Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2017

NOTE 11 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company’s assets and liabilities carried or disclosed at fair value are classified in one of the following three categories: Level 1 – quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; Level 2 – inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 above that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and, Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. The classification of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	January 31, 2017					January 31, 2016
	Fair value measurement category					Fair value measurement category
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in thousands)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,000,010				$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts			$	2,264				$	3,412

Liabilities
Foreign currency forward contracts			$	9,711				$	2,274

The Company’s cash equivalents consist primarily of highly liquid investments in money market funds with maturity periods of three months or less.

The Company’s foreign currency forward contracts are measured on a recurring basis based on foreign currency spot rates and forward rates quoted by banks or foreign currency dealers (Level 2 criteria) and are marked-to-market each period with gains and losses on these contracts recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income on a basis consistent with the classification of the change in the fair value of the underlying transactions giving rise to these foreign currency exchange gains and losses in the period in which their value changes, with the offsetting amount for unsettled positions being included in either "prepaid expenses and other assets" or "accrued expenses and other liabilities" in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. See further discussion below in Note 12 – Derivative Instruments.

The Company utilizes life insurance policies to fund the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The life insurance asset, which is recorded in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet in "other assets, net", is the amount that would be realized upon the assumed surrender of the policy. This amount is based on the underlying fair value of the invested assets contained within the life insurance policies. The gains and losses are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income within "other (income) expense, net." The related deferred compensation liability, which is recorded in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet in "accrued expenses and other liabilities," is marked-to-market each period based upon the returns of the various investments selected by the plan participants and the gains and losses are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income within "selling, general and administrative expenses." The net realizable value of the Company's life insurance investments and related deferred compensation liability was $35.2 million and $35.3 million, respectively, at January 31, 2017 and $30.2 million and $30.5 million, respectively, at January 31, 2016.

The carrying value of the 3.70% Senior Notes, 4.95% Senior Notes and 3.75% Senior Notes (collectively the "Senior Notes") discussed in Note 7 - Debt represents cost less unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs. The estimated fair value of the Senior Notes is based upon quoted market information (Level 1). The estimated fair value of the Senior Notes was $1.354 billion at January 31, 2017.

The carrying amounts of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these items. The carrying amount of debt outstanding pursuant to revolving credit facilities approximates fair value as the majority of these instruments have variable interest rates which approximate current market rates (Level 2 criteria).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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