Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 29, 2016

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors pension plans that cover certain employees in Europe and the U.S.  The benefits due to U.S. plan participants are frozen.  A number of the defined benefit plans outside the U.S. are funded with plan assets that have been segregated in trusts.  Contributions are made to these trusts, as necessary, to meet legal and other requirements.

The Company also sponsors an unfunded post-retirement life insurance benefit plan, which provides benefits to eligible U.S. executives based on earnings, years of service and age at termination of employment.

The total net cost recognized for the third quarter and year-to-date2016 and 2015 associated with the pension and other post-retirement benefit plans is based on actuarial estimates of such costs. The pension plan totals primarily relate to international pension plans. The following tables present a summary of the total net periodic cost (benefit) recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the third quarter and year-to-date2016 and 2015 related to the plans (in millions):

	13 Weeks Ended October 29, 2016
	Pension Plans			Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plan
Service cost	$	3		$	—
Interest cost	6			—
Expected return on plan assets	(13		)	—
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior service costs	4			1
Total cost	$	—		$	1

	13 Weeks Ended October 31, 2015
	Pension Plans			Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plan
Service cost	$	5		$	1
Interest cost	6			1
Expected return on plan assets	(15		)	—
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior service costs	3			—
Total (benefit) cost	$	(1	)	$	2

	39 Weeks Ended October 29, 2016
	Pension Plans			Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plan Total
Service cost	$	9		$	1
Interest cost	17			1
Expected return on plan assets	(38		)	—
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior service costs	11			2
Total (benefit) cost	$	(1	)	$	4

	39 Weeks Ended October 31, 2015
	Pension Plans			Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plan Total
Service cost	$	14		$	1
Interest cost	19			3
Expected return on plan assets	(44		)	—
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior service costs	10			—
Total (benefit) cost	$	(1	)	$	4

In the third quarter of 2016, the Company recognized a loss of $2 million related to the partial settlement of pension obligations associated with the Staples Print Solutions business, which the Company divested in the second quarter of 2016. See Note E — Sale of Businesses and Assets for more information.