Derivative Instruments (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Nov. 01, 2014

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

We manage our economic and transaction exposure to certain risks through the use of foreign currency derivative instruments. Our objective in holding these derivatives is to reduce the volatility of net earnings and cash flows, as well as net asset value associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We do not hold derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. We have no derivatives that have credit risk-related contingent features, and we mitigate our credit risk by engaging with major financial institutions as our counterparties.

We record all foreign currency derivative instruments on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and evaluate hedge effectiveness prospectively and retrospectively when electing to apply hedge accounting. We formally document all hedging relations at inception for derivative hedges and the underlying hedged items, as well as the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. In addition, we have derivatives which are not designated as hedging instruments.

Net Investment Hedges

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we entered into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against the effect of Canadian dollar exchange rate fluctuations on a portion of our net investment in our Canadian operations. The contracts have terms up to 12 months. For a net investment hedge, we recognize changes in the fair value of the derivative as a component of foreign currency translation within other comprehensive income to offset a portion of the change in translated value of the net investment being hedged, until the investment is sold or liquidated. We limit recognition in net earnings of amounts previously recorded in other comprehensive income to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged foreign operation. We report the ineffective portion of the gain or loss, if any, in net earnings. At November 1, 2014, the notional amount of these instruments was $106 million, and we recognized a pre-tax gain of $1 million in other comprehensive income in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We did not reclassify any amount from accumulated other comprehensive income to net earnings, and we did not recognize any amount related to ineffectiveness in net earnings during the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

We use foreign currency forward contracts to manage the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to recognized receivable and payable balances denominated in non-functional currencies, and on certain forecast inventory purchases denominated in non-functional currencies. The contracts generally have terms of up to 12 months. These derivative instruments are not designated in hedging relationships and, therefore, we record gains and losses on these contracts directly to net earnings. At November 1, 2014, February 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, the notional amount of these instruments was $111 million, $157 million, and $138 million, respectively. We recognized a gain of $4 million in selling general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings during the three months ended November 1, 2014 related to these instruments. We recognized no material SG&A impact from these instruments during the nine months ended November 1, 2014. For the three and nine months ended November 2, 2013, we recognized a $3 million loss and $3 million gain, respectively, in SG&A expenses.

In conjunction with our agreement to sell our 50% ownership interest in Best Buy Europe as described in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, we entered into a deal-contingent foreign currency forward contract to hedge £455 million of the total £471 million of net proceeds. The contract was settled in cash following the completion of the sale on June 26, 2013. This instrument had no effect on our Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the three months ended November 2, 2013, and we recognized a $2 million loss recognized in gain (loss) from discontinued operations in the nine months ended November 2, 2013.