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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year ends on January 31 of the following calendar year. All references to years relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.

Basis of Reporting

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Tiffany & Co. and its subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is maintained. Controlling interest is determined by majority ownership interest and the absence of substantive third-party participating rights or, in the case of variable interest entities (VIEs), if the Company has the power to significantly direct the activities of a VIE, as well as the obligation to absorb significant losses of or the right to receive significant benefits from the VIE. Intercompany accounts, transactions and profits have been eliminated in consolidation. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in which the Company has significant influence, but not a controlling interest.

Use of Estimates

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; these principles require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and related notes to the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates and the differences could be material. Periodically, the Company reviews all significant estimates and assumptions affecting the financial statements relative to current conditions and records the effect of any necessary adjustments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less and consist of time deposits and/or money market fund investments with a number of U.S. and non-U.S. financial institutions with high credit ratings. The Company's policy restricts the amount invested with any one financial institution.

Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company's short-term available-for-sale investments consisted entirely of time deposits. At the time of purchase, management determines the appropriate classification of these investments and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date.

Receivables and Financing Arrangements

Receivables. The Company's accounts receivable, net primarily consists of amounts due from Credit Receivables (defined below), department store operators that host TIFFANY & CO. boutiques in their stores, third-party credit card issuers and wholesale customers. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses associated with the accounts receivable recorded on the balance sheet. The allowance is determined based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time that the receivables are past due, management's knowledge of the customer, economic and market conditions and historical write-off experiences.

For the receivables associated with Tiffany & Co. credit cards ("Credit Card Receivables"), management uses various indicators to determine whether to extend credit to customers and the amount of credit. Such indicators include reviewing prior experience with the customer, including sales and collection history, and using applicants' credit reports and scores provided by credit rating agencies. Certain customers may be granted payment terms which permit purchases above a minimum amount to be paid for in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed 12 months (together with Credit Card Receivables, "Credit Receivables"). Credit Receivables require minimum balance payments. An account is classified as overdue if a minimum balance payment has not been received within the allotted timeframe (generally 30 days), after which internal collection efforts commence. For all Credit Receivables recorded on the balance sheet, once all internal collection efforts have been exhausted and management has reviewed the account, the account balance is written off and may be sent for external collection or legal action. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the carrying amount of the Credit Receivables (recorded in accounts receivable, net) was $75.2 million and $63.9 million, of which 97% and 98% were considered current, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses associated with the Credit Receivables (approximately $1.0 million at January 31, 2016 and 2015) was determined based on the factors discussed above. Finance charges earned on Credit Card accounts are not significant.

Financing Arrangements. The Company has provided financing to diamond mining and exploration companies in order to obtain rights to purchase the mine's output (see "Note J - Commitments and Contingencies"). Management evaluates these financing arrangements for potential impairment by reviewing the parties' financial statements along with projections and business, operational and other economic factors on a periodic basis. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the current portion of the carrying amount of financing arrangements including accrued interest was $2.1 million and $18.6 million and was recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the non-current portion of the carrying amount of financing arrangements including accrued interest was $18.9 million and $40.7 million and was included in other assets, net.

As of January 31, 2016, the Company had a $43.8 million financing arrangement (the "Loan") with Koidu Limited (previously Koidu Holdings S.A.) ("Koidu"). On April 30, 2015, the Company agreed to defer Koidu's principal payment due on March 30, 2015 ("2015 Amendment"), subject to certain conditions set forth in the 2015 Amendment, which were met in June 2015.

In August 2015, Koidu requested that its interest payment due in July 2015 be deferred until a future date to be determined, and it advised the Company that it was likely to request a deferral of interest payments due in August and September of 2015. Based on these requests and other discussions with Koidu, in which Koidu had informed the Company that it was seeking additional sources of capital to fund ongoing operations of the mine, and with consideration given to the fact that Koidu did not respond to the Company's request for a proposed revised payment schedule for its obligations under the Loan, management believed that it was probable that the Company would be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the Loan, and recorded an impairment charge, and related valuation allowance, of $9.6 million in the second quarter of 2015. Additionally, the Company ceased accruing interest income on the outstanding Loan balance as of July 31, 2015.

As of January 31, 2016, Koidu has not made any of its interest payments due in July 2015 and thereafter, nor its principal payment due in September 2015. The missed payments constitute events of default under the Loan. Koidu has yet to provide a proposed revised payment schedule for its obligations under the Loan. In February 2016, the Company received the results from two separate and independent reviews of Koidu's operational plans, forecasts, and cash flow projections for the mine, which were commissioned by the Company and by Koidu's largest creditor, respectively. Based on these factors, ongoing discussions with Koidu, and consideration of the possible actions that all parties, including the Government of Sierra Leone and Koidu's largest creditor, may take under the circumstances, management believes that it is probable that the portion of the amounts due under the contractual terms of the Loan that the Company will be unable to collect will be greater than originally estimated, and recorded an impairment charge, and related valuation allowance, of $28.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The carrying amount of the Company’s loan receivable from Koidu, net of the valuation allowance, is $5.9 million at January 31, 2016. See "Note J. - Commitments and Contingencies" for additional information on this financing arrangement.

The Company recorded no material impairment charges on such loans as of January 31, 2015.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the average cost method except for certain diamond and gemstone jewelry which uses the specific identification method.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:
Buildings
39 years
Machinery and equipment
5-15 years
Office equipment
3-8 years
Furniture and fixtures
2-10 years


Leasehold improvements and building improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives (ranging from 8-10 years) or the related lease terms or building life, respectively. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to earnings while expenditures for major renewals and improvements are capitalized. Upon the disposition of property, plant and equipment, the accumulated depreciation is deducted from the original cost and any gain or loss is reflected in current earnings.

The Company capitalizes interest on borrowings during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is amortized over the useful lives of the assets. The Company's capitalized interest costs were not significant in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Intangible Assets and Key Money

Intangible assets, consisting of product rights and trademarks, are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives which range from 15 to 20 years. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance with the Company's policy for impairment of long-lived assets (see "Impairment of Long-Lived Assets" below).

Key money is the amount of funds paid to a landlord or tenant to acquire the rights of tenancy under a commercial property lease for a certain property. Key money represents the "right to lease" with an automatic right of renewal. This right can be subsequently sold by the Company or can be recovered should the landlord refuse to allow the automatic right of renewal to be exercised. Key money is amortized over the estimated useful life, 39 years.

The following table summarizes intangible assets and key money, included in other assets, net, as follows:
 
January 31, 2016
January 31, 2015
(in millions)
Gross Carrying Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Gross Carrying
Amount
Accumulated Amortization
Product rights
$
49.6

$
(9.2
)
$
59.4

$
(16.2
)
Key money deposits
32.7

(3.3
)
33.7

(2.4
)
Trademarks
2.5

(2.5
)
2.5

(2.5
)
 
$
84.8

$
(15.0
)
$
95.6

$
(21.1
)


Amortization of intangible assets and key money for the years ended January 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $3.7 million, $7.8 million and $4.2 million. Amortization expense is estimated to be approximately $3.5 million in each of the next five years.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value of goodwill may be impaired. A qualitative assessment is first performed for each reporting unit to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is concluded that this is the case, a quantitative evaluation, based on discounted cash flows, is performed and requires management to estimate future cash flows, growth rates and economic and market conditions. If the quantitative evaluation indicates that goodwill is not recoverable, an impairment loss is calculated and recognized during that period. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, goodwill, included in other assets, net, consisted of the following by segment:
(in millions)
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Japan
Europe
Other
Total
January 31, 2014
$
12.4

$
0.3

$
1.1

$
1.1

$
24.8

$
39.7

   Translation
(0.1
)



(0.8
)
(0.9
)
January 31, 2015
12.3

0.3

1.1

1.1

24.0

38.8

   Translation
(0.1
)


(0.1
)
(0.1
)
(0.3
)
January 31, 2016
$
12.2

$
0.3

$
1.1

$
1.0

$
23.9

$
38.5



The Company recorded no impairment charges in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets (such as property, plant and equipment) other than goodwill for impairment when management determines that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable due to events or changes in circumstances. Recoverability of long-lived assets is evaluated by comparing the carrying value of the asset with the estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If the comparisons indicate that the asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is calculated as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the asset and the loss is recognized during that period. The Company recorded no material impairment charges in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Hedging Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to mitigate a portion of its foreign currency, precious metal price and interest rate exposures. Derivative instruments are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at their fair values, as either assets or liabilities, with an offset to current or other comprehensive earnings, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of an effective hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction.

Marketable Securities

The Company's marketable securities, recorded within other assets, net, are classified as available-for-sale and are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Realized gains and losses are recorded in other expense (income), net. The marketable securities are held for an indefinite period of time, but may be sold in the future as changes in market conditions or economic factors occur. The fair value of the marketable securities is determined based on prevailing market prices. The Company recorded $0.9 million and $5.1 million of gross unrealized gains and $1.8 million and $1.9 million of gross unrealized losses within accumulated other comprehensive loss as of January 31, 2016 and 2015.

Realized gains or losses reclassified from other comprehensive earnings are determined on the basis of specific identification.

The Company's marketable securities primarily consist of investments in mutual funds. When evaluating the marketable securities for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and the extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer, and the Company's ability and intent to hold the investments for a period of time which may be sufficient for anticipated recovery in market value. Based on the Company's evaluations, it determined that any unrealized losses on its outstanding mutual funds were temporary in nature and, therefore, did not record any impairment charges as of January 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Merchandise Credits and Deferred Revenue

Merchandise credits and deferred revenue primarily represent outstanding gift cards sold to customers and outstanding credits issued to customers for returned merchandise. All such outstanding items may be tendered for future merchandise purchases. A gift card liability is established when the gift card is sold. A merchandise credit liability is established when a merchandise credit is issued to a customer for a returned item and the original sale is reversed. The liabilities are relieved and revenue is recognized when merchandise is purchased and delivered to the customer and the merchandise credit or gift card is used as a form of payment.

If merchandise credits or gift cards are not redeemed over an extended period of time (for example, approximately three to five years in the U.S.), the value of the merchandise credits or gift cards is generally remitted to the applicable jurisdiction in accordance with unclaimed property laws.

Revenue Recognition

Sales are recognized at the "point of sale," which occurs when merchandise is taken in an "over-the-counter" transaction or upon receipt by a customer in a shipped transaction, such as through the Internet and catalog channels. Revenue associated with gift cards and merchandise credits is recognized upon redemption. Sales are reported net of returns, sales tax and other similar taxes. Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are included in net sales. The Company maintains a reserve for potential product returns and it records, as a reduction to sales and cost of sales, its provision for estimated product returns, which is determined based on historical experience.

Additionally, outside of the U.S., the Company operates certain TIFFANY & CO. stores within various department stores. Sales transacted at these store locations are recognized at the "point of sale." The Company and these department store operators have distinct responsibilities and risks in the operation of such TIFFANY & CO. stores. The Company (i) owns and manages the merchandise; (ii) establishes retail prices; (iii) has merchandising, marketing and display responsibilities; and (iv) in almost all locations provides retail staff and bears the risk of inventory loss. The department store operators (i) provide and maintain store facilities; (ii) in almost all locations assume retail credit and certain other risks; and (iii) act for the Company in the sale of merchandise. In return for their services and use of their facilities, the department store operators retain a portion of net retail sales made in TIFFANY & CO. stores which is recorded as commission expense within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes costs to internally manufacture merchandise (primarily metal, gemstones, labor and overhead), costs related to the purchase of merchandise from third-parties, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving, inspection, warehousing, internal transfers and other costs associated with distribution and merchandising. Cost of sales also includes royalty fees paid to outside designers and customer shipping and handling charges.

Selling, General and Administrative ("SG&A") Expenses

SG&A expenses include costs associated with the selling and marketing of products as well as administrative expenses. The types of expenses associated with these functions are store operating expenses (such as labor, rent and utilities), advertising and other corporate level administrative expenses.

Advertising, Marketing, Public and Media Relations Costs

Advertising, marketing, public and media relations costs include media, production, catalogs, Internet, marketing events, visual merchandising costs (in-store and window displays) and other related costs. In 2015, 2014 and 2013, these costs totaled $302.0 million, $284.0 million and $253.2 million, representing 7.4%, 6.7% and 6.3% of worldwide net sales in each of those periods. Media and production costs for print and digital advertising are expensed as incurred, while catalog costs are expensed upon first distribution.

Pre-opening Costs

Costs associated with the opening of new retail stores are expensed in the period incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

New, modified and unvested share-based payment transactions with employees, such as stock options and restricted stock, are measured at fair value and recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period.

Merchandise Design Activities

Merchandise design activities consist of conceptual formulation and design of possible products and creation of pre-production prototypes and molds. Costs associated with these activities are expensed as incurred.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency of most of the Company's foreign subsidiaries and branches is the applicable local currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive earnings within stockholders' equity. The Company also recognizes gains and losses associated with transactions that are denominated in foreign currencies. Within other expense (income), net, the Company recorded net losses resulting from foreign currency transactions of $9.8 million and $3.7 million in 2015 and 2014 and a net gain of $4.7 million in 2013. Included within the amount for 2013 was a $7.5 million transaction gain related to amounts associated with the award issued in the arbitration between the Swatch Group Ltd. and the Company. See "Note J - Commitments and Contingencies."

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized by applying statutory tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences between the financial reporting and tax filing bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent management believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such determination, the Company considers all available evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. In the event management were to determine that the Company would be able to realize its deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, the Company would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

In evaluating the exposures associated with the Company's various tax filing positions, management records reserves using a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for income tax positions taken or expected to be taken.

The Company, its U.S. subsidiaries and the foreign branches of its U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated Federal income tax return.

Earnings Per Share ("EPS")

Basic EPS is computed as net earnings divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS includes the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of stock options and unvested restricted stock units.

The following table summarizes the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators for the basic and diluted EPS computations:
 
Years Ended January 31,
 
(in millions)
2016

2015

2014

Net earnings for basic and diluted EPS
$
463.9

$
484.2

$
181.4

Weighted-average shares for basic EPS
128.6

129.2

127.8

Incremental shares based upon the assumed
exercise of stock options and unvested restricted
stock units
0.5

0.7

1.1

Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS
129.1

129.9

128.9



For the years ended January 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, there were 0.8 million, 0.3 million and 0.4 million stock options and restricted stock units excluded from the computations of earnings per diluted share due to their antidilutive effect.

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09 – Revenue From Contracts with Customers, to clarify the principles of recognizing revenue and create common revenue recognition guidance between U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and International Financial Reporting Standards. The core principle of the guidance is that a company should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, deferring the effective date for one year to interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is also permitted as of the original effective date (interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016) and retrospective application is required. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02 – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which amends the criteria for determining which entities are considered VIEs, amends the criteria for determining if a service provider possesses a variable interest in a VIE, and ends the deferral granted to investment companies for application of the VIE consolidation model. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 – Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under the ASU, an entity will present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15 – Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, which indicates the Securities and Exchange Commission staff would not object to an entity deferring and continuing to present debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. ASU 2015-03 is effective retrospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2015-03 beginning on February 1, 2016 and the adoption of the new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial condition and financial statement disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05 – Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement (an update to Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles Goodwill and Other Internal-Use Software), which provides guidance on accounting for cloud computing fees. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the arrangement should be accounted for as a service contract. This ASU is effective for arrangements entered into, or materially modified, in interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Retrospective application is permitted but not required. This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11 – Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which states an entity should measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This amendment applies to all inventory that is measured using the average costs or first-in first-out (FIFO) methods. This supersedes prior guidance which allowed entities to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market, where market could be replacement cost, net realizable value or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments should be applied prospectively and earlier application is permitted. This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17 – Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which states an entity should classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent amounts. This supersedes prior guidance under which an entity was required to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with earlier adoption permitted. The amendments may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company adopted this ASU retrospectively as of January 31, 2016. Accordingly, current deferred taxes were reclassified to noncurrent on the January 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet, which increased noncurrent assets by $102.6 million and noncurrent liabilities by $0.1 million.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 – Leases, which requires an entity that leases assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on the consolidated financial statements.