2. Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies and practices

Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) and on the same basis as the audited financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Consolidated Statements of Income, Comprehensive Income and Cash Flows for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2015, are not audited but reflect all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair statement of the results of the periods shown. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because the consolidated interim financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for a complete set of financial statements, they should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The results for the three-month periods are not necessarily indicative of a full year’s results.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All dollar amounts in the financial statements and tables in these notes, except per-share amounts, are stated in millions of U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Significant accounting policies and practices

Earnings per share (EPS)

Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, such as our restricted stock units (RSUs), are considered to be participating securities and the two-class method is used for purposes of calculating EPS. Under the two-class method, a portion of Net income is allocated to these participating securities and, therefore, is excluded from the calculation of EPS allocated to common stock, as shown in the table below.

Computation and reconciliation of earnings per common share are as follows (shares in millions):

	For Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015							2014
	Net							Net
	Income			Shares		EPS		Income			Shares		EPS
Basic EPS:
Net income	$	656						$	487
Income allocated to RSUs		(9	)						(7	)
Income allocated to common stock
for basic EPS calculation	$	647			1,046	$	.62	$	480			1,081	$	.44

Adjustment for dilutive shares:
Stock-based compensation plans					15							15

Diluted EPS:
Net income	$	656						$	487
Income allocated to RSUs		(9	)						(7	)
Income allocated to common stock
for diluted EPS calculation	$	647			1,061	$	.61	$	480			1,096	$	.44

Potentially dilutive securities representing 12 million and 10 million shares of common stock that were outstanding during the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share for these periods because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Derivatives and hedging

We use derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. These instruments are primarily forward foreign currency exchange contracts, which are used as economic hedges to reduce the earnings impact that exchange rate fluctuations may have on our non-U.S. dollar net balance sheet exposures. Gains and losses from changes in the fair value of these forward foreign currency exchange contracts are credited or charged to OI&E. We do not apply hedge accounting to our foreign currency derivative instruments.

In connection with the issuance of long-term debt, we use financial derivatives such as treasury rate lock agreements that are recognized in AOCI and amortized over the life of the related debt. The results of these derivative transactions have not been material.

We do not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes.

Fair values of financial instruments

The fair values of our derivative financial instruments were not significant as of March 31, 2015. Our investments in cash equivalents, short-term investments and certain long-term investments, as well as our deferred compensation liabilities, are carried at fair value and are discussed in Note 6. The carrying values for other current financial assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximate fair value due to the short maturity of such instruments. The carrying value of our long-term debt approximates its fair value as measured using broker-dealer quotes, which are based on Level 2 inputs. See Note 6 for the definition of Level 2 inputs.

Changes in accounting standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This standard provides a single set of guidelines for revenue recognition to be used across all industries and requires additional disclosures. On April 1, 2015, the FASB proposed deferring the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017, for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after that date. The FASB also proposed permitting early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard on our financial position and results of operations.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which changes the way reporting entities evaluate certain investment holdings for possible consolidation and also includes possible changes in disclosures resulting from that evaluation. This standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning as of January 1, 2016. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard and expect it will have no material impact on our financial position and results of operations.