Derivatives

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Derivatives [Abstract]

DERIVATIVES

16. DERIVATIVES

The Company is exposed to risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and uses derivatives, primarily forward contracts, to manage the financial impacts of these exposures. The Company does not use forward contracts to engage in currency speculation and does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

In order to qualify for hedge accounting treatment, a derivative must be considered highly effective at offsetting changes in either the hedged item's cash flows or fair value. Additionally, the hedge relationship must be documented to include the risk management objective and strategy, the hedging instrument, the hedged item, the risk exposure, and how hedge effectiveness will be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. The extent to which a hedging instrument has been, and is expected to continue to be, effective at achieving offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows is assessed and documented at least quarterly. Any hedge ineffectiveness is reported in current period earnings and hedge accounting is discontinued if it is determined that the derivative is not highly effective.

For derivatives that either do not qualify for hedge accounting or are not designated as hedges, all changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in earnings. For qualifying cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”) and recognized in earnings when the hedged cash flows affect earnings. The ineffective portion of the derivative gain or loss, as well as changes in the fair value of the derivative's time value are recognized in current period earnings. The effectiveness of the hedge is assessed based on changes in the fair value attributable to changes in spot prices. The changes in the fair value of the derivative contract related to the changes in the difference between the spot price and the forward price are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are also recognized in current period earnings. If the cash flow hedge relationship is terminated, the derivative gains or losses that are deferred in OCI will be recognized in earnings when the hedged cash flows occur. However, for cash flow hedges that are terminated because the forecasted transaction is not expected to occur in the original specified time period, or a two-month period thereafter, the derivative gains or losses are immediately recognized in earnings.

The Company uses derivative instruments, primarily forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges, to hedge the foreign currency exposure associated with forecasted foreign-currency-denominated intercompany inventory sales to foreign subsidiaries and the related settlement of the foreign-currency-denominated inter-company receivable. Fluctuations in exchange rates will either increase or decrease the Company's U.S. dollar equivalent cash flows and affect the Company's U.S. dollar earnings. Gains or losses on the foreign exchange forward contracts that are used to hedge these exposures are expected to partially offset this variability. Foreign exchange forward contracts represent agreements to exchange the currency of one country for the currency of another country at an agreed-upon settlement date. As of January 28, 2012, the maximum length of time over which forecasted foreign-currency-denominated inter-company inventory sales were hedged was thirteen months. The sale of the inventory to the Company's customers will result in the reclassification of related derivative gains and losses that are reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). Substantially all of the remaining unrealized gains or losses related to foreign-currency-denominated inter-company inventory sales that have occurred as of January 28, 2012 will be recognized in costs of goods sold over the following two months at the values at the date the inventory was sold to the respective subsidiary.

The Company nets derivative assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the extent that master netting arrangements meet the specific accounting requirements set forth by U.S. GAAP.

As of January 28, 2012, the Company had the following outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts that were entered to hedge either a portion,or all of,forecasted foreign-currency-denominated inter-company inventory sales, the resulting settlement of the foreign-currency-denominated inter-company accounts receivable, or both:

		Notional Amount(1)
Euro		$	218,762
British Pound		$	53,331
Canadian Dollar		$	12,384
(1)	Amounts are reported in thousands and in U.S. Dollars equivalent as of January 28, 2012.

The Company also uses foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge certain foreign currency denominated net monetary assets/liabilities. Examples of monetary assets/liabilities include cash balances, receivables and payables. Fluctuations in exchange rates result in transaction gains/(losses) being recorded in earnings as U.S. GAAP requires that monetary assets/liabilities be remeasured at the spot exchange rate at quarter-end or upon settlement. The Company has chosen not to apply hedge accounting to these instruments because there are no differences in the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument and the hedged item.

As of January 28, 2012, the Company had the following outstanding currency forward contracts that were entered into to hedge foreign currency denominated net monetary assets/liabilities:

		Notional Amount(1)
Japanese Yen		$	19,559
Euro		$	11,556
British Pound		$	7,669
Canadian Dollar		$	3,435
(1)	Amounts are reported in thousands and in U.S. Dollars equivalent as of January 28, 2012.

The location and amounts of derivative fair values on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011 were as follows:

			Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
(in thousands)	Balance Sheet Location	January 28, 2012		January 29, 2011		Balance Sheet Location	January 28, 2012		January 29, 2011
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	Other Current Assets	$	10,766	$	727	Other Liabilities	$	874	$	763
Derivates Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	Other Current Assets	$	4	$	-	Other Liabilities	$	584	$	380
Total	Other Current Assets	$	10,770	$	727	Other Liabilities	$	1,458	$	1,143

Refer to Note 7, “Fair Value,” for further discussion of the determination of the fair value of derivatives.

The location and amounts of derivative gains and losses for the fifty-two weeks ended January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011 on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Incomewere as follows:

			Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
			January 28, 2012		January 29, 2011
(in thousands)	Location		Gain/(Loss)		Gain/(Loss)
Derivatives not designated as Hedging Instruments:
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	Other Operating Income, Net	$	1,503	$	(971)

Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative Contracts (Effective Portion)

Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Earnings (Effective Portion)

Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Earnings (Effective Portion)

Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings on Derivative Contracts (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)

Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings on Derivative Contracts (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(in thousands)

January 28, 2012

January 29, 2011

January 28, 2012

January 29, 2011

January 28, 2012

January 29, 2011

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts

$

14,415

$

1,614

Cost of Goods Sold

$

982

$

2,122

Other Operating Expense (Income), Net

$

(1,190)

$

(304)

(a)The amount represents the change in fair value of derivative contracts due to changes in spot rates.

(b)The amount represents reclassification from OCI into earnings that occurs when the hedged item affects earnings, which is when merchandise is sold to the Company's customers.

(c)The amount represents the change in fair value of derivative contracts due to changes in the difference between the spot price and forward price that is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and, therefore, recognized in earnings.