Fair value measurements

9 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2015

Fair value measurement

The estimated fair value of Signet’s financial instruments held or issued to finance Signet’s operations is summarized below. Certain estimates and judgments were required to develop the fair value amounts. The fair value amounts shown below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that Signet would realize upon disposition nor do they indicate Signet’s intent or ability to dispose of the financial instrument. Assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1—quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities

Level 2—observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data

Level 3—unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data

Signet determines fair value based upon quoted prices when available or through the use of alternative approaches, such as discounting the expected cash flows using market interest rates commensurate with the credit quality and duration of the investment. The methods Signet uses to determine fair value on an instrument-specific basis are detailed below:



	October 31, 2015								January 31, 2015						November 1, 2014
(in millions)	Carrying Value			Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)			Carrying Value		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Carrying Value			Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)
Assets:
US Treasury securities	$	8.8		$	8.8	$	—		$	9.6	$	9.6	$	—	$	9.6		$	9.6	$	—
Corporate equity securities	3.4			3.4		—			3.4		3.4		—		3.3			3.3		—
Foreign currency contracts	0.1			—		0.1			1.1		—		1.1		0.8			—		0.8
Commodity contracts	0.4			—		0.4			6.3		—		6.3		—			—		—
US government agency securities	2.3			—		2.3			1.4		—		1.4		1.3			—		1.3
Corporate bonds and notes	10.5			—		10.5			10.8		—		10.8		9.3			—		9.3
Total assets	$	25.5		$	12.2	$	13.3		$	32.6	$	13.0	$	19.6	$	24.3		$	12.9	$	11.4

Liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts	$	(0.1	)	$	—	$	(0.1	)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(0.3	)	$	—	$	(0.3	)
Commodity contracts	(1.1		)	—		(1.1		)	—		—		—		(3.6		)	—		(3.6		)
Interest rate swaps	(2.1		)	—		(2.1		)	—		—		—		—			—		—
Total liabilities	$	(3.3	)	$	—	$	(3.3	)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(3.9	)	$	—	$	(3.9	)

Investments in US Treasury securities and corporate equity securities are based on quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets, and therefore were classified as a Level 1 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. Investments in US government agency securities and corporate bonds and notes are based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, and therefore were classified as a Level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 13 for additional information related to the Company’s available-for-sale investments. The fair value of derivative financial instruments has been determined based on market value equivalents at the balance sheet date, taking into account the current interest rate environment, foreign currency forward rates or commodity forward rates, and therefore were classified as a Level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 14 for additional information related to the Company’s derivatives.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these amounts.

The fair values of long-term debt instruments were determined using quoted market prices in inactive markets or discounted cash flows based upon current observable market interest rates and therefore were classified as Level 2 measurements in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 17 for classification between current and long-term debt. The carrying amount and fair value of outstanding debt at October 31, 2015, January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014 were as follows:



	October 31, 2015				January 31, 2015				November 1, 2014
(in millions)	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Outstanding debt:
Senior notes (Level 2)	$	398.6	$	398.5	$	398.5	$	415.3	$	398.4	$	410.5
Securitization facility (Level 2)	600.0		600.0		600.0		600.0		600.0		600.0
Term loan (Level 2)	372.5		372.5		390.0		390.0		395.0		395.0
Capital lease obligations (Level 2)	0.3		0.3		1.2		1.2		1.5		1.5
Total outstanding debt	$	1,371.4	$	1,371.3	$	1,389.7	$	1,406.5	$	1,394.9	$	1,407.0

- 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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