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Organization and principal accounting policies
9 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and principal accounting policies
Organization and principal accounting policies
Signet Jewelers Limited (“Signet” or the “Company”), a holding company incorporated in Bermuda, is the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry. The Company operates through its 100% owned subsidiaries with sales primarily in the US, UK and Canada. Signet manages its business as five reportable segments: the Sterling Jewelers division, the Zale division, which consists of the Zale Jewelry and Piercing Pagoda segments, the UK Jewelry division and the Other reportable segment.
The Sterling Jewelers division operates retail stores in all 50 US states in malls, outlets and off-mall locations under brands including Kay Jewelers, Kay Jewelers Outlet, Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry, Jared Vault and various mall-based regional brands. The Zale division primarily operates in shopping malls throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Zale Jewelry retail stores operate under brands including Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Peoples Jewellers and various regional brands, while Piercing Pagoda operates through mall-based kiosks. The UK Jewelry division's retail stores operate in major regional shopping malls and off-mall "high street" locations (main shopping thoroughfares with high pedestrian traffic) under brands including H.Samuel and Ernest Jones. The Other reportable segment consists of all non-reportable segments, including subsidiaries involved in the purchasing and conversion of rough diamonds to polished stones and unallocated corporate administrative functions. See Note 4 for additional discussion of the Company’s segments.
Signet’s sales are seasonal, with the first quarter slightly exceeding 20% of annual sales, the second and third quarters each approximating 20% and the fourth quarter accounting for almost 40% of annual sales, with December being by far the most important month of the year. The “Holiday Season” consists of results for the months of November and December. As a result, approximately 45% to 55% of Signet’s annual operating income normally occurs in the fourth quarter, comprised of nearly all of the UK Jewelry and Zale divisions’ annual operating income and about 40% to 45% of the Sterling Jewelers division’s annual operating income.
Basis of preparation
These condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted from this report, as is permitted by such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in Signet’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended January 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 26, 2015.
Use of estimates
The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements, in conformity with US GAAP and SEC regulations for interim reporting, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions are primarily made in relation to the valuation of accounts receivables, inventories, deferred revenue, derivatives, employee benefits, income taxes, contingencies, asset impairments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets as well as accounting for business combinations.
Fiscal year
The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31st. Fiscal 2016 is the 52 week year ending January 30, 2016 and Fiscal 2015 was the 52 week year ended January 31, 2015. Within these condensed consolidated financial statements, the third quarter and year to date of the relevant fiscal years 2016 and 2015 refer to the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively.
Foreign currency translation
The financial position and operating results of certain foreign operations, including the UK Jewelry division and the Canadian operations of the Zale Jewelry segment, are consolidated using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated at the monthly average rates of exchange during the period. Resulting translation gains or losses are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included within the condensed consolidated statements of operations, whereas translation adjustments and gains or losses related to intercompany loans of a long-term investment nature are recognized as a component of AOCI.
Revenue recognition
Extended service plans and lifetime warranty agreements
The Company recognizes revenue related to lifetime warranty sales in proportion to when the expected costs will be incurred. The deferral period for lifetime warranty sales in each division is determined from patterns of claims costs, including estimates of future claims costs expected to be incurred. Management reviews the trends in claims to assess whether changes are required to the revenue and cost recognition rates utilized. A significant change in estimates related to the time period or pattern in which warranty-related costs are expected to be incurred could materially impact revenues. All direct costs associated with the sale of these plans are deferred and amortized in proportion to the revenue recognized and disclosed as either other current assets or other assets.
The Sterling Jewelers division sells extended service plans, subject to certain conditions, to perform repair work over the life of the product. Revenue from the sale of these lifetime extended service plans is recognized consistent with the estimated pattern of claim costs expected to be incurred by the Company in connection with performing under the extended service plan obligations. Based on an evaluation of historical claims data, management currently estimates that substantially all claims will be incurred within 17 years of the sale of the warranty contract.
In the second quarter of Fiscal 2016, an operational change related to the Sterling Jewelers division's extended service plans associated with ring sizing was made to further align Zale and Sterling ESP policies. As a result, revenue from the sale of these lifetime extended service plans in the Sterling Jewelers division is deferred and recognized over 17 years for all plans, with approximately 57% of revenue recognized within the first two years for plans sold on or after May 2, 2015 and 42% of revenue recognized within the first two years for plans sold prior to May 2, 2015 (January 31, 2015: 45%; November 1, 2014: 45%).
The Zale division also sells extended service plans. Zale Jewelry customers are offered lifetime warranties on certain products that cover sizing and breakage with an option to purchase theft protection for a two-year period. Revenue from the sale of lifetime extended service plans is deferred and recognized over 10 years, with approximately 69% of revenue recognized within the first two years (January 31, 2015: 69%; November 1, 2014: 69%). Revenues related to the optional theft protection are deferred and recognized in proportion to when the expected claims costs will be incurred over the two-year contract period. Zale Jewelry customers are also offered a two-year watch warranty and a one-year warranty that covers breakage. Piercing Pagoda customers are also offered a one-year warranty that covers breakage. Revenue from the two-year watch warranty and one-year breakage warranty is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective contract terms.
The Sterling Jewelers division also sells a Jewelry Replacement Plan (“JRP”). The JRP is designed to protect customers from damage or defects of purchased merchandise for a period of three years. If the purchased merchandise is defective or becomes damaged under normal use in that time period, the item will be replaced. JRP revenue is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of expected claims costs.
Signet also sells warranty agreements in the capacity of an agent on behalf of a third-party. The commission that Signet receives from the third-party is recognized at the time of sale less an estimate of cancellations based on historical experience.
Reclassification
The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior year amounts in the statements of cash flows to conform to the current year presentation.