Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2017

NOTE 8: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

We disclose our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets by level within the fair value hierarchy as defined by applicable accounting standards:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2: Other observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

We recorded a beneficial interest asset when we completed the sale of a substantial majority of our U.S. Visa and private label credit card portfolio (see Note 2: Credit Card Receivable Transaction). We determined the fair value of the beneficial interest asset based on a discounted cash flow model using Level 3 inputs of the fair value hierarchy. Inputs and assumptions include the discount rate, payment rate, credit loss rate and revenues and expenses associated with the program agreement. Given our review of market participant capital structures in the banking and credit card industries and our historical and expected portfolio performance, we used the following ranges of input assumptions to determine the fair value as of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016:



	January 28, 2017				January 30, 2016
	Minimum		Maximum		Minimum		Maximum
Discount rate	12	%	12	%	12	%	12	%
Monthly payment rate	6	%	10	%	6	%	18	%
Annual credit loss rate	3	%	4	%	2	%	4	%
Annual revenues as a percent to credit card receivables	15	%	18	%	10	%	18	%
Annual expenses as a percent to credit card receivables	5	%	9	%	4	%	9	%

We recognized $26 and $25 of amortization expense in 2016 and 2015 on the beneficial interest asset, which had a fair value of $11 and $37 at January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively. Amortization primarily reflects payments received on the receivables sold and is recorded in credit card revenues, net.

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value

Financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certificates of deposit, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature, and long-term debt.

We estimate the fair value of long-term debt using quoted market prices of the same or similar issues and, as such, this is considered a Level 2 fair value measurement. The following table summarizes the carrying value and fair value estimate of our long-term debt, including current maturities:



	January 28, 2017		January 30, 2016
Carrying value of long-term debt		$2,774		$2,805
Fair value of long-term debt	2,949		3,077

Non-financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

We also measure certain non-financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, primarily goodwill, investment in contract asset and long-lived tangible and intangible assets, in connection with periodic evaluations for potential impairment. We estimate the fair value of these assets using primarily unobservable inputs and, as such, these are considered Level 3 fair value measurements.

In 2014, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity of Trunk Club for a net purchase price of $280, which was settled in Nordstrom common stock, and the following year we settled $23 of an indemnity holdback through Nordstrom common stock. In connection with the acquisition, we recorded $261 of goodwill. In the third quarter of 2016, the long-term operating plan for Trunk Club was updated to reflect current expectations for future growth and profitability, which were lower than previous expectations. Due to lowered expectations, we tested Trunk Club goodwill for impairment one quarter prior to the annual evaluation. Step 1 test results indicated that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit was less than the carrying value.

In our Step 2 analysis, we used a combination of the expected present value of future cash flows (income approach) and comparable public companies (market approach) to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. These approaches use primarily unobservable inputs, including discount, sales growth and profit margin rates, which are considered Level 3 fair value measurements. The fair value analysis took into account recent and expected operating performance as well as the overall decline in the retail industry. Within our Retail Segment, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $197, reducing Trunk Club goodwill to $64 from $261 as of January 30, 2016.

In 2015, we recorded asset impairment charges of $59, which are included in our Retail Business selling, general and administrative expenses. We did not record any material impairment losses in 2014. For additional information related to goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets and impairments, see Note 1: Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

- 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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