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Credit transaction, net
 9 Months Ended
Oct. 28, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]  
Credit transaction, net
Credit transaction, net
In October 2017, Signet, through its subsidiary Sterling, completed the sale of the prime-only credit quality portion of Sterling’s in-house finance receivable portfolio to Comenity. The following events summarize the credit transaction:
Receivables reclassification: In the second quarter of Fiscal 2018, certain in-house finance receivables that met the criteria for sale to Comenity were reclassified from "held for investment" to "held for sale." Accordingly, the receivables were recorded at the lower of cost (par) or fair value, resulting in the reversal of the related allowance for credit losses of $20.7 million. This reversal was recorded in credit transaction, net in the condensed consolidated income statements for the 39 weeks ended October 28, 2017.
Proceeds received: In October 2017, the Company received $960.2 million in cash consideration reflecting the par value of the receivables sold. In addition, the Company recognized a beneficial interest asset of $10.2 million representing the present value of the cash flows the Company expects to receive under the economic profit sharing agreement related to the receivables sold. The gain upon recognition of the beneficial interest asset was recorded in credit transaction, net in the condensed consolidated income statements for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 28, 2017.
Expenses: During the 39 weeks ended October 28, 2017, the Company incurred $28.3 million of transaction-related costs. These costs were recorded in credit transaction, net in the condensed consolidated income statements.
Asset-backed securitization facility termination: In October 2017, the Company terminated the asset-backed securitization facility in order to transfer the receivables free and clear. The asset-backed securitization facility had a principal balance outstanding of $600.0 million at the time of termination. The payoff was funded through the proceeds received from the par value of receivables sold. See Note 17 for additional information regarding the asset-backed securitization facility.
Program agreement: Comenity provides credit to prime-only credit quality customers with an initial term of seven years and, unless terminated by either party, additional renewal terms of two years. Under the Program Agreement, Comenity established a program to issue Sterling credit cards to be serviced, marketed and promoted in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Subject to limited exceptions, Comenity is the exclusive issuer of private label credit cards or an installment or other closed end loan product in the United States bearing specified Company trademarks, including “Kay”, “Jared” and specified regional brands, but excluding “Zale”, during the term of the agreement. The pre-existing arrangement with Comenity for the issuing of Zale credit cards will be unaffected by the execution of the Program Agreement. Upon expiration or termination by either party of the Program Agreement, Sterling retains the option to purchase, or arrange the purchase by a third party of, the program assets from Comenity on terms that are no more onerous to Sterling than those applicable to Comenity under the Purchase Agreement, or in the case of a purchase by a third party, on customary terms. Additionally, the Company received a signing bonus, which may be repayable under certain conditions if the Program Agreement is terminated, and a right to receive future payments related to the performance of the credit program under an economic profit sharing agreement. The Program Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants.
Additionally, Signet and Genesis Financial Solutions (“Genesis”) entered into a five-year servicing agreement in October 2017, under which Genesis will provide credit servicing functions for Signet’s existing non-prime accounts receivable, as well as future non-prime account originations. Signet will retain the existing non-prime accounts receivable on its balance sheet and continue to originate the majority of new accounts until the expected completion of the second phase of credit outsourcing.
Accounts receivable, net
In October 2017, the Company completed the sale of a portion of the Sterling Jewelers customer in-house finance receivables. The receivables sold, which were classified as "held for sale" as of the second quarter of Fiscal 2018, are no longer reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 3 for additional information regarding the sale of the prime portion of the customer in-house finance receivable portfolio. 
Signet’s accounts receivable primarily consist of US customer in-house financing receivables. The accounts receivable portfolio consists of a population that is of similar characteristics and is evaluated collectively for impairment.
(in millions)
October 28, 2017
 
January 28, 2017
 
October 29, 2016
Accounts receivable by portfolio segment, net:
 
 
 
 
 
Sterling Jewelers customer in-house finance receivables
$
597.7

 
$
1,813.3

 
$
1,546.3

Zale customer in-house finance receivables
32.3

 
33.4

 
26.4

Other accounts receivable
10.1

 
11.3

 
8.4

Total accounts receivable, net
$
640.1

 
$
1,858.0

 
$
1,581.1


Signet grants credit to customers based on a variety of credit quality indicators, including consumer financial information and prior payment experience. On an ongoing basis, management monitors the credit exposure based on past due status and collection experience, as it has found a meaningful correlation between the past due status of customers and the risk of loss.
During the third quarter of Fiscal 2016, Signet implemented a program to provide in-house credit to customers in the Zale division’s US locations. The allowance for credit losses associated with Zale customer in-house finance receivables was immaterial as of October 28, 2017, January 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016. Effective October 20, 2017, the Zale customer in-house financing programs are being underwritten and serviced by a third party for newly originated balances after the effective date.
Other accounts receivable is comprised primarily of accounts receivable relating to the insurance loss replacement business in the UK Jewelry division of $6.7 million (January 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016: $11.0 million and $7.7 million, respectively).
The allowance for credit losses associated with the portion of Sterling Jewelers customer in-house finance receivables previously classified as “held for sale” was reversed during the second quarter of Fiscal 2018. The activity in the allowance for credit losses on Sterling Jewelers customer in-house finance receivables is shown below:
 
39 weeks ended
(in millions)
October 28, 2017
 
October 29, 2016
Beginning balance
$
(138.7
)
 
$
(130.0
)
Charge-offs, net
160.9

 
143.1

Recoveries
30.1

 
26.8

Provision
(181.8
)
 
(172.9
)
Reversal of allowance on receivables previously held for sale
20.7

 
—

Ending balance
$
(108.8
)
 
$
(133.0
)
Ending receivable balance evaluated for impairment
706.5

 
1,679.3

Sterling Jewelers customer in-house finance receivables, net
$
597.7

 
$
1,546.3


Net bad debt expense is defined as the provision expense less recoveries.
The credit quality indicator and age analysis of Sterling Jewelers customer in-house finance receivables are shown below:
   
October 28, 2017
 
January 28, 2017
 
October 29, 2016
(in millions)
Gross
 
Valuation
allowance
 
Gross
 
Valuation
allowance
 
Gross
 
Valuation
allowance
Performing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current, aged 0 – 30 days
$
586.5

 
$
(50.3
)
 
$
1,538.2

 
$
(47.2
)
 
$
1,294.9

 
$
(39.3
)
Past due, aged 31 – 60 days
40.3

 
(3.5
)
 
282.0

 
(9.0
)
 
250.6

 
(8.1
)
Past due, aged 61 – 90 days
27.1

 
(2.4
)
 
51.6

 
(2.3
)
 
50.7

 
(2.5
)
Non Performing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Past due, aged more than 90 days
52.6

 
(52.6
)
 
80.2

 
(80.2
)
 
83.1

 
(83.1
)
 
$
706.5

 
$
(108.8
)
 
$
1,952.0

 
$
(138.7
)
 
$
1,679.3

 
$
(133.0
)
 
October 28, 2017
 
January 28, 2017
 
October 29, 2016
(as a % of the ending receivable balance)
Gross
 
Valuation
allowance
 
Gross
 
Valuation
allowance
 
Gross
 
Valuation
allowance
Performing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current, aged 0 – 30 days
83.0
%
 
8.6
%
 
78.8
%
 
3.1
%
 
77.2
%
 
3.0
%
Past due, aged 31 – 60 days
5.7
%
 
8.7
%
 
14.5
%
 
3.2
%
 
14.9
%
 
3.2
%
Past due, aged 61 – 90 days
3.8
%
 
8.9
%
 
2.6
%
 
4.5
%
 
3.0
%
 
4.9
%
Non Performing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Past due, aged more than 90 days
7.5
%
 
100.0
%
 
4.1
%
 
100.0
%
 
4.9
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
15.4
%
 
100.0
%
 
7.1
%
 
100.0
%
 
7.9
%

Securitized credit card receivables
The Sterling Jewelers division previously securitized its credit card receivables through its Sterling Jewelers Receivables Master Note Trust. As a condition of closing the credit transaction, the Company terminated the asset-backed securitization facility to transfer the receivables free and clear. See Note 17 for additional information regarding the asset-backed securitization facility.