Retirement-Related Benefits

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2017

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

Retirement-Related Benefits

The Company offers a 401(k) plan for associates in the U.S. under which eligible associates can begin contributing to the plan immediately upon hire. The Company also offers a 401(k) type plan for associates in Puerto Rico under which associates can begin to contribute generally after one year of employment. Under these plans, after one year of employment, the Company matches 100% of participant contributions up to 6% of annual eligible earnings. The matching contributions immediately vest at 100% for each associate. Participants can contribute up to 50% of their pretax earnings, but not more than the statutory limits. Participants age 50 or older may defer additional earnings in catch-up contributions up to the maximum statutory limits.

Associates in international countries who are not U.S. citizens are covered by various defined contribution post-employment benefit arrangements. These plans are administered based upon the legislative and tax requirements in the countries in which they are established.

Additionally, the Company's subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Japan have sponsored defined benefit pension plans. The plan in the United Kingdom was underfunded by $129 million at January 31, 2017 and overfunded by $106 million at January 31, 2016. The plan in Japan was underfunded by $203 million and $205 million at January 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Overfunded amounts are recorded as assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets and deferred charges. Underfunded amounts are recorded as liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets in deferred income taxes and other. Certain other international operations also have defined benefit arrangements that are not significant.

The following table summarizes the contribution expense related to the Company's retirement-related benefits for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015:



	Fiscal Years Ended January 31,
(Amounts in millions)	2017		2016		2015
Defined contribution plans:
U.S.	$	1,064	$	967	$	898
International	173		179		167
Defined benefit plans:
International	7		6		5
Total contribution expense for retirement-related benefits	$	1,244	$	1,152	$	1,070