table shows changes in accrued special charges during the three months ended April 30, 2016:



	Accrued special charges as of		Charges during the three months ended		Payments during the three months ended			Accrued special charges as of
	January 31, 2016		April 30, 2016		April 30, 2016			April 30, 2016
Employee severance and related costs	$	1,935	$	2,088	$	(1,650	)	$	2,373
Litigation costs	311		807		(14		)	1,104
Other costs, net	760		96		(169		)	687
Total accrued special charges	$	3,006	$	2,991	$	(1,833	)	$	4,164

Accrued special charges, current								$	4,164
Accrued special charges, non-current								$	—