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Derivative Financial Instruments
9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2011
Derivative Financial Instruments 
Derivative Financial Instruments

 

 

8. Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Derivative financial instruments are reported at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Historically our derivative instruments have primarily consisted of interest rate swaps. We use these derivatives to mitigate our interest rate risk. We have counterparty credit risk resulting from our derivative instruments. This risk lies primarily with large global financial institutions. We monitor this concentration of counterparty credit risk on an ongoing basis.

 

During 2008, we terminated or de-designated certain interest rate swaps that were accounted for as hedges. Total net gains amortized into net interest expense for terminated or de-designated swaps were $10 million and $11 million during the three months ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively. Total net gains amortized into net interest expense for terminated or de-designated swaps were $31 million and $34 million during the nine months ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively. The amount remaining on unamortized hedged debt valuation gains from terminated or de-designated interest rate swaps that will be amortized into earnings over the remaining lives of the underlying debt totaled $122 million, $152 million and $164 million, at October 29, 2011, January 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively.

 

Periodic payments, valuation adjustments and amortization of gains or losses from the termination or de-designation of derivative contracts are summarized below:

 

Derivative Contracts - Effect on Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

Classification of

 

October 29,

 

October 30,

 

October 29,

 

October 30,

 

(millions)

 

Income/(Expenses)

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Other interest expense

 

$

10

 

$

12

 

$

32

 

$

40

 

 

In July 2011, in conjunction with the $350 million fixed rate debt issuance, we entered into an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $350 million, under which we pay a variable rate and receive a fixed rate. This swap has been designated as a fair value hedge, and there was no ineffectiveness recognized related to this hedge during the three or nine months ended October 29, 2011. There were no derivative instruments designated as hedges as of October 30, 2010. See Note 4, Fair Value Measurements, for a description of the fair value measurement of derivative contracts and their classification on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.