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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 30, 2021

The Gap, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a collection of purpose-led, lifestyle brands offering apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children. We have Company-operated stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Japan, Italy, China, Taiwan, and Mexico and our products are available to customers online through Company-owned websites and through the use of third parties that provide logistics and fulfillment services. We also have franchise agreements with unaffiliated franchisees to operate Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta stores and websites in over 30 other countries around the world.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Gap, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Fiscal Year and Presentation

Our fiscal year is a 52-week or 53-week period ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. The fiscal years ended January 30, 2021 (fiscal 2020), February 1, 2020 (fiscal 2019), and February 2, 2019 (fiscal 2018) consisted of 52 weeks.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. We considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used when preparing these consolidated financial statements including inventory valuation, lease accounting impacts, income taxes, and the impairment of long-lived store assets and operating lease assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments

Cash includes funds deposited in banks and amounts in transit from banks for customer credit card and debit card transactions that process in less than seven days.

All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. With the exception of our available-for-sale investments noted below, we value these investments at their original purchase prices plus interest that has accrued at the stated rate. Our cash equivalents are placed primarily in time deposits, money market funds, and debt securities. Income related to these securities is recorded within interest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Highly liquid investments with original maturities of greater than three months and less than two years are classified as short-term investments. These investments are classified as available-for-sale and are recorded at fair value using market prices.

Changes in the fair value of available-for-sale investments impact net income only when such securities are sold or an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized. Income related to these investments is recorded within interest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for disclosures related to fair value measurements.

Restricted Cash

Any cash that is legally restricted from use is classified as restricted cash. If the purpose of restricted cash is related to acquiring a long-term asset, liquidating a long-term liability, or is otherwise unavailable for a period longer than one year from the balance sheet date, the restricted cash is included within other long-term assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Otherwise, restricted cash is included within other current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, restricted cash primarily includes consideration that serves as collateral for certain obligations occurring in the normal course of business and our insurance obligations. As of February 2, 2019, restricted cash primarily includes consideration held by a third party in connection with the purchase of a building, as well as consideration that serves as collateral for our insurance obligations. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total shown on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:


($ in millions)	January 30, 2021		February 1, 2020		February 2, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,988	$	1,364	$	1,081
Restricted cash included in other current assets	4		—		1
Restricted cash included in other long-term assets (1)	24		17		338
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	$	2,016	$	1,381	$	1,420

__________

(1)Fiscal 2018 included $320 million of consideration held by a third party in connection with the purchase of a building that was completed in fiscal 2019.

Merchandise Inventory

We value inventory at the LCNRV, with cost determined using the weighted-average cost method. We record an adjustment to inventory when future estimated selling price is less than cost. We review our inventory levels in order to identify slow-moving merchandise and broken assortments (items no longer in stock in a sufficient range of sizes or colors) and we primarily use promotions and markdowns to clear merchandise. In addition, we estimate and accrue shortage for the period between the last physical count and the balance sheet date.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as other current assets, other long-term assets, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, or other long-term liabilities.

For derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative financial instruments is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and is recognized in income in the period in which the underlying transaction impacts the income statement. For derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as net investment hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative financial instruments is reported as a component of OCI and is reclassified into income in the period or periods during which the hedged subsidiary is either sold or liquidated (or substantially liquidated). Gains and losses on the derivative financial instruments representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, if any, are recognized in current income. For derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss on the derivative financial instruments is recorded within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Cash flows from derivative financial instruments are classified as cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Property and Equipment

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Estimated useful lives are as follows:


Category						Term
Leasehold improvements						Shorter of remaining lease term or economic life, up to 15 years
Furniture and equipment						Up to 10 years
Software						3 to 7 years
Buildings and building improvements						Up to 39 years

When assets are sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, with any resulting gain or loss recorded within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs of maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s revenues include merchandise sales at stores, online, and through franchise agreements as well as the newly introduced business-to-business ("B2B") program. We also receive revenue sharing from our credit card agreement for private label and co-branded credit cards, and breakage revenue related to our gift cards, credit vouchers, and outstanding loyalty points, which are realized based upon historical redemption patterns. For online sales and catalog sales, the Company has elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment activities and not a separate performance obligation. Accordingly, we recognize revenue for our single performance obligation related to online sales and catalog sales at the time control of the merchandise passes to the customer, which is generally at the time of shipment. We also record an allowance for estimated merchandise returns based on our historical return patterns and various other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable, which is presented on a gross basis on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revenues are presented net of any taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities.

We have credit card agreements with third parties to provide our customers with private label credit cards and co-branded credit cards (collectively, the “Credit Card programs"). Each private label credit card bears the logo of Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, or Athleta and can be used at any of our U.S. or Canada store locations and online. The co-branded credit card is a VISA credit card bearing the logo of Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, or Athleta and can be used everywhere VISA credit cards are accepted. The Credit Card programs offer incentives to cardholders in the form of reward certificates upon the cumulative purchase of an established amount.

Synchrony, a third-party financing company, is the sole owner of the accounts and underwrites the credit issued under the Credit Card programs. Our agreement with Synchrony provides for certain payments to be made to us, including a share of revenue from the performance of the credit card portfolios and reimbursements of loyalty program discounts. We have identified separate performance obligations related to our credit card agreement that includes both providing a license and an obligation to redeem loyalty points issued under the loyalty rewards program. Our obligation to provide a license is satisfied when the subsequent sale or usage occurs and our obligation to redeem loyalty points is deferred until those loyalty points are redeemed. Income related to our credit card agreement is classified within net sales on our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

We defer revenue when cash payments are received in advance of performance for unsatisfied obligations related to our gift cards, credit vouchers, outstanding loyalty points, and reimbursements of loyalty program discounts associated with our credit card agreement.

We also have franchise agreements with unaffiliated franchisees to operate Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta stores in a number of countries throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Under these agreements, third parties operate, or will operate, stores that sell apparel and related products under our brand names. We have identified separate performance obligations related to our franchise agreements that include both providing our franchise partners with a license and an obligation to supply franchise partners with our merchandise. Our obligation to provide a license is satisfied when the subsequent sale or usage occurs and our obligation to supply franchise partners with our merchandise is satisfied when control of the merchandise transfers. There were no material contract liabilities related to our franchise agreements for all periods presented.

Classification of Expenses

Cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses include the following:

•the cost of merchandise;

•inventory shortage and valuation adjustments;

•freight charges;

•online shipping and packaging costs;

•cost associated with our sourcing operations, including payroll, benefits, and other administrative expenses;

•lease and other occupancy related cost, depreciation, and amortization related to our store operations, distribution centers, information technology, and certain corporate functions; and

•gains and losses associated with foreign currency derivative contracts used to hedge forecasted merchandise purchases and related costs denominated in U.S. dollars made by our international subsidiaries whose functional currencies are their local currencies.

Operating expenses include the following:

•payroll, benefits, and other administrative expenses for our store operations, field management, and distribution centers;

•payroll, benefits, and other administrative expenses for our corporate functions, including product design and development;

•marketing;

•information technology expenses and maintenance costs;

•lease and other occupancy related cost, depreciation, and amortization for our corporate facilities;

•research and development expenses;

•gains and losses associated with foreign currency derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments;

•third party credit card processing fees; and

•other expenses (income).

Payroll, benefits, and other administrative expenses for our distribution centers recorded within operating expenses were $358 million, $293 million, and $316 million in fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Research and development costs described in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") No. 730 are expensed as incurred. These costs primarily consist of payroll and related benefits attributable to time spend on research and development activities for new innovative products and technological improvements for existing products and process innovation. Research and development expenses recorded within operating expenses under ASC 730 were $46 million, $41 million, and $50 million in fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

The classification of expenses varies across the apparel retail industry. Accordingly, our cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses and operating expenses may not be comparable to those of other companies.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets We review the carrying amount of long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Events that result in an impairment review include a significant decrease in the operating performance of the long-lived asset, the decision to close a store, corporate facility, or distribution center or adverse changes in business climate. Long-lived assets are considered impaired if the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of the asset or asset group over the estimated remaining lease term. The asset group is defined as the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available and largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which for our retail and flagship stores is generally at the store level. The asset group is comprised of both property and equipment and operating lease assets. For impaired assets, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying amount of the asset or asset group and its estimated fair value, which is recorded within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated fair value of the asset or asset group is based on discounted future cash flows of the asset or asset group using a discount rate commensurate with the related risk. For operating lease assets, the Company determines the estimated fair value of the assets by discounting the estimated market rental rates using available valuation techniques.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We review the carrying amount of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Events that result in an impairment review include significant changes in the business climate, declines in our operating results, or an expectation that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We assess potential impairment by considering present economic conditions as well as future expectations. If goodwill is considered impaired, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the reporting unit.

A trade name is considered impaired if the carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value. If a trade name is considered impaired, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the trade name. The fair value of a trade name is determined using the relief from royalty method, which requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment, including forecasting future sales, and selecting appropriate discount rates and royalty rates.

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, including the trade names, are recorded within other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Advertising

Costs associated with the production of advertising, such as writing, copy, printing, and other costs, are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with communicating advertising that has been produced, such as television and magazine costs, are expensed when the advertising event takes place. Advertising expense was $816 million, $687 million, and $650 million in fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, and is recorded within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based CompensationShare-based compensation expense for stock options and other stock awards is determined based on the grant-date fair value. We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options, which requires the input of subjective assumptions regarding the expected term, expected volatility, dividend yield, and risk-free interest rate. For units granted whereby one share of common stock is issued for each unit as the unit vests (“Stock Units”), the fair value is determined either based on the Company’s stock price on the date of grant less future expected dividends during the vesting period or a Monte Carlo method for certain stock units granted with a market condition. For stock options and Stock Units, we recognize share-based compensation cost over the vesting period. We account for forfeitures as they occur. Share-based compensation expense is recorded primarily within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed as net income divided by basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed as net income divided by diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period including common stock equivalents. During periods of net loss, the dilutive impact of outstanding options and awards was excluded from dilutive shares. Common stock equivalents consist of shares subject to share-based awards with exercise prices less than the average market price of our common stock for the period, to the extent their inclusion would be dilutive. Stock options and other stock awards that contain performance conditions are not included in the calculation of common stock equivalents until such performance conditions have been achieved.

Foreign Currency

Our international subsidiaries primarily use local currencies as their functional currency and translate their assets and liabilities at the current rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses from their operations are translated using rates that approximate those in effect during the period in which the transactions occur. The resulting gains and losses from translation are recorded on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and in accumulated OCI on the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Transaction gains and losses resulting from intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature are also classified as accumulated OCI. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local functional currency are recorded within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The aggregate transaction gains and losses recorded within operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations are as follows:


	Fiscal Year
($ in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)	$	23	$	1	$	(32)
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) from certain derivative financial instruments	(15)		4		34
Net foreign exchange gain	$	8	$	5	$	2

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are recorded for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts on the Consolidated Financial Statements. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Our income tax expense includes changes in our estimated liability for exposures associated with our various tax filing positions. At any point in time, many tax years are subject to or in the process of being audited by various taxing authorities. To the extent our estimates of settlements change or the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the income tax provision in the period in which such determinations are made.

The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company has made an accounting policy election to treat taxes due on the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) of foreign subsidiaries as a current period expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

ASU No. 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract

In August 2018, the FASB issued accounting standards update ("ASU") No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The ASU is intended to align the requirements for capitalization of implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract with the existing guidance for internal-use software. We adopted this ASU on a prospective basis on February 2, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements or related disclosures.

ASU No. 2016-02, Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize a lease liability and an operating lease asset at the commencement date. We adopted ASC 842 on February 3, 2019 using the optional transition method, which allows for the prospective application of the standard. As of the effective date, we recorded a decrease to opening retained earnings of $86 million, net of tax, which consisted primarily of impairment charges for certain store and operating lease assets. In addition, we elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the standard, which allowed us to carry forward our historical lease classification, to not reassess prior conclusions related to initial direct costs, and to not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases. The adoption of ASC 842 resulted in the recording of operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities of $5.7 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively, on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of February 3, 2019.

See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for related disclosures.

ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments are intended to better align an entity's risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. In addition, this guidance amends and expands disclosure requirements. We adopted this ASU on a prospective basis on February 3, 2019. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for related disclosures.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Except as noted below, the Company has considered all recent accounting pronouncements and has concluded that there are no recent accounting pronouncements that may have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements, based on current information.

ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The ASU is intended to enhance and simplify aspects of the income tax accounting guidance in ASC 740 as part of the FASB's simplification initiative. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this ASU on January 31, 2021 and does not expect there to be a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Lessee, Leases

Leases

We determine if a long-term contractual obligation is a lease at inception. The majority of our operating leases relate to company stores. We also lease some of our corporate facilities and distribution centers. These operating leases expire at various dates through fiscal 2042. Most store leases have a five-year base period and include options that allow us to extend the lease term beyond the initial base period, subject to terms agreed upon at lease inception. Some leases also include early termination options, which can be exercised under specific conditions. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

We record our lease liabilities at the present value of the lease payments not yet paid, discounted at the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term. As the Company's leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments.

We recognize operating lease cost over the estimated term of the lease, which includes options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised, starting when possession of the property is taken from the landlord, which normally includes a construction period prior to the store opening. When a lease contains a predetermined fixed escalation of the fixed rent, we recognize the related operating lease cost on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition, certain of our lease agreements include variable lease payments, such as payments based on a percentage of sales that are in excess of a predetermined level and/or increases based on a change in the consumer price index or fair market value. These variable lease payments are excluded from minimum lease payments and are included in the determination of net lease cost when it is probable that the expense has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If an operating lease asset is impaired, the remaining operating lease asset will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term.