Fair Value Measurements

Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:

Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that can be accessed at the measurement date.

Level 2—Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e. interest rates, yield curves, etc.) and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that reflect assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs would be based on the best information available, including the Company’s own data.

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015 (in thousands):



	Fair Value Measurements at Oct 31, 2015								Fair Value Measurements at Jan 31, 2015
Recurring Fair Value Measures	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Foreign exchange currency contracts	$	—	$	6,280	$	—	$	6,280	$	—	$	15,542	$	—	$	15,542
Available-for-sale securities	20		—		—		20		36		—		—		36
Total	$	20	$	6,280	$	—	$	6,300	$	36	$	15,542	$	—	$	15,578
Liabilities:
Foreign exchange currency contracts	$	—	$	145	$	—	$	145	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swap	—		118		—		118		—		270		—		270
Deferred compensation obligations	—		10,656		—		10,656		—		9,133		—		9,133
Total	$	—	$	10,919	$	—	$	10,919	$	—	$	9,403	$	—	$	9,403

There were no transfers of financial instruments between the three levels of fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended October 31, 2015 or during the year ended January 31, 2015.

The fair values of the Company’s available-for-sale securities are based on quoted prices. The fair value of the interest rate swaps are based upon inputs corroborated by observable market data. Foreign exchange forward contracts are entered into by the Company principally to hedge the future payment of inventory and intercompany transactions by non-U.S. subsidiaries. Periodically, the Company may also use foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the translation and economic exposures related to its net investments in certain of its international subsidiaries. The fair values of the Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts are based on quoted foreign exchange forward rates at the reporting date. Deferred compensation obligations to employees are adjusted based on changes in the fair value of the underlying employee-directed investments. Fair value of these obligations is based upon inputs corroborated by observable market data.

Available-for-sale securities, which consist of marketable equity securities, are recorded at fair value and are included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, available-for-sale securities were minimal. Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes, are included as a component of stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss). As of October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, the accumulated unrealized losses, net of taxes, included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to available-for-sale securities owned by the Company were minimal. During the nine months ended November 1, 2014, the Company received proceeds of $0.6 million from the sale of marketable equity securities which were classified as available-for-sale securities. The sale of marketable equity securities was made during the three months ended May 3, 2014. The cost of securities sold was based on the specific identification method. Gains recognized during the nine months ended November 1, 2014 were $0.1 million as a result of this sale and were included in other income.

The carrying amount of the Company’s remaining financial instruments, which principally include cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximates fair value due to the relatively short maturity of such instruments. The fair values of the Company’s debt instruments (see Note 9) are based on the amount of future cash flows associated with each instrument discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. As of October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, the carrying value of all financial instruments was not materially different from fair value, as the interest rates on variable-rate debt including the capital lease obligation approximated rates currently available to the Company.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment quarterly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company considers each individual retail location as an asset group for impairment testing, which is the lowest level at which individual cash flows can be identified. The asset group includes leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, computer hardware and software and certain long-term security deposits and lease acquisition costs. The Company reviews retail locations in penetrated markets for impairment risk once the locations have been opened for at least one year in their current condition, or sooner as changes in circumstances require. The Company believes that waiting one year allows a retail location to reach a maturity level where a more comprehensive analysis of financial performance can be performed. The Company evaluates impairment risk for retail locations in new markets, where the Company is in the early stages of establishing its presence, once the locations have been opened for at least two years. The Company believes that waiting two years allows for brand awareness to be established. The Company also evaluates impairment risk for retail locations that are expected to be closed in the foreseeable future.

An asset is considered to be impaired if the Company determines that the carrying value may not be recoverable based upon its assessment of the asset’s ability to continue to generate earnings from operations and positive cash flow in future periods or if significant changes in the Company’s strategic business objectives and utilization of the assets occurred. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value, which is determined based on discounted future cash flows. The impairment loss calculations require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows and the discount rates that reflect the risk inherent in future cash flows. Future expected cash flows for assets in retail locations are based on management’s estimates of future cash flows over the remaining lease period or expected life, if shorter. For expected retail location closures, the Company will evaluate whether it is necessary to shorten the useful life for any of the assets within the respective asset group. The Company will use this revised useful life when estimating the asset group’s future cash flows. The Company considers historical trends, expected future business trends and other factors when estimating the future cash flow for each retail location. The Company also considers factors such as: the local environment for each retail location, including mall traffic and competition; the Company’s ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives; and the ability to control variable costs such as cost of sales and payroll and, in some cases, renegotiate lease costs. The estimated cash flows used for this nonrecurring fair value measurement are considered a Level 3 input as defined above. If actual results are not consistent with the assumptions and judgments used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, there may be additional exposure to future impairment losses that could be material to the Company’s results of operations.

The Company recorded impairment charges of $0.2 million and $2.0 million during the three and nine months ended October 31, 2015, respectively, and $9.8 million and $14.6 million during the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014, respectively. The impairment charges related primarily to the impairment of certain retail locations in North America and Europe resulting from under-performance or the exercise of kick-out options during each of the respective periods. These impairment charges were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income for each of the respective periods.