Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-15274

LOGO

 

 

J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   26-0037077

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

6501 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75024-3698

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(972) 431-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock of 50 cents par value   New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of class)

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨  No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  x

 

Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (July 31, 2010). $5,616,298,853

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

229,873,694 shares of Common Stock of 50 cents par value, as of March 21, 2011.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Documents from which portions are incorporated by reference

 

Parts of the Form 10-K into which incorporated

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2011 Proxy Statement

  Part III

 

 

 


Table of Contents

INDEX

 

          Page  

Part I

     

Item 1.

   Business      1   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      4   

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      8   

Item 2.

   Properties      8   

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings      10   

Item 4.

   Reserved      10   

Part II

     

Item 5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

     11   

Item 6.

  

Selected Financial Data

     13   

Item 7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     16   

Item 7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     40   

Item 8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     41   

Item 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     41   

Item 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

     41   

Item 9B.

  

Other Information

     44   

Part III

     

Item 10.

  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     44   

Item 11.

  

Executive Compensation

     44   

Item 12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     45   

Item 13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

     45   

Item 14.

  

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

     46   

Part IV

     

Item 15.

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

     47   
  

Signatures

     48   
  

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-1   
  

Exhibit Index

     E-1   

 

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PART I

Item 1.     Business.

Business Overview

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. (JCP). JCP was incorporated in Delaware in 1924, and J. C. Penney Company, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 2002, when the holding company structure was implemented. The new holding company assumed the name J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (Company). The holding company has no independent assets or operations, and no direct subsidiaries other than JCP. Common stock of the Company is publicly traded under the symbol “JCP” on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company is a co-obligor (or guarantor, as appropriate) regarding the payment of principal and interest on JCP’s outstanding debt securities. The guarantee by the Company of certain of JCP’s outstanding debt securities is full and unconditional. The holding company and its consolidated subsidiaries, including JCP, are collectively referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as “we,” “us,” “our,” “ourselves,” “Company” or “jcpenney.”

Since our founding by James Cash Penney in 1902, we have grown to be a major retailer, operating 1,106 department stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico as of January 29, 2011. Our business consists of selling merchandise and services to consumers through our department stores and through the Internet website at jcp.com. Department stores and Internet generally serve the same type of customers and provide virtually the same mix of merchandise, and department stores accept returns from sales made in stores and via the Internet. We sell family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products through Sephora inside jcpenney and home furnishings. In addition, our department stores provide our customers with services such as styling salon, optical, portrait photography and custom decorating. See Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for sales by category.

A five-year summary of certain financial and operational information regarding our continuing operations can be found in Part II, Item 6, Selected Financial Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For a discussion of our ongoing merchandise initiatives, see Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Competition and Seasonality

The business of marketing merchandise and services is highly competitive. We are one of the largest department store and e-commerce retailers in the United States, and we have numerous competitors, as further described in Item 1A, Risk Factors. Many factors enter into the competition for the consumer’s patronage, including price, quality, style, service, product mix, convenience and credit availability. Our annual earnings depend to a great extent on the results of operations for the last quarter of the fiscal year, which includes the holiday season, when a significant portion of our sales and profits are recorded.

Trademarks

The jcpenney, Every Day Matters, Okie Dokie, Worthington, east5th, a.n.a, St. John’s Bay, she said, The Original Arizona Jean Company, Ambrielle, Decree, Linden Street, Article 365, Stafford,

 

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J. Ferrar, jcpenney Home Collection and Studio by jcpenney Home Collection trademarks, as well as certain other trademarks, have been registered, or are the subject of pending trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and with the registries of many foreign countries and/or are protected by common law. We consider our marks and the accompanying name recognition to be valuable to our business. For further discussion of our private brands, see Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Website Availability

We maintain an Internet website at www.jcpenney.net and make available free of charge through this website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all related amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after the materials are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the website also provides press releases, an investor update package, access to webcasts of management presentations and other materials useful in evaluating our Company.

Suppliers

We have a diversified supplier base, both domestic and foreign, and are not dependent to any significant degree on any single supplier. We purchase our merchandise from over 3,500 domestic and foreign suppliers, many of which have done business with us for many years. In addition to our Plano, Texas home office, we, through our international purchasing subsidiary, maintained buying and quality assurance inspection offices in 19 foreign countries as of January 29, 2011.

Employment

The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries employed approximately 156,000 full-time and part-time associates as of January 29, 2011.

Environmental Matters

Environmental protection requirements did not have a material effect upon our operations during 2010. It is possible that compliance with such requirements (including any new requirements) would lengthen lead time in expansion or renovation plans and increase construction costs, and therefore operating costs, due in part to the expense and time required to conduct environmental and ecological studies and any required remediation.

As of January 29, 2011, we estimated our total potential environmental liabilities to range from $36 million to $42 million and recorded our best estimate of $37 million in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of that date. This estimate covered potential liabilities primarily related to underground storage tanks, remediation of environmental conditions involving our former drugstore locations and asbestos removal in connection with approved plans to renovate or dispose of our facilities. We continue to assess required remediation and the adequacy of environmental reserves as new information becomes available and known conditions are further delineated. If we were to incur losses at the upper end of the estimated range, we do not believe that such losses would have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following is a list, as of March 1, 2011, of the names and ages of the executive officers of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and of the offices and other positions held by each such person with the Company. These officers hold identical positions with JCP. References to Company positions held during fiscal years 2001 and earlier (prior to the creation of the holding company) are for JCP. There is no family relationship between any of the named persons.

 

Name

  

Offices and Other Positions Held With the Company

   Age  

Myron E. Ullman, III

   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer      64   

Michael P. Dastugue

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer      46   

Janet L. Dhillon

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary      48   

Dennis P. Miller

   Senior Vice President and Controller      58   

Thomas M. Nealon

   Group Executive Vice President      50   

Michael T. Theilmann

   Group Executive Vice President      46   

Mr. Ullman has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 2004. He was Directeur General, Group Managing Director, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (luxury goods manufacturer/retailer) from 1999 to 2002. He was President of LVMH Selective Retail Group from 1998 to 1999. From 1995 to 1998, he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of DFS Group Ltd. From 1992 to 1995, he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of R. H. Macy & Company, Inc. He has served as a director of the Company and as a director of JCP since 2004.

Mr. Dastugue has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since January 2011 and served as Senior Vice President, Finance, from February 2010 until he assumed his current position. Since 1991, he has held a series of positions of increasing responsibility with the Company, including Vice President and Treasurer from 2000 to 2004, Senior Vice President, Director of Corporate Finance in 2005 and Senior Vice President, Director of Property Development from 2005 to 2010. He has served as a director of JCP since January 2011.

Ms. Dhillon has served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company since 2009. Prior to joining the Company, she served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of US Airways Group, Inc. and US Airways, Inc. from 2006 to 2009. Ms. Dhillon joined US Airways, Inc. in 2004 as Managing Director and Associate General Counsel and served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of US Airways Group, Inc. and US Airways, Inc. from 2005 to 2006. Ms. Dhillon was with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP from 1991 to 2004. She has served as a director of JCP since July 2009.

Mr. Miller has served as Senior Vice President and Controller of the Company since 2008. He served as Vice President, Director of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing of JCP from 2004 to 2008. From 2001 to 2004, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Eckerd Corporation, a former subsidiary of the Company.

Mr. Nealon has served as Group Executive Vice President since August 2010. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Company from 2006 to August 2010. From 2002

 

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to 2006, he was employed by EDS, where he served on assignment as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Southwest Airlines Co. From 2000 to 2002, he was a partner with the Feld Group.

Mr. Theilmann has served as Group Executive Vice President since August 2010. He served as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer of the Company from 2005 to August 2010. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Chief People Officer of the International business of Yum! Brands Inc. From 2000 to 2002, he served as Vice President of Human Resources for European operations at Yum! Brands Inc.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors.

The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our Company’s growth and profitability depend on the level of consumer confidence and spending.

Our results of operations are sensitive to changes in overall economic and political conditions that impact consumer spending, including discretionary spending. Many economic factors outside of our control, including the housing market, interest rates, recession, inflation and deflation, energy costs and availability, consumer credit availability and terms, consumer debt levels, tax rates and policy, and unemployment trends influence consumer confidence and spending. The domestic and international political situation and actions also affect consumer confidence and spending. Additional events that could impact our performance include pandemics, terrorist threats and activities, worldwide military and domestic disturbances and conflicts, political instability and civil unrest. Further declines in the level of consumer spending could adversely affect our growth and profitability.

The retail industry is highly competitive, which could adversely impact our sales and profitability.

The retail industry is highly competitive, with few barriers to entry. We compete with many other local, regional and national retailers for customers, associates, locations, merchandise, services and other important aspects of our business. Those competitors include other department stores, discounters, home furnishing stores, specialty retailers, wholesale clubs, direct-to-consumer businesses and other forms of retail commerce. Some competitors are larger than jcpenney, have greater financial resources available to them, and, as a result, may be able to devote greater resources to sourcing, promoting and selling their products. Competition is characterized by many factors, including merchandise assortment, advertising, price, quality, service, location, reputation and credit availability. The performance of competitors as well as changes in their pricing and promotional policies, marketing activities, new store openings, launches of Internet websites, brand launches and other merchandise and operational strategies could cause us to have lower sales, lower gross margin and/or higher operating expenses such as marketing costs and other selling, general and administrative expenses, which in turn could have an adverse impact on our profitability.

 

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Our sales and operating results depend on customer preferences and fashion trends.

Our sales and operating results depend in part on our ability to predict and respond to changes in fashion trends and customer preferences in a timely manner by consistently offering stylish quality merchandise assortments at competitive prices. We continuously assess emerging styles and trends and focus on developing a merchandise assortment to meet customer preferences. Even with these efforts, we cannot be certain that we will be able to successfully meet constantly changing customer demands. To the extent our predictions differ from our customers’ preferences, we may be faced with excess inventories for some products and/or missed opportunities for others. Excess inventories can result in lower gross margins due to greater than anticipated discounts and markdowns that might be necessary to reduce inventory levels. Low inventory levels can adversely affect the fulfillment of customer demand and diminish sales and brand loyalty. Consequently, any sustained failure to identify and respond to emerging trends in lifestyle and customer preferences and buying trends could have an adverse impact on our business and any significant misjudgments regarding inventory levels could adversely impact our results of operations.

Our profitability depends on our ability to source merchandise and deliver it to our customers in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Our merchandise is sourced from a wide variety of suppliers, and our business depends on being able to find qualified suppliers and access products in a timely and efficient manner. A substantial portion of our merchandise is sourced outside of the United States. All of our suppliers must comply with our supplier legal compliance program and applicable laws, including consumer and product safety laws. Although we diversify our sourcing and production by country, the failure of a supplier to produce and deliver our goods on time, to meet our quality standards and adhere to our product safety requirements or to meet the requirements of our supplier compliance program or applicable laws, or our inability to flow merchandise to our stores or through the Internet channel in the right quantities at the right time could adversely affect our profitability and could result in damage to our reputation. Inflationary pressures on commodity prices and other input costs could increase our cost of goods, and an inability to pass such cost increases on to our customers or a change in our merchandise mix as a result of such cost increases could have an adverse impact on our profitability. Additionally, the impact of current and future economic conditions on our suppliers cannot be predicted and may cause our suppliers to be unable to access financing or become insolvent and thus become unable to supply us with products. Similarly, political or financial instability, changes in U.S. and foreign laws and regulations affecting the importation and taxation of goods, including duties, tariffs and quotas, or changes in the enforcement of those laws and regulations, as well as currency exchange rates, transport capacity and costs and other factors relating to foreign trade and the inability to access suitable merchandise on acceptable terms could adversely impact our results of operations.

Our business is seasonal.

Our annual earnings and cash flows depend to a great extent on the results of operations for the last quarter of our fiscal year, which includes the holiday season. Our fiscal fourth-quarter results may fluctuate significantly, based on many factors, including holiday spending patterns and weather conditions. This seasonality causes our operating results to vary considerably from quarter to quarter.

 

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The moderation of our new store growth strategy as a result of current economic conditions could adversely impact our future growth and profitability.

Our future growth and profitability depend in part on our ability to add new stores. Current and projected future economic conditions have caused us to moderate the number of new stores that we plan to open in the near term and have made it difficult for third-party developers to obtain financing for new sites. These factors could negatively impact our future anticipated store openings. Furthermore, although we have conducted strategic market research, including reviewing demographic and regional economic trends, prior to making a decision to enter into a particular market, we cannot be certain that our entry into a particular market will prove successful. The failure to expand by successfully opening new stores, or the failure of a significant number of these stores to perform as planned, could have an adverse impact on our future growth, profitability and cash flows.

The failure to retain, attract and motivate our associates, including associates in key positions, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

Our results depend on the contributions of our associates, including our senior management team and other key associates. Our performance depends to a great extent on our ability to retain, attract and motivate talented associates throughout the organization, many of whom, particularly in the department stores, are in entry level or part-time positions with historically high rates of turnover. Our ability to meet our labor needs while controlling our costs is subject to external factors such as unemployment levels, prevailing wage rates, minimum wage legislation and changing demographics. If we are unable to retain, attract and motivate talented associates at all levels, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.

Changes in federal, state or local laws and regulations could expose us to legal risks and adversely affect our results of operations.

Our business is subject to a wide array of laws and regulations. While our management believes that our associate relations are good, significant legislative changes that impact our relationship with our associates could increase our expenses and adversely affect our results of operations. Examples of possible legislative changes impacting our relationship with our associates include changes to an employer’s obligation to recognize collective bargaining units, the process by which collective bargaining agreements are negotiated or imposed, minimum wage requirements, and health care mandates. In addition, if we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations we could be subject to legal risk, including government enforcement action and class action civil litigation. Changes in the regulatory environment regarding other topics such as privacy and information security, product safety or environmental protection, including regulations in response to concerns regarding climate change, among others, could also cause our expenses to increase and adversely affect our results of operations.

Our operations are dependent on information technology systems; disruptions in those systems could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

Our operations are dependent upon the integrity, security and consistent operation of various systems and data centers, including the point-of-sale systems in the stores, our Internet website, data centers that process transactions, communication systems and various software applications used throughout our Company to track inventory flow, process transactions and generate performance and financial reports. We could encounter difficulties in developing new systems or maintaining and upgrading

 

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existing systems. Such difficulties could lead to significant expenses or to losses due to disruption in business operations. In addition, despite our considerable efforts and technology to secure our computer network, security could be compromised, confidential information could be misappropriated or system disruptions could occur. This could lead to loss of sales or profits, cause our customers to lose confidence in our ability to protect their personal information which could lead to lost future sales or cause us to incur significant costs to reimburse third parties for damages, any of which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, the continued realization of the benefits of our centralized buying and allocation processes and systems is a key element of our ability to meet our long-term customer and financial goals. The effectiveness of these processes and systems is an important component of our ability to have the right inventory at the right place, time and price.

Significant changes in discount rates, actual investment return on pension assets, and other factors could affect our earnings, equity, and pension contributions in future periods.

Our earnings may be positively or negatively impacted by the amount of income or expense recorded for our qualified pension plan. Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) require that income or expense for the plan be calculated at the annual measurement date using actuarial assumptions and calculations. The most significant assumptions relate to the capital markets, interest rates and other economic conditions. Changes in key economic indicators can change the assumptions. Two critical assumptions used to estimate pension income or expense for the year are the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the discount rate. In addition, at the measurement date, we must also reflect the funded status of the plan (assets and liabilities) on the balance sheet, which may result in a significant change to equity through a reduction or increase to other comprehensive income. Although GAAP expense and pension contributions are not directly related, the key economic factors that affect GAAP expense would also likely affect the amount of cash we could be required to contribute to the pension plan. Potential pension contributions include both mandatory amounts required under federal law and discretionary contributions to improve a plan’s funded status.

As a result of their ownership stakes in the Company, our largest stockholders have the ability to materially influence actions to be taken or approved by our stockholders. These stockholders are represented on our Board of Directors and, therefore, also have the ability to materially influence actions to be taken or approved by our Board.

As of March 1, 2011, Pershing Square Capital Management L.P., PS Management GP, LLC and Pershing Square GP, LLC (together “Pershing Square”) beneficially owned approximately 16.5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. William A. Ackman, Chief Executive Officer of Pershing Square Capital Management, is one of our directors.

As of March 1, 2011, Vornado Realty Trust, Vornado Realty L.P., VNO Fashion LLC and VSPS I L.L.C. (together “Vornado”) beneficially owned approximately 9.9% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Steven Roth, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Vornado Realty Trust, is one of our directors.

Together, Pershing Square and Vornado owned approximately 26.4% of our outstanding shares as of March 1, 2011. Pershing Square and Vornado have each stated that they intend to consult with each other in connection with their respective investments in our common stock. As a result, Pershing Square and Vornado have the ability to materially influence actions to be taken or approved by our

 

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stockholders, including the election of directors and any transactions involving a change of control. Pershing Square and Vornado also have the ability to materially influence actions to be taken or approved by our Board.

In the future, Pershing Square or Vornado may acquire or sell shares of our common stock and thereby increase or decrease their ownership stake in us. On October 18, 2010, we adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan, which restricts any person or group from acquiring (i) beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our common stock and (ii) in the case of any person or group that owns 10% or more of our outstanding common stock as of October 18, 2010, any additional shares of common stock.

Future share repurchases by us may increase Pershing Square’s and Vornado’s percentage ownership in the Company, and as a result, it is possible that Pershing Square’s and/or Vornado’s ability to influence the Company’s actions could become even greater in the future. However, on February 25, 2011, we entered into separate stockholder agreements with each of Pershing Square and Vornado, which generally provide that Pershing Square and Vornado will vote the number of shares of our common stock that it owns in excess of 16.5%, in Pershing Square’s case, and 9.9% in Vornado’s case, as a result of not participating in our current share repurchase program, to be present and voted at stockholder meetings either as recommended by our Board of Directors or in direct proportion to how all other stockholders vote.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2.    Properties.

At January 29, 2011, we operated 1,106 department stores throughout the continental United States, Alaska and Puerto Rico, of which 426 were owned, including 120 stores located on ground leases. The following table lists the number of stores operating by state as of January 29, 2011:

 

Alabama

   22      Maine    6       Oklahoma    19

Alaska

   1      Maryland    17       Oregon    14

Arizona

   23      Massachusetts    13       Pennsylvania    41

Arkansas

   16      Michigan    43       Rhode Island    3

California

   80      Minnesota    26       South Carolina    18

Colorado

   22      Mississippi    18       South Dakota    8

Connecticut

   10      Missouri    26       Tennessee    26

Delaware

   3      Montana    9       Texas    93

Florida

   60      Nebraska    12       Utah    9

Georgia

   31      Nevada    7       Vermont    6

Idaho

   9      New Hampshire    9       Virginia    28

Illinois

   42      New Jersey    17       Washington    23

Indiana

   30      New Mexico    10       West Virginia    9

Iowa

   20      New York    43       Wisconsin    24

Kansas

   19      North Carolina    36       Wyoming    5

Kentucky

   22      North Dakota    8       Puerto Rico    7

Louisiana

   16      Ohio    47         

Total square feet

   111.6    million               

 

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At January 29, 2011, our supply chain network operated 26 facilities at 18 locations, of which nine were owned, with multiple types of distribution activities housed in certain owned locations. Our network includes 13 store merchandise distribution centers, five regional warehouses, four jcp.com fulfillment centers and four furniture distribution centers as indicated in the following table:

 

Facility / Location

   Leased/Owned        Square Footage
(in thousands)
 

Store Merchandise Distribution Centers

       

Breinigsville, Pennsylvania

     Leased           504   

Forest Park, Georgia

     Owned           530   

Buena Park, California

     Owned           543   

Cedar Hill, Texas

     Leased           433   

Columbus, Ohio

     Owned           386   

Plainfield, Indiana

     Leased           436   

Lakeland, Florida

     Leased           360   

Lenexa, Kansas

     Owned           322   

Manchester, Connecticut

     Owned           390   

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

     Owned           507   

Spanish Fork, Utah

     Leased           400   

Statesville, North Carolina

     Owned           313   

Sumner, Washington

     Leased           350   
             

Total store merchandise distribution centers

          5,474   
             

Regional Warehouses

       

Haslet, Texas

     Owned           1,063   

Forest Park, Georgia

     Owned           427   

Buena Park, California

     Owned           146   

Lathrop, California

     Leased           436   

Statesville, North Carolina

     Owned           131   
             

Total regional warehouses

          2,203   
             

jcp.com Fulfillment Centers

  

    

Columbus, Ohio

     Owned           1,516   

Lenexa, Kansas

     Owned           1,622   

Manchester, Connecticut

     Owned           1,666   

Reno, Nevada

     Owned           1,660   
             

Total jcp.com fulfillment centers

          6,464   
             

Furniture Distribution Centers

       

Forest Park, Georgia

     Owned           343   

Chino, California

     Leased           325   

Langhorne, Pennsylvania

     Leased           228   

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

     Owned           592   
             

Total furniture distribution centers

          1,488   
             

Total supply chain network

          15,629   
             

We also own our home office facility in Plano, Texas, and approximately 240 acres of property adjacent to the facility. Furthermore, as of the end of the year we operated 19 outlet stores totaling approximately 2.0 million square feet, of which we own four. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company announced that it would be exiting these outlet stores as part of our restructuring plan to discontinue the catalog print business.

 

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Item 3.    Legal Proceedings.

The Company has no material proceedings pending against it.

Item 4.    Reserved.

 

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PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity

Our common stock is traded principally on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “JCP.” The number of stockholders of record at March 21, 2011, was 31,882. In addition to common stock, we have authorized 25 million shares of preferred stock, of which no shares were issued and outstanding at January 29, 2011.

The table below sets forth the quoted high and low market prices of our common stock on the NYSE for each quarterly period indicated, the quarter-end closing market price of our common stock, as well as the quarterly cash dividends declared per share of common stock:

 

     First Quarter      Second Quarter      Third Quarter      Fourth Quarter  
     2010      2009      2010      2009      2010      2009      2010      2009  

Dividend per share

   $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20   
                                                                       

Market price:

                       

High

   $   33.75       $   31.17       $   30.15       $   32.89       $   34.50       $   37.21       $   35.12       $   33.81   

Low

   $ 23.92       $ 13.71       $ 20.32       $ 24.56       $ 19.42       $ 28.65       $ 28.71       $ 24.18   

Close

   $ 29.17       $ 31.00       $ 24.63       $ 30.15       $ 31.18       $ 33.13       $ 32.29       $ 24.83   

Our Board of Directors (Board) reviews the dividend policy and rate, taking into consideration the overall financial and strategic outlook for our earnings, liquidity and cash flow projections, as well as competitive factors. On March 24, 2011, the Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share to be paid on May 2, 2011.

Additional information relating to the common stock and preferred stock is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K on the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements.

Issuer Purchases of Securities

No repurchases of common stock were made during the fourth quarter of 2010, and no amounts were authorized for share repurchase as of January 29, 2011. In February 2011, the Board authorized a program to repurchase up to $900 million of common stock on the open market. This program was launched on March 4, 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2011.

 

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Five-Year Total Stockholder Return Comparison

The following presentation compares our cumulative stockholder returns for the past five fiscal years with the returns of the S&P 500 Stock Index and the S&P 500 Retail Index for Department Stores over the same period. A list of these companies follows the graph below. The graph assumes $100 invested at the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE and each index as of the last trading day of our fiscal year 2005 and assumes that all dividends were reinvested on the date paid. The points on the graph represent fiscal year-end amounts based on the last trading day of each fiscal year. The following graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.

LOGO

 

00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000
      2005      2006      2007      2008      2009      2010  

jcpenney

   $   100       $   150       $   88       $   31       $   48       $   64   

S&P 500

     100         115         113         68         91         111   

S&P Department Stores

     100         144         92         43         73         83   

The stockholder returns shown are neither determinative nor indicative of future performance.

 

 

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Item 6.    Selected Financial Data.

FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY (UNAUDITED)

 

(in millions, except per share data)    2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  

Results for the year

          

Total net sales

   $ 17,759      $ 17,556      $ 18,486      $ 19,860      $ 19,903   

Sales percent increase/(decrease):

          

Total net sales

     1.2     (5.0 )%      (6.9 )%      (0.2 )%(1)      6.0 %(1) 

Comparable store sales(2)

     2.5     (6.3 )%      (8.5 )%      0.0     4.9

Operating income

     832        663        1,135        1,888        1,922   

As a percent of sales

     4.7     3.8     6.1     9.5     9.7

Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)(3)

     1,053        961        1,002        1,791        1,931   

As a percent of sales (non-GAAP)(3)

     5.9     5.5     5.4     9.0     9.7

Income from continuing operations

     378        249        567        1,105        1,134   

Adjusted income from continuing operations (non-GAAP)(3)

     513        433        484        1,043        1,140   

Per common share

          

Income from continuing operations, diluted

   $ 1.59      $ 1.07      $ 2.54      $ 4.90      $ 4.88   

Adjusted income from continuing operations, diluted (non-GAAP)(3)

     2.16        1.86        2.17        4.63        4.91   

Dividends declared

     0.80        0.80        0.80        0.80        0.72   

Financial position and cash flow

          

Total assets

   $   13,042      $   12,581      $   12,011      $   14,309      $   12,673   

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,622        3,011        2,352        2,532        2,803   

Long-term debt, including current maturities

     3,099        3,392        3,505        3,708        3,444   

Free cash flow (non-GAAP)(3)

     158        677        22        (269     632   

(1) Includes the effect of the 53rd week in 2006. Excluding sales of $254 million for the 53rd week in 2006, total net sales increased 1.1% in 2007 and 4.6% in 2006.

(2) Comparable store sales are presented on a 52-week basis and include sales from new and relocated stores that have been opened for 12 consecutive full fiscal months and online sales through jcp.com. Stores closed for an extended period are not included in comparable store sales calculations, while stores remodeled and minor expansions not requiring store closures remain in the calculations. Our definition and calculation of comparable store sales may differ from other companies in the retail industry.

(3) See Non-GAAP Financial Measures beginning on the following page for additional information and reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

FIVE-YEAR OPERATIONS SUMMARY (UNAUDITED)

 

     2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  

Number of department stores:

          

Beginning of year

     1,108        1,093        1,067        1,033        1,019   

Openings

     2        17        35        50        28   

Closings(1)

     (4     (2     (9     (16     (14
                                        

End of year

     1,106        1,108        1,093        1,067        1,033   
                                        

Gross selling space (square feet in millions)

       111.6          111.7          109.9          106.6          103.1   

Sales per gross square foot(2)

   $ 153      $ 149      $ 160      $ 177      $ 176   

Sales per net selling square foot(2)

   $ 210      $ 206      $ 223      $ 248      $ 248   

(1) Includes relocations of -, 1, 7, 15, and 10, respectively.

(2) Calculation includes the sales and square footage of department stores that were open for the full fiscal year and sales for jcp.com. The 2006 calculations exclude sales of the 53rd week.

 

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We report our financial information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). However, we present certain financial measures and ratios identified as non-GAAP under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to assess our results. We believe the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures and ratios is useful in order to better understand our financial performance, as well as facilitate the comparison of our results to the results of our peer companies. It is important to view non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, those measures and ratios prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have provided reconciliations of the most directly comparable GAAP measures to our non-GAAP financial measures presented.

Non-GAAP Measures Excluding Non-Cash Primary Pension Plan Expense/(Income)

Our operating non-GAAP financial measures are presented to exclude, or adjust for, the impact of our primary pension plan expense/(income). Unlike other operating expenses, primary pension plan expense/(income) is determined using numerous complex assumptions about changes in pension assets and liabilities that are subject to factors beyond our control, such as market volatility. We believe it is useful for investors to understand the impact of the non-cash primary pension plan on our financial results and therefore are presenting the following non-GAAP financial measures: (1) adjusted operating income; (2) adjusted income from continuing operations; and (3) adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations.

Adjusted Operating Income. The following table reconciles operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure:

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  

Operating income (GAAP)

   $ 832      $ 663      $ 1,135      $ 1,888      $ 1,922   

As a percent of sales

     4.7     3.8     6.1     9.5     9.7

Add/(deduct): primary pension plan expense/(income)

     221        298        (133     (97     9   
                                        

Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)

   $ 1,053      $ 961      $ 1,002      $ 1,791      $ 1,931   
                                        

As a percent of sales

     5.9     5.5     5.4     9.0     9.7

Adjusted Income and Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS) from Continuing Operations. The following table reconciles income and diluted EPS from continuing operations, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, to adjusted income and diluted EPS from continuing operations, non-GAAP financial measures:

 

($ in millions, except per share data)    2010      2009      2008     2007     2006  

Income from continuing operations (GAAP)

   $ 378       $ 249       $ 567      $ 1,105      $ 1,134   

Diluted EPS from continuing operations (GAAP)

   $ 1.59       $ 1.07       $ 2.54      $ 4.90      $ 4.88   

Add/(deduct): primary pension plan expense/(income), net of income tax

     135         184         (83     (62     6   
                                          

Adjusted income from continuing operations (non-GAAP)

   $ 513       $ 433       $ 484      $ 1,043      $ 1,140   
                                          

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations (non-GAAP)

   $ 2.16       $ 1.86       $ 2.17      $ 4.63      $ 4.91   

 

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Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is a key financial measure of our ability to generate additional cash from operating our business and in evaluating our financial performance. We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities excluding discretionary cash contributions to our primary pension plan and any associated cash tax impacts, less capital expenditures and dividends paid, plus proceeds from the sale of assets. Adjustments to exclude discretionary pension plan contributions are more indicative of our ability to generate cash flows from operating activities. We believe discretionary contributions to our pension plan are more reflective of financing transactions to reduce off-balance sheet debt relating to the pension liability. We believe that free cash flow is a relevant indicator of our ability to repay maturing debt, revise our dividend policy or fund other uses of capital that we believe will enhance stockholder value. Free cash flow is limited and does not represent remaining cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt maturities, pay-down of off-balance sheet pension debt and other obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, our entire statement of cash flows and those measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure.

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  

Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)

   $ 592      $ 1,573      $ 1,156      $ 1,232      $ 1,237   

Less:

          

Capital expenditures

     (499     (600     (969     (1,243     (772

Dividends paid, common stock

     (189     (183     (178     (174     (153

Tax benefit from pension contribution

     (152     (126 )(1)      -        (110 )(2)      -   

Plus:

          

Discretionary cash pension contribution

     392        -        -        -        300   

Proceeds from sale of assets

     14        13        13        26        20   
                                        

Free cash flow (non-GAAP)

   $ 158      $ 677      $ 22      $ (269   $ 632   
                                        

(1) Related to the discretionary contribution of $340 million of Company common stock in 2009.

(2) Related to the $300 million discretionary cash contribution in 2006.

 

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Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion, which presents our results, should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, along with the unaudited Five-Year Financial and Operations Summaries, the risk factors and the cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information. Unless otherwise indicated, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) relates only to results from continuing operations, all references to earnings per share (EPS) are on a diluted basis and all references to years relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years.

Financial Reporting

We remain committed to continuously improving the transparency of our financial reporting by providing stockholders with informative financial disclosures and presenting a clear and balanced view of our financial position and operating results. We continue to employ a reporting matrix that requires written certifications on a quarterly basis from a cross-disciplined team of approximately 20 senior members of our management team who have responsibility for preparing, verifying and reporting corporate results.

For this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we enhanced our financial reporting as follows:

 

   

Supplemental cash flow information and significant non-cash transactions have been moved from a footnote presentation to be more prominently included directly on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

   

We combined several related footnotes that contained information about common stock and stockholders’ equity into a single footnote titled, “Stockholders’ Equity.”

   

We addressed the new disclosure requirements to provide information on recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements, including significant transfers into and out of level one and level two categories.

   

We simplified the content and presentation of Item 6, Selected Financial Data.

   

We revised our definition and calculation of free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) to exclude discretionary pension contributions and any related cash tax effects, which more appropriately reflects our ability to generate cash flows from operating activities.

   

In view of the growth of our JCP Rewards® customer loyalty program in 2010, we added a significant accounting policy to describe the accounting for the program.

Consistent with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting each fiscal year. In relation to these requirements, our external auditors expressed an unqualified opinion regarding the effective operation of our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Executive Overview

Despite the continued economic weakness during the year, we began to see some improvement in the retail sector. Our comparable store sales were positive for each quarter of 2010 and grew 2.5% for the year, while total net sales grew 1.2%. Total sales were 130 basis points lower than comparable store sales due to the reduction in sales resulting from discontinuing catalog print media. The gross margin rate as a percent of sales decreased slightly to 39.2%, compared to last year’s historic peak of 39.4%; however, we leveraged operating expenses to grow operating income by $169 million. EPS from continuing operations of $1.59 was 48.6% higher than last year. Other key highlights for 2010 were as follows:

 

   

We opened 76 Sephora inside jcpenney beauty boutiques to bring our total to 231 locations.

   

We successfully launched the Liz Claiborne® brand.

   

We completed several financing transactions during the year that further strengthened our financial position and created additional financial flexibility to support our growth plans:

   

We closed a public offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2020 and used the net proceeds of approximately $392 million to make a voluntary cash contribution to our qualified pension plan.

   

We accepted for purchase $300 million principal amount of outstanding 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036, which were validly tendered pursuant to a cash tender offer, and incurred approximately $20 million, or about $0.05 per share, in related expenses, consisting primarily of bond premiums paid.

   

We recorded $32 million of restructuring charges, amounting to approximately $0.08 on a per share basis, primarily to reflect the write down of the catalog outlet stores, which are being exited, and related severance.

Current Developments

   

In February, our Board authorized a program to repurchase up to $900 million of our common stock.

   

In March, our Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share to be paid to stockholders on May 2, 2011. The dividend rate remains unchanged from our previous quarterly dividend payment.

   

To further enhance our liquidity, we plan to renew our revolving credit facility early in 2011, ahead of its maturity in 2012.

 

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Results of Operations

Three-Year Comparison of Operating Performance

 

(in millions, except EPS)    2010     2009     2008  

Total net sales

   $   17,759      $   17,556      $   18,486   

Percent increase/(decrease) from prior year

     1.2     (5.0 )%      (6.9 )% 

Comparable store sales increase/(decrease)(1)

     2.5     (6.3 )%      (8.5 )% 
                        

Gross margin

     6,960        6,910        6,915   

Operating expenses:

      

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A)

     5,350        5,382        5,395   

Pension expense/(income)

     255        337        (90

Depreciation and amortization

     511        495        469   

Pre-opening

     8        28        31   

Real estate and other, net

     4        5        (25
                        

Total operating expenses

     6,128        6,247        5,780   
                        

Operating income

     832        663        1,135   

As a percent of sales

     4.7     3.8     6.1

Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)(2)

     1,053        961        1,002   

As a percent of sales

     5.9     5.5     5.4

Net interest expense

     231        260        225   

Bond premiums and unamortized costs

     20        -        -   
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     581        403        910   

Income tax expense

     203        154        343   
                        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 378      $ 249      $ 567   

Adjusted income from continuing operations (non-GAAP)(2)

   $ 513      $ 433      $ 484   
                        

Diluted EPS from continuing operations

   $ 1.59      $ 1.07      $ 2.54   

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations (non-GAAP)(2)

   $ 2.16      $ 1.86      $ 2.17   

Average shares used for diluted EPS

     238        233        223   

(1) Comparable store sales are presented on a 52-week basis and include sales from new and relocated stores that have been opened for 12 consecutive full fiscal months and online sales through jcp.com. Stores closed for an extended period are not included in comparable store sales calculations, while stores remodeled and minor expansions not requiring store closures remain in the calculations. Our definition and calculation of comparable store sales may differ from other companies in the retail industry.

(2) See Item 6, Selected Financial Data, for a discussion of this non-GAAP financial measure and reconciliation to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Income from continuing operations was $378 million, or $1.59 per share, in 2010 compared to $249 million, or $1.07 per share, in 2009 and $567 million, or $2.54 per share, in 2008. Results for 2010 reflected improved profitability achieved by delivering top line sales growth and leveraging operating expenses. Included in results were charges of $32 million, or $0.08 per share, for initial restructuring charges related primarily to the wind down of our catalog and outlet operations and the streamlining of our call center operations and custom decorating business. Operating expenses benefited from lower primary pension plan expense by $77 million, or approximately $0.22 per share. Earnings for 2010 were favorably impacted by the decrease of our effective income tax rate due to favorable resolution of certain state income tax audits and an increase in our federal wage tax credit.

 

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Earnings for 2009 reflected the economic downturn as well as the significant increase in the non-cash primary pension plan charge. Notwithstanding these impacts, results benefited significantly from gross margin improvement that reflected the success of our strategy to sell a greater portion of merchandise at regular promotional prices and less at clearance prices. Results for 2008 were impacted by pressure on gross margins in a highly promotional selling environment, particularly during the holiday season. Gross margin declined both in dollars and as a percentage of sales from the pressure of declining sales levels that resulted from the slowdown in consumer spending. The impact on operating income from lower gross margin was somewhat mitigated by effective control over operating expenses, despite incremental expenses related to new store openings.

Excluding the non-cash impact of our primary pension plan, adjusted income from continuing operations (non-GAAP) was $513 million, or $2.16 per share, in 2010 compared with $433 million, or $1.86 per share, in 2009 and $484 million, or $2.17 per share, in 2008.

2010 Compared to 2009

Total Net Sales

Our year-to-year change in total net sales is comprised of (a) sales from new stores net of closings and relocations including catalog print media and outlet store sales, referred to as non-comparable store sales and (b) sales of stores opened in both years as well as online sales from jcp.com, referred to as comparable store sales. We consider comparable store sales to be a key indicator of our current performance measuring the growth in sales and sales productivity of existing stores. Positive comparable store sales contribute to greater leveraging of operating costs, particularly payroll and occupancy costs, while negative comparable store sales contribute to de-leveraging of costs. Comparable store sales also have a direct impact on our total net sales and the level of cash flow.

 

     2010     2009  

Total net sales (in millions)

   $     17,759      $     17,556   
                

Sales percent increase/(decrease)

    

Total net sales

     1.2     (5.0 )% 

Comparable store sales

     2.5     (6.3 )% 

Sales per gross square foot(1)

   $ 153      $ 149   

(1) Calculation includes the sales of stores that were open for the full fiscal year, as well as online sales through jcp.com.

Total net sales increased $203 million in 2010 compared to 2009. The following table provides the components of the net sales increase:

 

($ in millions)    2010  

Comparable store sales, including Internet

   $ 406   

Sales of new (non-comparable) stores, net

             77   

Sales decline through catalog print media and outlet stores

     (280
        

2010 total net sales increase

   $ 203   
        

In 2010, comparable store sales increased 2.5% mainly as customers responded to our new merchandise initiatives and the value offered through our private brands. Sales of non-comparable stores opened in 2010 and 2009, net of closings, added $77 million. In 2010, we opened two new stores and closed four, while in 2009 we opened 17 new stores and closed or relocated two stores. As expected with the wind down of the catalog business, catalog print media and outlet store sales

 

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declined in 2010. Internet sales, which are included in comparable store sales, increased 4.4% to slightly more than $1.5 billion for the year. All components combined, total net sales increased $203 million or 1.2% in the year.

During 2010, the percent increase in our off-mall store traffic exceeded the increase in our mall traffic, which was also above last year’s level. In addition, our conversion rates for both mall and off-mall stores were above 2009 levels. Our average unit retail was down in 2010 compared to last year, primarily as a result of a greater portion of promotional sales in our mix this year and a higher proportion of sales in the “good” and “better” merchandise categories at lower price points than sales of merchandise in the “best” category at higher price points. For 2010, our unit sales, number of transactions and units per transaction were higher than last year. Sales in all geographic regions increased in 2010, with the best performance in the southeast and southwest regions with the weakest in the northwest and northeast regions. Our best performing categories were men’s apparel and women’s accessories, including Sephora. Home and women’s apparel experienced the weakest performance for the year. Private and exclusive brands found only at jcpenney continue to grow and as a percent of total merchandise sales were 55% in 2010 versus 54% in 2009.

Total Net Sales Mix

The following percentages represent the mix of total net sales:

 

     2010     2009  

Women’s apparel

     24     24

Men’s apparel and accessories

     20     19

Home

     18     19

Women’s accessories, including Sephora

     12     11

Children’s apparel

     11     11

Family footwear

     7     7

Fine jewelry

     4     4

Services and other

     4     5
                
     100     100
                

During the year, we opened 76 Sephora inside jcpenney locations, bringing us to 231 locations compared to 155 at the end of 2009. We plan to open an additional 76 Sephora inside jcpenney locations in 2011.

Merchandise Initiatives

In 2010, we focused on improving our merchandise assortments through the following initiatives:

 

   

In April, we introduced One KissTM, a new brand of fine jewelry by Cindy Crawford.

   

In July, in time for the back-to-school shopping season, we launched UproarTM and Supergirl® by Nastia. Uproar is a new private label brand in stores and jcp.com for girls and boys ages 9 to 13. Supergirl by Nastia, an exclusive jcpenney brand for girls 8 to 12 years old, was created through a partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin.

   

In August, we launched Liz Claiborne, making jcpenney the exclusive department store for Liz® branded merchandise in the United States and Puerto Rico. Liz Claiborne is available in all stores and jcp.com and consists of merchandise in approximately 30 categories, including women’s and men’s apparel, home and accessories.

   

Also in August, we launched MNG by Mango®, fast fashion merchandise consisting of career and casual women’s sportswear, as well as handbags, accessories and footwear. MNG

 

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by Mango is available exclusively at jcpenney and is available on jcp.com. At the end of the year, MNG by Mango was available in 77 stores, and is expected to reach a total of about 500 stores by the end of 2011.

   

In September, we launched a new unique collaboration with People StyleWatch®. People StyleWatch editors select “Must Have” items from jcpenney’s fashion assortment, focusing on women’s and juniors’ apparel, accessories and footwear. The items branded as “Must Have” items are displayed and clearly highlighted in jcpenney stores, online at jcp.com and through print and digital media. Displays are refreshed up to 10 times a year to showcase “People StyleWatch Must Haves.”

   

In the fall, we became the exclusive department store retailer for the Call it Spring® brand by The ALDO® Group. Call it Spring was launched as a shop-within-a-shop concept similar to Sephora and provides a collection of more than 300 styles of on-trend footwear and accessories targeting younger, modern customers. Call it Spring is expected to be available in approximately 500 stores by the end of 2011.

   

In October, we announced an alliance with Condé Nast to launch Modern Bride™, a concept devoted to providing style and exceptional customer service. In February 2011, we introduced the Modern Bride concept in our fine jewelry department, in time for Valentine’s Day, offering an expanded assortment of bridal jewelry including engagement rings and wedding bands.

   

In November, we announced our newly created Growth Brands Division and our plans to pursue high potential opportunities in the retail sector, including both digital and store opportunities. The Growth Brands Division will be separate from our core jcpenney brand and will leverage our merchandising, marketing, product development, sourcing, IT, planning and allocation and consumer research capabilities. We announced three retail businesses that will debut under this division. In summer 2011, in partnership with Hearst Magazines, we will launch two online retail businesses: Gifting Grace™, a comprehensive online gifting resource for women, and CLAD™, aimed at men and offering an assortment of designer brands. We also plan to launch The Foundry Big & Tall Supply Co.™ with a website catering to the men’s big & tall customer, followed by the opening of 10 stand-alone specialty retail stores.

Gross Margin

Gross margin is a measure of profitability of a retail company at the most fundamental level of buying and selling merchandise and measures a company’s ability to effectively manage the total costs of sourcing and allocating merchandise against the corresponding retail pricing designed to offer quality merchandise at compelling prices. Gross margins not only cover marketing, selling and other operating expenses, but also must include a profit element to reinvest back into the business. Gross margin is the difference between total net sales and cost of the merchandise sold and is typically expressed as a percentage of total net sales. The cost of merchandise sold includes all direct costs of bringing merchandise to its final selling destination. These costs include:

 

•   cost of the merchandise (net of discounts or allowances earned)

•   freight

•   warehousing

•   sourcing and procurement

•   buying and brand development costs including buyers’ salaries and related expenses

 

•   merchandise examination

•   inspection and testing

•   merchandise distribution center expenses

•   shipping and handling costs incurred related to sales to customers

 

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($ in millions)    2010     2009  

Gross margin

   $     6,960      $     6,910   
                

As a percent of sales

     39.2     39.4

Gross margin decreased slightly to 39.2% of sales, or 20 basis points, in 2010 compared to 2009’s historical high annual gross margin rate of 39.4%. On a dollar basis, gross margin increased $50 million, or 0.7%, to $6,960 million compared to $6,910 million last year. The gross margin rate decreased due to higher markdowns from increased promotional activity that were somewhat offset by increased vendor support and lower year-over-year shrinkage, as a result of our shrinkage reduction initiatives. The gross margin level was also negatively impacted by the elimination of catalog print media.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses

The following costs are included in SG&A expenses, except if related to merchandise buying, sourcing, warehousing or distribution activities:

 

•    salaries

•    marketing

•    occupancy and rent

•    utilities and maintenance

•    information technology

 

•    administrative costs related to our home office, district and regional operations

•    credit/debit card fees

•    real, personal property and other taxes (excluding income taxes)

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009  

SG&A

   $     5,350      $     5,382   
                

As a percent of sales

     30.1     30.7

SG&A expenses declined $32 million to $5,350 million in 2010 compared to $5,382 million in 2009. As a percent of sales, SG&A expenses were leveraged and decreased 60 basis points to 30.1% compared to 30.7% in 2009. A lower incentive compensation accrual for 2010 offset higher store salary costs that were impacted by the minimum wage increase and the resumption of merit increases, as well as the higher salaries associated with the additional Sephora inside jcpenney locations, which are more labor intensive than other departments in the store. The lower incentive compensation accrual was primarily the result of not achieving our sales plan as the discontinuation of the catalog business had a greater impact on sales than expected. In addition, last year’s accrual included a special one-time recognition bonus program for mostly store-based hourly associates. Risk insurance expense, as well as health and welfare plan costs were also lower in the year. Risk insurance expense declined as a result of our workers’ compensation initiatives and favorable industry trends and health and welfare costs were lower as a result of a decline in participation levels. While our year-over-year marketing expense was relatively flat with last year, spending was reallocated from catalog and print media to local and national advertising and online media.

Pension Expense

 

($ in millions)    2010      2009  

Primary pension plan expense

   $     221       $     298   

Supplemental pension plans expense

     34         39   
                 

Total pension expense

   $ 255       $ 337   
                 

 

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Total pension expense was $255 million in 2010 compared to $337 million in 2009 and consisted mainly of the primary pension plan expense of $221 million in 2010 versus $298 million for 2009. The 2010 primary pension plan expense declined mainly as a result of higher returns on our pension plan assets as of the 2009 year-end measurement date due to positive market returns in 2009 combined with our May 2009 discretionary contribution of common stock to the plan.

Based on our 2010 year-end measurement of primary pension plan assets and benefit obligations, we expect our 2011 non-cash primary pension plan expense to decline to $87 million compared to $221 million in 2010. The lower expense will benefit EPS about $0.35 based on the 2010 level of shares used for the EPS calculation. The reduction is primarily the result of positive returns on plan assets due to favorable capital market experience in 2010 and our discretionary cash contribution of $392 million in May 2010, partially offset by a 90 basis point decline in our expected return on plan assets. The decline of the expected rate of return is due to our new target allocation strategy to mitigate volatility risk by decreasing the plan’s asset allocation to equities and shifting to less volatile fixed income investments. For more information, see Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses in 2010 increased $16 million to $511 million, or approximately 3.2%, compared to $495 million in 2009 primarily as a result of our store renewals and updates over the past two years.

Pre-Opening Expense

Pre-opening expense, which includes advertising, hiring and training costs for new associates, processing and stocking initial merchandise inventory and rental costs prior to store opening and similar costs prior to a new Sephora inside jcpenney location opening, was $8 million for 2010 compared to $28 million in 2009. In 2010, we opened two new stores and 76 Sephora inside jcpenney locations compared to 17 new stores and 64 Sephora inside jcpenney locations in 2009.

Real Estate and Other, Net

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009  

Real estate activities

   $ (34   $ (34

Net gains from sale of real estate

     (8     (2

Impairments

     3           42   

Restructuring charges

        32        -   

Other

     11        (1
                

Total expense

   $ 4      $ 5   
                

Real estate and other consists of ongoing operating income from our real estate subsidiaries, net gains from the sale of facilities and equipment that are no longer used in our operations, other non-operating corporate charges and credits, as well as asset impairments and restructuring related charges.

Real estate and other expenses totaled $4 million in 2010 compared to $5 million in 2009. While operating income from our real estate activities was consistent year-over-year at $34 million, net gains from sale of real estate were $6 million higher in 2010 from the sale of two properties. In 2010, impairments totaled $3 million and related primarily to one underperforming store that continues to operate. In 2009, impairments totaled $42 million and related to seven underperforming department

 

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stores and other corporate assets. Real estate and other in 2010 also included $32 million of initial restructuring charges related primarily to the wind down of our catalog and outlet operations and streamlining the related call center operations and facility consolidation within our custom decorating business. Other expenses of $11 million in 2010 included legal and other advisory costs related to the Company’s evaluation of capital restructuring alternatives.

Operating Income

Operating income increased 90 basis points to 4.7% of sales in 2010 compared to 3.8% last year. Excluding the non-cash impact of the primary pension plan, adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) increased 40 basis points to 5.9% of sales compared to 5.5% in 2009.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense consists principally of interest expense on long-term debt, net of interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents. Net interest expense was $231 million, a decrease of $29 million, or 11.2%, from $260 million in 2009. The decrease was primarily due to lower debt levels combined with lower interest rate levels resulting from long-term debt transactions completed during the year.

Bond Premiums and Unamortized Costs

In 2010, we incurred $20 million of additional financing costs, consisting primarily of bond premiums paid in connection with the debt tender offer completed in May 2010. There were no comparable costs in 2009.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for continuing operations for 2010 was 34.9% compared with 38.2% for 2009. The tax rate decreased due to favorable resolution of certain state income tax audits combined with changes in state tax laws and an increase in our federal wage tax credit.

Income from Continuing Operations

Income from continuing operations for 2010 increased 51.8% to $378 million, or $1.59 per share, compared with $249 million, or $1.07 per share, last year. Excluding the non-cash impact of the primary pension plan, adjusted income from continuing operations (non-GAAP) increased 18.5% to $513 million, or $2.16 per share, compared to $433 million, or $1.86 per share, for 2009.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued operations in 2010 generated a credit of $11 million, net of $4 million of income tax expense, or $0.04 per share, compared to a credit of $2 million, net of $1 million of income tax expense, or $0.01 per share, in 2009, and primarily reflected a reduction in the environmental reserve we retained when we sold our drugstore business. The reduction to the reserve was due in part to the affirmation of an additional responsible party to one of the known sites involving a warehouse facility, as well as an update for actual historical experience. These previously discontinued operations are no longer expected to have a future material impact on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Other Significant Events in 2010

Effective October 29, 2010, we amended our agreement with GE Money Bank (GEMB) governing our private label credit card program (the Program). The amendment provides for certain changes to the

 

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Program to offset the financial impacts to GEMB from recent changes in law. To mitigate the expected revenue impacts resulting from the issuance of new regulations by the Federal Reserve under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, we agreed to eliminate the annual signing bonus payable to us, effective July 1, 2010, as well as an application bounty payment, also payable to us, and agreed to modify the gain share calculation. The amendment also permits GEMB to make certain changes to credit terms on cardholder accounts, including finance charges, late fees and minimum payments. In addition, the amendment entitles GEMB to offer a debt protection product to new and existing cardholders.

2009 Compared to 2008

Total Net Sales

 

     2009     2008  

Total net sales (in millions)

   $     17,556      $     18,486   
                

Sales percent (decrease)

    

Total net sales

     (5.0 )%      (6.9 )% 

Comparable store sales

     (6.3 )%      (8.5 )% 

Sales per gross square foot(1)

   $ 149      $ 160   

(1) Calculation includes the sales of stores that were open for the full fiscal year, as well as online sales through jcp.com.

Total net sales declined $930 million in 2009 compared to 2008. The following table provides the components of the net sales decline:

 

($ in millions)    2009  

Comparable store sales decline

   $ (1,085

Sales of new stores

              342   

Sales of closed stores

     (34

Sales decline through catalog print media and outlet stores

     (153
        

2009 total net sales decline

   $ (930
        

In 2009, comparable store sales decreased 6.3% as a result of continued weak consumer spending combined with our strategy to reduce clearance selling and unprofitable discounting by choosing not to anniversary promotions that negatively impacted operating profit. Sales of non-comparable stores opened in 2009 and 2008, net of closings, added $308 million. In 2009, we opened 15 net new stores (17 stores, net of 2 closings and relocations) and in 2008, we opened 26 net new stores (35 stores, net of 9 closings and relocations). As expected, catalog print media and outlet store sales declined in the year and reflected the continued shift in sales from print media to jcp.com. All components combined, total net sales declined 5.0% in 2009, with approximately half of the decrease attributable to lower sales of clearance merchandise.

Our mall store traffic was down for 2009 but exceeded overall mall traffic trends. Our off-mall store traffic was also down compared to 2008 but had stronger traffic trends than our mall stores. While our average unit retail increased slightly as a result of more merchandise sold at regular promotional prices, the number of transactions and the number of units sold declined as inventory levels were tightly managed in the difficult economic climate.

 

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Geographically, the southwest and central regions were the best performing regions for 2009, while the southeast and northwest regions were the weakest performing. Sales for jcp.com increased 3.4% in the fourth quarter and ended 2009 with approximately $1.5 billion of sales, essentially flat with 2008. While sales in all merchandise categories declined versus last year, our best performing categories were shoes, particularly athletic footwear, and women’s apparel. Fine jewelry and home experienced the weakest performance for the year. Private and exclusive brands found only at jcpenney as a percent of total merchandise sales were 54% in 2009 and 52% in 2008.

Total Net Sales Mix

The following percentages represent the mix of total net sales:

 

     2009     2008  

Women’s apparel

     24     24

Home

     19     20

Men’s apparel and accessories

     19     19

Children’s apparel

     11     11

Women’s accessories, including Sephora

     11     10

Family footwear

     7     6

Fine jewelry

     4     5

Services and other

     5     5
                
     100     100
                

In 2009, we opened 64 Sephora inside jcpenney locations, which brought the total to 155 locations compared to 91 at the end of 2008.

Gross Margin

 

($ in millions)    2009     2008  

Gross margin

   $       6,910      $       6,915   
                

As a percent of sales

     39.4     37.4

Gross margin increased 200 basis points to 39.4% of sales in 2009 and exceeded our previous historical high annual gross margin rate of 39.3% achieved in 2006. On a dollar basis, gross margin declined only $5 million, or 0.1%, to $6,910 million, despite the $930 million, or 5.0%, decline in total net sales for the year. The gross margin rate improved significantly as we effectively controlled inventory and planned for lower sales levels with reductions in both clearance selling and unprofitable discounting. In addition, sourcing costs were slightly lower for the year.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses

 

($ in millions)    2009     2008  

SG&A

   $     5,382      $     5,395   
                

As a percent of sales

     30.7     29.2

SG&A expenses declined $13 million to $5,382 million compared to $5,395 million in 2008. However, due to lower sales in 2009, SG&A expenses were not leveraged and increased 150 basis points to 30.7% as a percent of sales compared to 29.2% in 2008. Marketing costs declined compared to the prior year, as we realigned advertising resources to better leverage media to reach our customers,

 

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which led to discontinuing certain unprofitable promotions and reducing catalog book costs as planned by reducing total page count and books circulated. SG&A expenses also benefited in 2009 from the $11 million distribution of the Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation settlement. Offsetting the decline in expenses were higher incentive compensation accruals covering approximately 7,500 associates due to better-than-planned sales and operating income, as well as a special recognition bonus program for over 100,000 mostly store-based hourly associates. Additionally, other store expenses, including salaries, facility management and occupancy costs were well managed throughout the organization despite approximately $115 million of incremental costs associated with non-comparable stores.

Pension Expense/(Income)

 

($ in millions)    2009      2008  

Primary pension plan expense/(income)

   $     298       $ (133

Supplemental pension plans expense

     39                 43   
                 

Total pension expense/(income)

   $ 337       $ (90
                 

Total pension expense was $337 million in 2009 compared to income of $90 million in 2008, and consisted mainly of the primary pension plan expense of $298 million in 2009 versus primary pension plan income of $133 million, resulting in a negative swing of $431 million, or $1.16 per share on an after-tax basis. The expense is primarily the result of the amortization of the primary pension plan’s unrealized losses due to the significant decline in plan assets in 2008. On May 18, 2009, we voluntarily contributed Company common stock valued at $340 million to our primary pension plan. Along with the contribution and to reflect updated pension assumptions relating to the pension liability, we remeasured the plan’s assets and obligations as of the date of the contribution. Based on the new measurement, the net periodic pension plan expense for 2009 was reduced by $24 million to $298 million from the original estimate of $322 million.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses in 2009 increased $26 million to $495 million, or approximately 5.5%, compared to $469 million in 2008, primarily due to the addition of new stores and investments in renovating existing stores.

Pre-Opening Expense

Pre-opening expense was $28 million for 2009 compared to $31 million in 2008. We opened 17 new stores and 64 Sephora inside jcpenney locations in 2009 compared to 35 new stores and 44 Sephora inside jcpenney locations in 2008. Relative to the number of stores opened, the pre-opening expenses for 2009 were significantly higher than 2008 primarily due to the recognition of rent expense (level rent) during the construction period associated with our Manhattan store in New York City, which opened in late July 2009.

Real Estate and Other, Net

 

($ in millions)    2009      2008  

Real estate activities

   $     (34)       $     (39)   

Net gains from sale of real estate

     (2)         (10)   

Impairments and other

     41         24   
                 

Total expense/(income)

   $     5        $     (25)   
                 

 

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Real estate and other was a net charge of $5 million in 2009 versus income of $25 million in 2008, declining $30 million primarily as a result of higher impairment charges and lower net gains from the sale of real estate in 2009. Impairments in 2009 totaled $42 million and included seven underperforming department stores and other corporate assets. Impairments were $21 million in 2008, primarily related to a department store, a real estate joint venture and other corporate assets.

Operating Income

Operating income declined 230 basis points to 3.8% of sales in 2009 compared to 6.1% in 2008. Excluding the non-cash impact of the primary pension plan, adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) increased 10 basis points to 5.5% of sales compared to 5.4% in 2008.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense was $260 million in 2009, an increase of $35 million, or 15.6%, from $225 million in 2008. The increase in net interest expense was due primarily to a significant decline in the weighted-average annual interest rate earned on short-term investment balances to 0.1% in 2009 from 1.6% in 2008. Interest income on short-term investments was $3 million in 2009 compared to $32 million in 2008. Net interest expense for 2009 also reflected higher credit line fees related to our new Credit Facility, offset by lower long-term interest expense due to lower average long-term debt as a result of our debt repayment in mid-2008 and repurchases of debt in 2009.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for continuing operations for 2009 was 38.2% compared with 37.7% for 2008. The tax rate increase was due to the lower level of pre-tax income as well as state audit activity and state income tax legislative changes enacted during the year.

Income from Continuing Operations

Income from continuing operations for 2009 declined 56.1% to $249 million, or $1.07 per share, compared with $567 million, or $2.54 per share, in 2008. Excluding the non-cash impact of the primary pension plan, adjusted income from continuing operations (non-GAAP) decreased 10.5% to $433 million, or $1.86 per share, compared to $484 million, or $2.17 per share, for 2008.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued operations in 2009 generated a credit of $2 million, net of $1 million of income tax expense, or $0.01 per share, compared to a credit of $5 million, or $0.03 per share, in 2008, and was primarily the result of our ongoing review and true-up of reserves related to previously discontinued operations.

 

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Financial Condition and Liquidity

Overview

In 2010, we continued to have a strong balance sheet and liquidity position. The cornerstone of our strength is our cash and cash equivalent balances and our ability to generate positive free cash flow (non-GAAP). For 2010, we ended the year with $2.6 billion of cash and cash equivalent balances and had positive free cash flow of $158 million.

Our liquidity position provides the flexibility for our team to support the key components of our growth initiatives. Early in 2010, we used cash on hand to retire $393 million of debt at its maturity and $300 million to purchase long-term debt through a tender offer. At year-end 2010, our cash-to-debt ratio was about 85%, while our debt-to-total capital ratio improved to 36%. Our next scheduled debt maturity of $230 million will occur in August 2012.

In addition to cash flow and cash and cash equivalent balances, which are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, our existing credit facility provides an additional $750 million source of liquidity. Other than the issuance of trade and standby letters of credit, which totaled $172 million at year-end 2010, we have not utilized this facility nor do we expect to do so in 2011.

The following table provides a summary of our key components and ratios of financial condition and liquidity:

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $     2,622      $     3,011      $     2,352   

Merchandise inventory

     3,213        3,024        3,259   

Property and equipment, net

     5,231        5,357        5,367   

Long-term debt, including current maturities

   $ 3,099      $ 3,392      $ 3,505   

Stockholders’ equity

     5,460        4,778        4,155   
                        

Total capital

   $ 8,559      $ 8,170      $ 7,660   

Additional amounts available under our credit agreements

   $ 750      $ 750      $ 1,200   

Cash flow from operating activities

     592        1,573 (1)      1,156   

Free cash flow (non-GAAP)(2)

     158        677        22   

Capital expenditures

     499        600        969   

Dividends paid

     189        183        178   

Ratios and measures:

      

Debt-to-total capital(3)

     36.2     41.5     45.8

Cash-to-debt(4)

     84.6     88.8     67.1

(1) Included a $126 million tax benefit as a result of the contribution of common stock to the primary pension plan.

(2) See Item 6, Selected Financial Data, for a discussion of this non-GAAP financial measure and reconciliation to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

(3) Long-term debt, including current maturities divided by total capital.

(4) Cash and cash equivalents divided by long-term debt, including current maturities.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

At year-end 2010, we had $2.6 billion of cash and cash equivalents, which represented approximately 85% of our $3.1 billion of outstanding long-term debt. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $389 million in 2010 after cash uses that included $693 million to reduce long-term debt through payments at maturity and a debt tender offer. In addition, we issued $400 million of new debt and used the net

 

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proceeds of approximately $392 million to make a discretionary contribution to our primary pension plan. Our cash investments are held in U.S. Treasury money market funds and a portfolio of highly rated bank deposits.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents, our liquidity position includes a $750 million revolving credit facility (Credit Agreement). As of January 29, 2011, we had no current maturities of debt. However, our 2010 and 2007 debt issuances contain a change of control provision that would obligate us, at the holders’ option, to repurchase the debt at a price of 101%. These provisions trigger if there were a beneficial ownership change of 50% or more of our common stock and, for the 2010 issuance, if the debt was downgraded from current levels and, for the 2007 issuances, if the debt was rated non-investment grade. This provision applies to $1.1 billion of our debt.

Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP)

Free cash flow (non-GAAP) is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, excluding discretionary cash contributions to our primary pension plan and any associated cash tax impacts, less capital expenditures and dividends paid, plus proceeds from the sale of assets. Our 2010 free cash flow was $158 million compared to $677 million in 2009. The decrease was mainly due to higher receipts of merchandise inventory and higher payments of incentive compensation that was accrued in 2009, partially offset by a reduction in capital expenditures.

Operating Activities

Our operations are seasonal in nature, with the business depending to a great extent on the last quarter of the year when a significant portion of the sales, profits and positive operating cash flows are realized. Cash requirements are highest in the third quarter as we build inventory levels in preparation for the holiday season. During 2010, our peak cash requirements increased as planned as we increased merchandise receipts.

2010 cash flow from operating activities was $592 million, a decrease of about $1 billion from the prior year. The decrease was primarily attributable to higher receipts of merchandise inventory, the $392 million discretionary pension contribution, and higher payments of incentive compensation, partially offset by lower income taxes paid.

Total inventory was $3,213 million at the end of 2010, an increase of 6.3% from 2009, but about flat with the 2008 level. We approached 2009 conservatively and planned lower levels due to the uncertain economic environment. In response to the recovering environment and supported by our financial flexibility, we maintained a higher level of merchandise inventory in 2010. We believe that the inventory level at the end of 2010 is appropriate to support our 2011 sales growth plan, including the expansion of Liz Claiborne into additional categories and the rollout of additional Sephora inside jcpenney and MNG by Mango to additional store locations. Inventory turns for 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 3.05, 3.15 and 3.06, respectively.

2009 cash flow from operating activities was $1,573 million, an increase of $417 million as compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to lower merchandise inventory receipts and lower payments of incentive compensation and income taxes than in 2008.

 

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Investing Activities

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008  

Net cash (used)/provided by:

      

Capital expenditures

   $ (499   $ (600   $ (969

Proceeds from sale of assets

     14        13        13   
                        

Investing activities

   $     (485   $     (587   $     (956
                        

In 2010, we invested $499 million in capital expenditures for two new stores, 26 major renovations, 76 new Sephora inside jcpenney locations, 15 store refurbishments, fixture and store environment improvements in over 500 stores and our digital initiatives.

In 2009, we invested $600 million in capital expenditures for 17 new stores, 16 in our off-mall format, and our store in Manhattan, 64 new Sephora inside jcpenney locations, 20 major capital improvements, 22 store refurbishments, fixture and store environment improvements in over 500 stores and technology.

In 2008, we invested $969 million in capital expenditures for 35 new or relocated stores, 31 of which were in our off-mall format, 44 new Sephora inside jcpenney locations, 24 major renovations, fixture and store environment improvements in about 600 stores and 90 store refurbishments.

The following provides a breakdown of capital expenditures:

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008  

Store renewals and updates

   $     257      $     195      $ 322   

Capitalized software

     100        72        66   

New and relocated stores

     25        163        460   

Technology and other

     117 (1)      170 (2)      121   
                        

Total

   $ 499      $ 600      $     969   
                        

(1) Included $27 million for the repurchase of eight stores that were originally part of sale-leaseback transactions, of which we have 14 remaining sale-leaseback transactions.

(2) Included $31 million for the repurchase of 12 stores that were originally part of sale-leaseback transactions.

We expect to invest approximately $650 million in capital expenditures in 2011 that will be funded with cash flow from operations and existing cash and cash equivalent balances.

Financing Activities

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008  

Net cash provided by/(used) in:

      

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

   $     392      $         -      $         -   

Payments of long-term debt, including financing costs

     (707     (145     (203

Dividends paid

     (189     (183     (178

Other

     8        1        1   
                        

Total

   $ (496   $ (327   $ (380
                        

 

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In 2010, we completed several financing transactions. On March 1, 2010, we repaid at maturity $393 million principal amount of 8.0% Notes due 2010. In May, we paid aggregate consideration of $314 million, including accrued but unpaid interest, to purchase $300 million principal amount of JCP’s outstanding 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036, which were validly tendered pursuant to a cash tender offer. Also in May, we closed on our offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2020 and used proceeds of the offering, net of discounts, of $392 million to make a voluntary cash contribution to the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Pension Plan.

In 2010, we maintained our quarterly dividend on common stock at $0.20 per share and returned $189 million to stockholders through dividend payments. The Board reviews the dividend policy and rate, taking into consideration our overall financial and strategic outlook, earnings, liquidity and cash flow projections, as well as competitive factors. The Board approves and declares dividends on a quarterly basis.

In 2009, pursuant to a cash tender offer, we accepted for purchase $104 million principal amount of the 8% Notes due March 1, 2010 and purchased another $9 million of these notes in the open market. There were no issuances of new debt during 2009. We paid financing costs of $32 million, which consisted of Credit Facility fees and premiums on early retirement of debt from our cash tender offer. During 2009, we returned $183 million to stockholders through dividend payments.

During 2008, cash payments on long-term debt totaled $203 million and consisted primarily of the August 2008 payment at maturity of $200 million outstanding principal amount of JCP’s 7.375% Notes Due 2008. During 2008, we returned $178 million to stockholders through dividend payments.

Cash Flow and Financing Outlook

In 2011, our financing strategy will continue to focus on opportunities to maintain and further strengthen our financial position, improve our credit profile and deliver value to stockholders. Our strong financial position provides continued financial flexibility and enables us to strengthen our competitive and financial position as the environment continues to improve. Consistent with our financing strategy, in February the Board approved a program to purchase up to $900 million of common stock in open market transactions and a plan to renew our revolving credit facility early in 2011, ahead of its maturity in 2012. In addition, our operating and capital expenditure plans have been adjusted to reflect current operating conditions, while continuing to reinvest capital into the business. Capital expenditures are planned at $650 million for the year, which includes investments in important planning and allocation tools, such as size and markdown optimization, our digital initiatives, the expansion of MNG by Mango and Call It Spring, three new department stores, 69 renovations, 76 new Sephora inside jcpenney locations and fixture and store environment improvements in over 500 stores.

We have no debt maturities until August 2012. We do not expect to borrow under our credit facility except to support ongoing letters of credit. We will fund our capital expenditures and the $900 million share repurchase program with operating cash flows in 2011, as well as the cash investment balances available at the beginning of the year. In accordance with our long-term financing strategy, we manage our financial position on a multi-year basis and may access the capital markets opportunistically.

 

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Credit Facility

In 2009, the Company, JCP and J. C. Penney Purchasing Corporation entered into a three-year, $750 million revolving credit agreement (Credit Facility) with a syndicate of lenders with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The facility may be used for general corporate purposes and the issuance of letters of credit.

The Credit Facility is secured by our merchandise inventory, which security interest can be released upon attainment of certain credit rating levels. Pricing under the Credit Facility is tiered based on JCP’s senior unsecured long-term credit ratings issued by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. JCP’s obligations under the 2009 Credit Facility are guaranteed by J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

As of January 29, 2011, we were in compliance with the required financial covenants under the Credit Facility. As of such date, our leverage ratio was 2 to 1, not exceeding the 3 to 1 maximum requirement; our fixed charge coverage ratio was 3.8 to 1, exceeding the required minimum of 2.5 to 1; and our asset coverage ratio was 19 to 1, exceeding the required minimum of 3 to 1.

In 2011, we do not expect to borrow under our Credit Facility other than to provide support for the issuance of letters of credit, which totaled $172 million at the end of 2010. While the Credit Facility matures in 2012, the Board approved a plan in February to renegotiate a new revolving credit facility in early 2011.

Credit Ratings

Our credit ratings were affirmed on February 28, 2011, following the announcement of our planned buyback of $900 million of common stock.

 

     Long-Term
Debt
   Outlook  

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

   Ba1      Stable   

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services

   BB+      Stable   

Fitch Ratings

   BBB-      Stable   

Rating agencies consider changes in operating performance, comparable store sales, the economic environment, conditions in the retail industry, financial leverage and changes in our business strategy in their rating decisions.

 

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Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Aggregated information about our obligations and commitments to make future contractual payments, such as debt and lease agreements, and contingent commitments as of January 29, 2011 is presented in the following table.

 

($ in millions)    Total      2011     2012      2013      2014      2015      After
5 years
 

Recorded contractual obligations:

                   

Long-term debt(1)

   $ 3,099       $ -      $ 230       $ -       $ -       $ 200       $ 2,669   

Merchandise accounts payable

     1,133         1,133        -         -         -         -         -   

Unrecognized tax benefits(2)

     162         61        -         -         -         -         101   

Contributions to non-qualified supplemental retirement and postretirement medical plans(3)

     228         32        29         25         23         22         97   
                                                             
   $ 4,622       $ 1,226      $ 259       $ 25       $ 23       $ 222       $ 2,867   
                                                             

Unrecorded contractual obligations:

                   

Interest payments on long-term debt

   $ 5,532       $ 218 (4)    $ 218       $ 198       $ 198       $ 198       $ 4,502   

Operating leases(5)

     2,937         262        232         196         172         144         1,931   

Standby and import letters of credit(6)

     172         172        -         -         -         -         -   

Surety bonds(7)

     70         70        -         -         -         -         -   

Contractual obligations(8)

     1,011         223        215         205         99         101         168   

Purchase orders(9)

     2,653         2,653        -         -         -         -         -   

Guarantees(10)

     33         13        -         -         -         -         20   
                                                             
   $ 12,408       $ 3,611      $ 665       $ 599       $ 469       $ 443       $ 6,621   
                                                             

Total

   $   17,030       $   4,837      $   924       $   624       $   492       $   665       $   9,488   
                                                             

(1) The weighted-average maturity of long-term debt is 24 years.

(2) Represents management’s best estimate of the payments related to tax reserves for uncertain income tax positions. Based on the nature of these liabilities, the actual payments in any given year could vary significantly from these amounts. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

(3) Represents expected cash payments through 2020.

(4) Includes $74 million of accrued interest that is included in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at January 29, 2011.

(5) Represents future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases, including renewals determined to be reasonably assured.

(6) Standby letters of credit, which totaled $106 million, are issued as collateral to a third-party administrator for self-insured workers’ compensation and general liability claims. The remaining $66 million are outstanding import letters of credit.

(7) Surety bonds are primarily for previously incurred and expensed obligations related to workers’ compensation and general liability claims.

(8) Consists primarily of (a) minimum purchase requirements for exclusive merchandise and fixtures; (b) royalty obligations; and (c) minimum obligations for professional services, energy services, software maintenance and network services.

(9) Amounts committed under open purchase orders for merchandise inventory of which a significant portion are cancelable without penalty prior to a date that precedes the vendor’s scheduled shipment date.

(10) Relates to third-party guarantees. See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Management considers all on- and off-balance sheet debt in evaluating our overall liquidity position and capital structure. Other than operating leases, which are included in the Contractual Obligations and Commitments table, we do not have any material off-balance sheet financing. See detailed disclosure regarding operating leases and their off-balance sheet present value in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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We do not have any additional arrangements or relationships with entities that are not consolidated into the financial statements.

Common Stock

The number of outstanding shares of common stock was 237 million at the end of 2010, 236 million at the end of 2009 and 222 million at the end of 2008. The increase in 2009 was primarily the result of our contribution of approximately 13 million shares of common stock to our primary pension plan.

Inflation

Inflation has not significantly impacted our results of operations over the past three years. While the retail industry expects inflationary cost increases in 2011, particularly in the later part of the year, we have programs in place to mitigate the effects of inflation that include adjusting our product mix, leveraging our sourcing capabilities, and where appropriate, based on price elasticity studies, increasing prices. Our direct sourcing operation enables us to leverage our more than 50 years of relationships with major overseas suppliers, which allows us to source merchandise more cost effectively.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires that we make estimates and use assumptions that in some instances may materially affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments based on history and current trends, as well as other factors that we believe are relevant at the time of the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Historically, actual results have not differed materially from estimates; however, future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty and as a result, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates.

We have discussed the development and selection of the critical accounting policies with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. The Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosures relating to these policies in this MD&A. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of all of our significant accounting policies.

Inventory Valuation under the Retail Method

Inventories are valued primarily at the lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out or “FIFO” method) or market, determined by the retail method for department stores, store distribution centers and regional warehouses and standard cost, representing average vendor cost, for merchandise we sell through the Internet at jcp.com. Under the retail method, retail values are converted to a cost basis by applying specific average cost factors to groupings of merchandise. The retail method inherently requires management judgment and certain estimates that may significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost, as well as gross margin. Two of the most significant estimates are permanent reductions to retail prices (markdowns) used to clear unproductive or slow-moving inventory and inventory shortages (shrinkage).

Permanent markdowns designated for clearance activity are recorded at the point of decision, when the utility of inventory has diminished, versus the point of sale. Factors considered in the determination of permanent markdowns include current and anticipated demand, customer preferences, age of the merchandise and style trends. The corresponding reduction to gross margin is recorded in the period the decision is made.

Shrinkage is estimated as a percent of sales for the period from the last physical inventory date to the end of the fiscal period. Physical inventories are taken at least annually and inventory records are adjusted accordingly. The shrinkage rate from the most recent physical inventory, in combination with current events and historical experience, is used as the standard for the shrinkage accrual rate for the next inventory cycle. Historically, our actual physical inventory count results have shown our estimates to be reliable.

Based on prior experience, we do not believe that the actual results will differ significantly from the assumptions used in these estimates. A 10% increase or decrease in the permanent markdowns reflected in our inventory as of the end of the year would have impacted net income by approximately $14 million. A 10% increase or decrease in the estimated inventory shrinkage accrued as of the end of the year would have impacted net income by approximately $4 million.

 

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Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate recoverability of long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, such as historical operating losses or plans to close stores and dispose of or sell long-lived assets before the end of their previously estimated useful lives. Additionally, for store assets, in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, we separately test the performance of individual stores, and underperforming stores are selected for further evaluation of the recoverability of the carrying amounts. If the evaluation, performed on an undiscounted cash flow basis, indicates that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, the potential impairment is measured as the excess of carrying value over the fair value of the impaired asset. The impairment calculation requires us to apply estimates for future cash flows and use judgments for qualitative factors such as local market conditions, operating environment, mall performance and other trends. We estimate fair value based on either a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate that is considered commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model or appraised value, as appropriate.

We recognize an impairment loss in the period in which it occurs. The carrying value is adjusted to the new carrying value and any subsequent increases in fair value are not recorded. If it is determined that the estimated remaining useful life of the asset should be decreased, the periodic depreciation expense is adjusted based on the new carrying value of the asset. Impairment losses totaling $3 million, $42 million and $21 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the real estate and other, net line item. The $3 million charge for 2010 is primarily for one store that continues to operate. While we do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions used to calculate long-lived asset impairments, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates and assumptions, we may be exposed to additional impairment charges.

Reserves and Valuation Allowances

We are primarily self-insured for costs related to workers’ compensation and general liability claims. The liabilities represent our best estimate, using generally accepted actuarial reserving methods through which we record a provision for workers’ compensation and general liability risk based on historical experience, current claims data and independent actuarial best estimates, including incurred but not reported claims and projected loss development factors. These estimates are subject to the frequency, lag and severity of claims. We target this provision above the midpoint of the actuarial range, and total estimated claim liability amounts are discounted using a risk-free rate. We do not anticipate any significant change in loss trends, settlements or other costs that would cause a significant fluctuation in net income. However, a 10% variance in the workers’ compensation and general liability reserves at year-end 2010 would have affected net income by approximately $15 million.

Income taxes are estimated for each jurisdiction in which we operate and require significant judgment, the use of estimates and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. This involves assessing the current tax exposure together with temporary differences, which result from differing treatment of items for tax and book purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided for based on these assessments. Deferred tax assets are evaluated for recoverability based on estimated future taxable income. To the extent that recovery is deemed unlikely, a valuation allowance is recorded. We record a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in an income tax return. We recognize any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Significant judgment is required in assessing, among other things, the timing and

 

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amounts of deductible and taxable items. In assessing the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets, we use estimates of the amount and character of future taxable income. Tax contingency accruals are evaluated and adjusted as appropriate, while taking into account the progress of audits of various taxing jurisdictions. We do not expect the outcome of tax audits to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flow. Many years of data have been incorporated into the determination of tax reserves, and our estimates have historically been reasonable.

In establishing our reserves for liabilities associated with underground storage tanks, we maintain and periodically update an inventory listing of potentially impacted sites. The estimated cost of remediation efforts is based on our historical experience, as well as industry and other published data. With respect to our former drugstore operations, we accessed extensive databases of environmental matters, including data from the Environmental Protection Agency, to estimate the cost of remediation. Our experience, as well as relevant data, was used to develop a range of potential liabilities, and a reserve was established at the time of the sale of our drugstore business. The reserve is adjusted as payments are made or new information becomes known. In 2010, we lowered the reserve due to the affirmation of another responsible party to one of the known sites involving a warehouse facility and review of our actual experience over the past several years. Reserves for asbestos removal are based on our known liabilities in connection with approved plans for store modernization, renovations or dispositions of store locations.

We believe the established reserves, as adjusted, are adequate to cover estimated potential liabilities.

Pension

Pension Accounting

We maintain a qualified funded defined benefit pension plan (primary plan) and smaller non-qualified unfunded supplemental defined benefit plans. The determination of pension expense is the result of actuarial calculations that are based on important assumptions about pension assets and liabilities. The most important of these are the rate of return on assets and the discount rate assumptions. These assumptions require significant judgment and a change in any one of them could have a material impact on pension expense reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, as well as in the assets, liability and equity sections of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table reflects our rate of return and discount rate assumptions:

 

     2010     2009     2008  

Expected return on plan assets

     8.4     8.4     8.9

Discount rate for pension expense

     5.90     6.86 %(1)      6.54

Discount rate for pension obligation

     5.65     5.90     6.95

(1) For the first four months of 2009, the discount rate was 6.95% as determined by the January 31, 2009 annual measurement. The discount rate was revised to 6.86% on the remeasurement date of May 18, 2009. The supplemental plans and retiree medical plans used 6.95% for the year, since those plans were not subject to remeasurement.

Return on Plan Assets and Impact on Earnings

For the primary plan, we apply our expected return on plan assets using fair market value as of the annual measurement date. The fair market value method results in greater volatility to our pension

 

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expense than the more commonly used calculated value method (referred to as smoothing of assets). Our primary plan asset base is well diversified with an asset allocation mix of equities (U.S., non-U.S. and private), fixed income (investment-grade and high-yield) and real estate (private and public).

As of January 1, 2007, the primary plan was closed to new entrants. As a result of this action, the future growth of the plan liability is expected to moderate and ultimately begin to decline. In recognition of the changing liability characteristics and to provide a more desirable balance of investment return and volatility risk, we intend to shift 15% of the plan’s allocation from equities to fixed income over the next three years depending on market conditions and plan characteristics. The shift to a higher mix of fixed income investments will provide a better match to the plan’s changing liability characteristics. As a result of the planned assets allocation shift, our expected return on plan assets for 2011 was reduced to 7.5%. In 2010 and 2009, the expected return on plan assets was 8.4%, which was reduced from the 2008 rate of 8.9% as a result of the negative returns in the capital markets and lowered expected future returns.

Discount Rate

The discount rate assumption used to determine our postretirement obligations was based on an externally published yield curve determined by the plan’s actuary. The yield curve is a hypothetical AA yield curve represented by a series of bonds maturing from six months to 30 years, designed to match the corresponding pension benefit cash payments to retirees. Each underlying bond issue is required to have a rating of Aa2 or better by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or a rating of AA or better by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

For 2010, the discount rate to measure pension expense was 5.90%. For 2009, the discount rate initially increased to 6.95% from 6.54% as of January 31, 2009 and then slightly decreased to 6.86% from 6.95% for the May 18, 2009 remeasurement, which had an overall small positive impact on 2009 pension expense. The discount rate was adjusted in May 2009 for the remeasurement of plan assets and obligations to reflect the voluntary contribution of 13.4 million shares of Company common stock and update other pension liability assumptions. The discount rate to measure pension obligation declined to 5.65% as of January 29, 2011 from 5.90% as of January 31, 2010.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity of the pension expense to a plus or minus one-half of one percent of expected return on assets is a decrease or increase in expense of approximately $0.05 per share. An increase or decrease in the discount rate of one-half of one percent would decrease or increase the expense by approximately $0.10 per share.

Pension Funding

Funding requirements for our primary plan are determined under Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) rules, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. As a result of the strong funded status of the primary plan, we are not required to make cash contributions in 2011 or 2012.

Our funding policy is to maintain a well-funded pension plan throughout all business and economic cycles. Maintaining a well-funded plan over time provides additional financial flexibility, which includes lower pension expense and reduced cash contributions, especially in the event of a decline in

 

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the capital markets. In addition, a well-funded plan assures associates of the plan’s and our financial ability to continue to provide competitive retirement benefits, while at the same time being cost effective.

Consistent with our funding policy, on May 24, 2010, we used net proceeds of approximately $392 million from the issuance of $400 million of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2020 to make a voluntary cash contribution to the primary plan. In 2009, we voluntarily contributed approximately 13.4 million newly issued shares of Company common stock to the primary plan. The contribution was valued at $340 million, based on a price of $25.39 per share, reflecting a 6.5% discount to the closing price of Company common stock on May 18, 2009.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements made within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect our current view of future events and financial performance. The words expect, plan, anticipate, believe, intend, should, will and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to be materially different from planned or expected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, including inflation, recession, unemployment levels, consumer spending patterns, credit availability and debt levels, changes in store traffic trends, the cost of goods, trade restrictions, changes in tariff, freight and shipping rates, changes in the cost of fuel and other energy and transportation costs, increases in wage and benefit costs, competition and retail industry consolidations, interest rate fluctuations, dollar and other currency valuations, risks associated with war, an act of terrorism or pandemic, and a systems failure and/or security breach that results in the theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or Company information. Furthermore, our Company typically earns a disproportionate share of its operating income in the fourth quarter due to holiday buying patterns, and such buying patterns are difficult to forecast with certainty. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is impossible to predict the degree to which any such factors could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted results. For additional discussion on risks and uncertainties, see Item 1A, Risk Factors. We intend the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to speak only as of the date of this report and do not undertake to update or revise these projections as more information becomes available.

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

We maintain a majority of our cash and cash equivalents in financial instruments with original maturities of three months or less. Such investments are subject to interest rate risk and may have a small decline in value if interest rates increase. Since the financial instruments are of short duration, a change of 100 basis points in interest rates would not have a material effect on our financial condition.

All of our outstanding long-term debt as of January 29, 2011 is at fixed interest rates and would not be affected by interest rate changes. Future borrowings under our multi-year revolving credit facility, to the extent that fluctuating rate loans were used, would be affected by interest rate changes. As of

 

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January 29, 2011, no borrowings were outstanding under the facility other than the issuance of trade and standby letters of credit, which totaled $172 million. We do not believe that a change of 100 basis points in interest rates would have a material effect on our financial condition.

The fair value of long-term debt is estimated by obtaining quotes from brokers or is based on current rates offered for similar debt. At January 29, 2011 long-term debt had a carrying value and fair value of $3.1 billion. At January 30, 2010, long-term debt, including current maturities, had a carrying value of $3.4 billion and a fair value of $3.3 billion.

The effects of changes in the U.S. equity and bond markets serve to increase or decrease the value of assets in our primary pension plan. We seek to manage exposure to adverse equity and bond returns by maintaining diversified investment portfolios and utilizing professional investment managers.

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

See the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on Page F-1.

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The management of our company, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of our Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). The management of our Company has assessed the effectiveness of our Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2011. In making this assessment, management used criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control–Integrated Framework. Based on its assessment, the management of our Company believes that, as of January 29, 2011, our Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, has audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of our Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Their report follows.

There were no changes in our Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter ended January 29, 2011, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.:

We have audited J. C. Penney Company, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). J. C. Penney Company, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.” Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 29, 2011, and our report dated March 29, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

LOGO

Dallas, Texas

March 29, 2011

 

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Item 9B.    Other Information.

None.

PART III

Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

The information required by Item 10 with respect to executive officers is included within Item 1 in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant.”

The information required by Item 10 with respect to directors, audit committee, audit committee financial experts and Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance is included under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Board Committees,” “Audit Committee” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our Company’s definitive proxy statement for 2011, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and is incorporated herein by reference.

Code of Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Committee Charters

Our Company has adopted a code of ethics for officers and employees, which applies to, among others, our Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer, and which is known as the “Statement of Business Ethics.” We have also adopted certain ethical principles and policies for our directors, which are set forth in Article V of our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Statement of Business Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at www.jcpenney.net. Additionally, we will provide copies of these documents without charge upon request made to:

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

Office of Investor Relations

6501 Legacy Drive

Plano, Texas 75024

(Telephone 972-431-5500)

Our Company intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to or waiver of any provision of the Statement of Business Ethics that applies to any officer of our Company by posting such information on our website at www.jcpenney.net.

Copies of our Company’s Audit Committee, Human Resources and Compensation Committee, the Committee of the Whole and Corporate Governance Committee Charters are also available on our website at www.jcpenney.net. Copies of these documents will likewise be provided without charge upon request made to the address or telephone number provided above.

Item 11.    Executive Compensation.

The information required by Item 11 is included under the captions “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Report of the Human

 

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Resources and Compensation Committee,” “Summary Compensation Table,” “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2010,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2010,” “Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal 2010,” “Pension Benefits,” “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal 2010,” “Potential Payments and Benefits on Termination of Employment,” “Termination Without a Change in Control,” “Change in Control; Termination Following a Change in Control,” and “Director Compensation for Fiscal 2010” in our Company’s definitive proxy statement for 2011, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by Item 12 with respect to beneficial ownership of our Company’s common stock is included under the caption “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock” in our Company’s definitive proxy statement for 2011, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and is incorporated herein by reference.

Equity Compensation Plan(s) Information

The following table shows the number of options and other awards outstanding as of January 29, 2011 under the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2009 Plan) and prior plans, as well as the number of shares remaining available for grant under the 2009 Plan.

 

     (a)     (b)     (c)  

Plan Category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants and rights
    Weighted-
average
exercise price
of outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
    Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     17,497,889 (1)    $      36 (2)      10,960,323 (3) 
                        

(1) Includes 2,485,141 restricted stock units, of which 500,000 represent the maximum payout under a performance award for which the performance period ends December 14, 2011.

(2) Represents the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options only.

(3) At the May 15, 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders approved the 2009 Plan, which reserved an aggregate of 13.1 million shares of common stock for issuance to associates and non-employee directors. No shares remain available for future issuance from prior plans.

On March 15, 2011, the Company made an annual grant of stock options, performance unit awards and restricted stock unit awards covering 3,214,026 shares of common stock under the 2009 Plan.

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

The information required by Item 13 is included under the captions “Board Independence” and “Policies and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions” in our Company’s definitive proxy statement for 2011, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 14.    Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The information required by Item 14 is included under the captions “Audit and Other Fees” and “Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” in our Company’s definitive proxy statement for 2011, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

Item 15.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

1. Consolidated Financial Statements:

The consolidated financial statements of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and subsidiaries are listed in the accompanying “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page F-1.

2. Financial Statement Schedules:

Schedules have been omitted as they are inapplicable or not required under the rules, or the information has been submitted in the consolidated financial statements and related financial information contained otherwise in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

3. Exhibits:

See separate Exhibit Index beginning on page E-1. Each management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is specifically identified in the separate Exhibit Index beginning on page E-1 and filed with or incorporated by reference in this report.

(b) See separate Exhibit Index beginning on page E-1.

(c) Other Financial Statement Schedules. None.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
  (Registrant)  
By:   /s/ Michael P. Dastugue
  Michael P. Dastugue
 

Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 29, 2011

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signatures

  

Title

 

Date

Myron E. Ullman, III*

Myron E. Ullman, III

  

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer);

Director

  March 29, 2011

/s/ Michael P. Dastugue

Michael P. Dastugue

  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

  March 29, 2011

Dennis P. Miller*

Dennis P. Miller

  

Senior Vice President and

Controller (principal

accounting officer)

  March 29, 2011

William A. Ackman*

William A. Ackman

   Director   March 29, 2011

Colleen C. Barrett*

Colleen C. Barrett

   Director   March 29, 2011

M. Anthony Burns*

M. Anthony Burns

   Director   March 29, 2011

Thomas J. Engibous*

Thomas J. Engibous

   Director   March 29, 2011

Kent B. Foster*

Kent B. Foster

   Director   March 29, 2011

Geraldine B. Laybourne*

Geraldine B. Laybourne

   Director   March 29, 2011

Burl Osborne*

Burl Osborne

   Director   March 29, 2011

Leonard H. Roberts*

Leonard H. Roberts

   Director   March 29, 2011

Steven Roth*

Steven Roth

   Director   March 29, 2011

Javier G. Teruel*

Javier G. Teruel

   Director   March 29, 2011

R. Gerald Turner*

R. Gerald Turner

   Director   March 29, 2011

Mary Beth West*

Mary Beth West

   Director   March 29, 2011

 

*By:  

/s/ Michael P. Dastugue

  Michael P. Dastugue
  Attorney-in-fact

 

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J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended January 29, 2011, January  30, 2010 and January 31, 2009

     F-3   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010

     F-4   

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Fiscal Years Ended January  29, 2011, January 30, 2010 and January 31, 2009

     F-5   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended January 29, 2011, January  30, 2010 and January 31, 2009

     F-6   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-7   

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 29, 2011. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 29, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), J. C. Penney Company Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 29, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 29, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

LOGO

Dallas, Texas

March 29, 2011

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

($ in millions, except per share data)    2010      2009      2008  

Total net sales

   $   17,759       $   17,556       $   18,486   

Cost of goods sold

     10,799         10,646         11,571   
                          

Gross margin

     6,960         6,910         6,915   

Operating expenses:

        

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A)

     5,350         5,382         5,395   

Pension expense/(income)

     255         337         (90

Depreciation and amortization

     511         495         469   

Pre-opening

     8         28         31   

Real estate and other, net

     4         5         (25
                          

Total operating expenses

     6,128         6,247         5,780   
                          

Operating income

     832         663         1,135   

Net interest expense

     231         260         225   

Bond premiums and unamortized costs

     20         -         -   
                          

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     581         403         910   

Income tax expense

     203         154         343   
                          

Income from continuing operations

     378         249         567   

Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense/(benefit) of $4, $1 and $(3)

     11         2         5   
                          

Net income

   $ 389       $ 251       $ 572   
                          

Basic earnings per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 1.60       $ 1.07       $ 2.55   

Discontinued operations

     0.04         0.01         0.03   
                          

Net income

   $ 1.64       $ 1.08       $ 2.58   
                          

Diluted earnings per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 1.59       $ 1.07       $ 2.54   

Discontinued operations

     0.04         0.01         0.03   
                          

Net income

   $ 1.63       $ 1.08       $ 2.57   
                          

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

($ in millions, except per share data)    2010     2009  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash in banks and in transit

   $ 169      $ 163   

Cash short-term investments

     2,453        2,848   
                

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,622        3,011   

Merchandise inventory

     3,213        3,024   

Income taxes receivable

     334        395   

Prepaid expenses and other

     201        222   
                

Total current assets

     6,370        6,652   

Property and equipment, net

     5,231        5,357   

Prepaid pension

     763        -   

Other assets

     678        572   
                

Total Assets

   $     13,042      $     12,581   
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Merchandise accounts payable

   $ 1,133      $ 1,226   

Other accounts payable and accrued expenses

     1,514        1,630   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     -        393   
                

Total current liabilities

     2,647        3,249   

Long-term debt

     3,099        2,999   

Deferred taxes

     1,192        817   

Other liabilities

     644        738   
                

Total Liabilities

     7,582        7,803   

Stockholders’ Equity

    

Common stock(1)

     118        118   

Additional paid-in capital

     3,925        3,867   

Reinvested earnings

     2,222        2,023   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)

     (805     (1,230
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     5,460        4,778   
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 13,042      $ 12,581   
                

(1) Common stock has a par value of $0.50 per share; 1,250 million shares are authorized. At January 29, 2011, 237 million shares were issued and outstanding. At January 30, 2010, 236 million shares were issued and outstanding.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

          Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Reinvested
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
    Common Stock          
(in millions, except per share data)   Shares     Amount          

February 2, 2008

    222      $   111      $   3,453      $   1,540      $ 208      $     5,312   

Opening balance measurement date adjustment, net of tax of $(16) and $218, respectively

    -        -        -        26        (343     (317

Comprehensive (loss):

           

Net income

    -        -        -        572        -        572   

Unrealized (loss) on investments, net of tax of $56

    -        -        -        -        (100     (100

Net actuarial (loss) and prior service credit adjustment, net of tax of $752

    -        -        -        -        (1,179     (1,179
                 

Total comprehensive (loss)

              (707

Dividends declared, common ($0.80 per share)

    -        -        -        (179     -        (179

Stock-based compensation

    -        -        46        -        -        46   
       

January 31, 2009

    222        111        3,499        1,959        (1,414     4,155   

Comprehensive income:

           

Net income

    -        -        -        251        -        251   

Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $(27)

    -        -        -        -        48        48   

Net actuarial gain and prior service credit adjustment, net of tax of $(85)

    -        -        -        -        136        136   
                 

Total comprehensive income

              435   

Dividends declared, common ($0.80 per share)

    -        -        -        (187     -        (187

Common stock contributed to primary pension plan

    13        7        333        -        -        340   

Stock-based compensation

    1        -        35        -        -        35   
       

January 30, 2010

    236        118        3,867        2,023        (1,230     4,778   

Comprehensive income:

   

Net income

    -        -        -        389        -        389   

Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $(27)

    -        -        -        -        49        49   

Net actuarial gain and prior service credit adjustment, net of tax of $(240)

    -        -        -        -        376        376   
                 

Total comprehensive income

              814   

Dividends declared, common ($0.80 per share)

    -        -        -        (190     -        (190

Stock-based compensation

    1        -        58        -        -        58   
       

January 29, 2011

    237      $ 118      $ 3,925      $ 2,222      $ (805   $ 5,460   
       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $     389      $     251      $     572   

(Income) from discontinued operations

     (11     (2     (5

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Restructuring and other charges

     40        48        29   

Depreciation and amortization

     511        495        469   

Net (gains) on sale of assets

     (8     (2     (10

Benefit plans expense/(income)

     197        276        (201

Pension contribution

     (392     -        -   

Stock-based compensation

     56        43        53   

Deferred taxes

     126        76        169   

Change in cash from:

      

Inventory

     (189     235        382   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     25        36        25   

Merchandise accounts payable

     (93     32        (278

Current income taxes payable

     28        (57     (36

Accrued expenses and other

     (87     142        (13
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     592        1,573        1,156   
                        

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Capital expenditures

     (499     (600     (969

Proceeds from sale of assets

     14        13        13   
                        

Net cash (used in) investing activities

     (485     (587     (956
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     392        -        -   

Payments of long-term debt

     (693     (113     (203

Financing costs

     (14     (32     -   

Dividends paid, common

     (189     (183     (178

Proceeds from stock options exercised

     8        4        4   

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

     2        -        1   

Tax withholding payments reimbursed by restricted stock

     (2     (3     (4
                        

Net cash (used in) financing activities

     (496     (327     (380
                        

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (389     659        (180

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     3,011        2,352        2,532   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 2,622      $ 3,011      $ 2,352   
                        

Supplemental cash flow information:

      

Income taxes paid

   $ 50      $ 130      $ 209   

Interest paid

     258        264        265   

Interest received

     5        5        35   

Significant non-cash transactions:

      

Pension contribution of Company common stock

   $ -      $ 340      $ -   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1) Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Our Company was founded by James Cash Penney in 1902 and has grown to be a major national retailer, operating 1,106 department stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico, as well as through our Internet website at jcp.com. We sell family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products through Sephora inside jcpenney, and home furnishings. In addition, our department stores provide services, such as styling salon, optical, portrait photography and custom decorating, to customers.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements present the results of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and our subsidiaries (the Company or jcpenney). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

We are a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. (JCP). JCP was incorporated in Delaware in 1924, and J. C. Penney Company, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 2002, when the holding company structure was implemented. The holding company has no direct subsidiaries other than JCP, and has no independent assets or operations.

Our Company is a co-obligor (or guarantor, as appropriate) regarding the payment of principal and interest on JCP’s outstanding debt securities. We guarantee certain of JCP’s outstanding debt securities fully and unconditionally.

Fiscal Year

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years.

 

Fiscal Year    Ended      Weeks  
2010      January 29, 2011        52  
2009      January 30, 2010        52  
2008      January 31, 2009        52  

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), requires us to make assumptions and use estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates relate to: inventory valuation under the retail method, specifically permanent reductions to retail prices (markdowns) and adjustments for shortages (shrinkage); valuation of long-lived assets; valuation allowances and reserves for workers’ compensation and general liability, environmental contingencies, income taxes and litigation; and pension accounting. While actual results could differ from these estimates, we do not expect the differences, if any, to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the current period presentation. None of the reclassifications affected our net income in any period.

 

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Merchandise and Services Revenue Recognition

Total net sales, which exclude sales taxes and are net of estimated returns, are recorded at the point of sale when payment is received and the customer takes possession of the merchandise in department stores, at the point of shipment of merchandise ordered through the Internet, or, in the case of services, at the time the customer receives the benefit of the service, such as salon, portrait, optical or custom decorating. Commissions earned on sales generated by licensed departments are included as a component of total net sales. Shipping and handling fees charged to customers are also included in total net sales with corresponding costs recorded as cost of goods sold. We provide for estimated future returns based on historical return rates and sales levels.

Gift Card Revenue Recognition

At the time gift cards are sold, no revenue is recognized; rather, a liability is established for the face amount of the card. The liability remains recorded until the earlier of redemption, escheatment or 60 months. The liability is relieved and revenue is recognized when gift cards are redeemed for merchandise. We escheat a portion of unredeemed gift cards according to Delaware escheatment requirements that govern remittance of the cost of the merchandise portion of unredeemed gift cards over five years old. After reflecting the amount escheated, any remaining liability (referred to as breakage) is relieved and recognized as a reduction of SG&A expenses as an offset to the costs of administering the gift card program. Though our gift cards do not expire, it is our historical experience that the likelihood of redemption after 60 months is remote. The liability for gift cards is recorded in other accounts payable and accrued expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Customer Loyalty Program

Customers who spend a certain amount with us using our private label card or registered third party credit cards receive JCP Rewards® certificates, which can be redeemed for goods or services in our stores the following month. We estimate the net cost of the rewards that will be issued and redeemed and record this cost as rewards points are accumulated. We record the cost of the loyalty program benefits for JCP Rewards in cost of sales given that we provide customers with products or services for these rewards. Other administrative costs of the loyalty program are recorded in SG&A expenses as incurred.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes all costs directly related to bringing merchandise to its final selling destination. These costs include the cost of the merchandise (net of discounts or allowances earned), sourcing and procurement costs, buying and brand development costs, including buyers’ salaries and related expenses, freight costs, warehouse operating expenses, merchandise examination, inspection and testing, store merchandise distribution center expenses, including rent, and shipping and handling costs incurred for sales via the Internet.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses include the following costs, except as related to merchandise buying, sourcing, warehousing or distribution activities: salaries, marketing costs, occupancy and rent expense, utilities and maintenance, costs related to information technology, administrative costs related to our home office and district and regional operations, real and personal property and other taxes (excluding income taxes) and credit card fees.

Vendor Allowances

We receive vendor support in the form of cash payments or allowances for a variety of reimbursements such as cooperative advertising, markdowns, vendor shipping and packaging compliance and defective

 

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merchandise. We have agreements in place with each vendor setting forth the specific conditions for each allowance or payment. Depending on the arrangement, we either recognize the allowance as a reduction of current costs or defer the payment over the period the related merchandise is sold. If the payment is a reimbursement for costs incurred, it is offset against those related costs; otherwise, it is treated as a reduction to the cost of merchandise.

For cooperative advertising programs offered by national brands, we generally offset the allowances against the related advertising expense. Certain programs require proof-of-advertising to be provided to the vendor to support the reimbursement of the incurred cost. Programs that do not require proof-of-advertising are monitored to ensure that the allowance provided by each vendor is a reimbursement of costs incurred to advertise for that particular vendor’s label. If the allowance exceeds the advertising costs incurred on a vendor-specific basis, then the excess allowance for the vendor is recorded as a reduction of merchandise cost.

Markdown reimbursements related to merchandise that has been sold are negotiated and documented by our buying teams and are credited directly to cost of goods sold in the period received. If vendor allowances are received prior to merchandise being sold, they are recorded as a reduction of merchandise cost.

Vendor compliance charges reimburse us for incremental merchandise handling expenses incurred due to a vendor’s failure to comply with our established shipping or merchandise preparation requirements. Vendor compliance charges are recorded as a reduction of merchandise handling costs.

Advertising

Advertising costs, which include newspaper, television, Internet search marketing, radio and other media advertising, are expensed either as incurred or the first time the advertisement occurs. Total advertising costs, net of cooperative advertising vendor reimbursements of $145 million, $140 million and $167 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were $1,172 million, $1,175 million and $1,320 million.

Pre-Opening Expense

Expenses associated with the pre-opening phase, including advertising, hiring and training costs for new associates, processing and stocking initial merchandise inventory and rental costs prior to store opening and similar costs associated with new Sephora inside jcpenney location openings, are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not such assets will be realized. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Except when the effect would be anti-dilutive at the continuing operations level, the diluted EPS calculation includes the impact of restricted stock units and shares that, during the period, could have been issued under outstanding stock options.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash short-term investments that are highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash short-term investments consist primarily of short-term U.S. Treasury money market funds and a portfolio of highly rated bank deposits and are stated at cost, which approximates fair market value due to the short-term maturity. Cash in banks and in transit also include credit card sales transactions that are settled early in the following period.

Merchandise Inventory

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out or “FIFO” method) or market. For department stores, regional warehouses and store distribution centers, we value inventories using the retail method. Under the retail method, retail values are converted to a cost basis by applying specific average cost factors to groupings of merchandise. For Internet, we use standard cost, representing average vendor cost, to determine lower of cost or market.

Physical inventories are taken on a staggered basis at least once per year at all store and supply chain locations, inventory records are adjusted to reflect actual inventory counts and any resulting shortage (shrinkage) is recognized. Following inventory counts, shrinkage is estimated as a percent of sales, based on the most recent physical inventory, in combination with current events and historical experience. We have loss prevention programs and policies in place that are intended to mitigate shrinkage.

Fair Value Disclosures

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three-level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value, as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Significant observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, such as quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs reflecting our own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

We report investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) at fair value on an ongoing basis in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Certain other assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the assets are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, asset impairments). When there are asset impairments, the fair value of applicable long-lived assets are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in property and equipment, net, and the corresponding impairment is recorded in real estate and other, net, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We also present the primary pension plan assets at fair value, of which level 2 investments are measured using net asset value (NAV) or broker quotes.

 

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Property and Equipment, Net

 

($ in millions)    Estimated
Useful Lives
(Years)
     2010     2009  

Land

     N/A       $ 315      $ 308   

Buildings

     50         4,434        4,276   

Furniture and equipment

     3-20         2,271        2,356   

Leasehold improvements

        1,065        1,118   

Accumulated depreciation

        (2,854     (2,701
                   

Property and equipment, net

      $     5,231      $     5,357   
                   

Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed primarily by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the improvements or the term of the lease, including renewals determined to be reasonably assured.

We expense routine maintenance and repairs when incurred. We capitalize major replacements and improvements. We remove the cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization from the accounts and include any resulting gain or loss in income from continuing operations.

We recognize a liability for the fair value of our conditional asset retirement obligations, which are primarily related to asbestos removal, when incurred if the liability’s fair value can be reasonably estimated.

Capitalized Software Costs

We capitalize costs associated with the acquisition or development of major software for internal use in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and amortize the asset over the expected useful life of the software, generally between three and seven years. We only capitalize subsequent additions, modifications or upgrades to internal-use software to the extent that such changes allow the software to perform a task it previously did not perform. We expense software maintenance and training costs as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets such as store property and equipment and other corporate assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those assets may not be recoverable. Factors considered important that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and significant changes in the manner of use of the assets or our overall business strategies. Potential impairment exists if the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset plus any net proceeds expected from disposition of the asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. The amount of the impairment loss represents the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value and is included in real estate and other, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We estimate fair value based on either a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate that is considered commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model or appraised value, as appropriate. We also take other factors into consideration in estimating the fair value of our stores, such as local market conditions, operating environment, mall performance and other trends.

 

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Leases

We use a consistent lease term when calculating amortization of leasehold improvements, determining straight-line rent expense and determining classification of leases as either operating or capital. For purposes of recognizing incentives, premiums, rent holidays and minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, we use the date of initial possession to begin amortization, which is generally when we enter the property and begin to make improvements in preparation of its intended use. Renewal options determined to be reasonably assured are also included in the lease term. Some leases require additional payments based on sales and are recorded in rent expense when the contingent rent is probable.

Some of our lease agreements contain developer/tenant allowances. Upon receipt of such allowances, we record a deferred rent liability in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The allowances are then amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining terms of the corresponding leases as a reduction of rent expense.

Retirement-Related Benefits

We recognize the funded status – the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the plan’s benefit obligation – of our defined benefit pension and postretirement plans directly on the balance sheet. Each overfunded plan is recognized as an asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a liability. We adjust other comprehensive income/(loss) to reflect prior service cost or credits and actuarial gain or loss amounts arising during the period and reclassification adjustments for amounts being recognized as components of net periodic pension/postretirement cost, net of tax. Other comprehensive income/(loss) is amortized over the average remaining service period, a period of about seven years for the primary plan.

We measure the plan assets and obligations annually at the adopted measurement date of January 31 to determine pension expense for the subsequent year. In 2008 in accordance with new pension accounting guidance, we transitioned to a year-end measurement date of January 31 for our defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans and completed a new measurement of plan assets and benefit obligations as of the beginning and end of 2008. The factors and assumptions affecting the measurement are the characteristics of the population and salary increases, with the most important being the expected return on plan assets and the discount rate for the pension obligation. We use actuarial calculations for the assumptions, which require significant judgment.

Exit or Disposal Activity Costs

Costs associated with exit or disposal activities are recorded at their fair values when a liability has been incurred. Reserves are established at the time of closure for the present value of any remaining operating lease obligations (PVOL), net of estimated sublease income, and at the point of decision for severance and other exit costs. Since we have an established program for termination benefits upon a reduction in force or the closing of a facility, termination benefits paid under the existing program are considered part of an ongoing benefit arrangement and are recorded when payment of the benefits is considered probable and reasonably estimable.

Stock-Based Compensation

We record compensation expense for time-vested awards on a straight-line basis over the associates’ service period, to the earlier of the retirement eligibility date, if the grant contains provisions such that the award becomes fully vested upon retirement, or the stated vesting period (the non-substantive vesting period approach). See Note 12 for a full discussion of our stock-based compensation.

 

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2) Effect of New Accounting Standards

Fair Value Measurements

In January 2010, we adopted the guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on improving annual disclosures about fair value measurements, which requires reporting entities to make new disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements including significant transfers into and out of level 1 and level 2 categories and information on purchases, sales issuances, and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of level 3 measurements. The guidance was effective for us in the beginning of 2010, except for level 3 reconciliation disclosures, which was effective for our 2010 year end. Since these are “disclosure only” requirements, they did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

3) Earnings per Share

Income from continuing operations and shares used to compute earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations, basic and diluted, are reconciled below:

 

(in millions, except EPS)    2010      2009      2008  

Earnings:

        

Income from continuing operations, basic and diluted

   $ 378       $     249       $     567   
                          

Shares:

        

Average common shares outstanding (basic shares)

     236         232         222   

Adjustment for assumed dilution – stock options and restricted stock awards

     2         1         1   
                          

Average shares assuming dilution (diluted shares)

     238         233         223   
                          

EPS from continuing operations:

        

Basic

   $ 1.60       $ 1.07       $ 2.55   

Diluted

   $ 1.59       $ 1.07       $ 2.54   

The following average potential shares of common stock were excluded from the diluted EPS calculations because their effect would be anti-dilutive:

 

(shares in millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Stock options and restricted awards

       11             9            9    
                          

4) Other Assets

 

($ in millions)    2010      2009  

Real estate investments(1)

   $     239       $     169   

Capitalized software, net

     233         178   

Leveraged lease investments

     136         141   

Debt issuance costs, net

     25         26   

Other

     45         58   
                 

Total

   $ 678       $ 572   
                 

(1) Primarily the market value of our investment in public REITs accounted for as available for sale securities. As of January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010 the cost basis of these investments was $80 million. The change from year to year relates primarily to the increase in market value of these investments. See Note 11 for the net unrealized gains on real estate investments.

 

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5) Other Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

($ in millions)    2010      2009  

Accrued salaries, vacation and bonus

   $ 361       $ 481   

Customer gift cards

     229         219   

Taxes other than income taxes

     113         95   

Occupancy and rent-related

     100         97   

Advertising

     87         78   

Interest

     74         88   

Unrecognized tax benefits

     61         55   

Current portion of workers’ compensation and general liability insurance

     59         66   

Common dividends

     47         47   

Capital expenditures

     34         55   

Current portion of retirement plan liabilities

     31         37   

Other(1)

     318         312   
                 

Total

   $        1,514       $      1,630   
                 

(1) Includes individually insignificant accrued expenses related to operations.

6) Other Liabilities

 

($ in millions)    2010      2009  

Supplemental pension and other postretirement benefit plan liabilities

   $     206       $     238   

Long-term portion of workers’ compensation and general liability insurance

     177         187   

Deferred developer/tenant allowances

     135         145   

Unrecognized tax benefits

     101         110   

Primary pension plan

     -         12   

Other

     25         46   
                 

Total

   $ 644       $ 738   
                 

7) Fair Value Disclosures

REIT Assets Measured on a Recurring Basis

We determined the fair value of our investments in REITs using quoted market prices. See Note 11 for the net unrealized gain of $112 million in REITs recorded, in 2010, in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of net equity. Our REIT assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

 

($ in millions)    Fair Value as of January 29, 2011      Fair Value as of January 30, 2010  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

REIT assets

   $     253       $   -       $   -       $     178       $   -       $   -   

Other Non-Financial Assets Measured on a Non-Recurring Basis

In 2010, primarily one underperforming store with a carrying value of $3 million was impaired, which resulted in a $3 million charge to earnings and no remaining fair value.

In 2009, seven underperforming stores with a carrying value of $43 million and other corporate assets with a carrying value of $20 million were written down to their fair value of $18 million and $6

 

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million, respectively, and resulted in an impairment charge of $39 million, which was included in earnings for the period. The inputs to determine fair values were primarily based on projected discounted cash flow as well as other market information obtained from brokers.

The following table presents fair values for those assets measured at fair value during 2009 on a non-recurring basis, and remaining on our Consolidated Balance Sheet:

 

($ in millions)    Assets at Fair Value as of January 30, 2010  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Stores

   $   -       $   -       $     18       $     18   

Other corporate assets

       -         3         3         6   

Other Financial Instruments

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Long-Term Debt

The fair value of long-term debt is estimated by obtaining quotes from brokers or is based on current rates offered for similar debt. At January 29, 2011, long-term debt had a carrying value and fair value of $3.1 billion. At January 30, 2010, long-term debt, including current maturities, had a carrying value of $3.4 billion and a fair value of $3.3 billion.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

We have no significant concentrations of credit risk.

8) Credit Agreement

On April 8, 2009, J. C. Penney Company, Inc., JCP and J. C. Penney Purchasing Corporation entered into a three-year, $750 million revolving credit agreement (Credit Facility) with a syndicate of lenders with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The Credit Facility is secured by our inventory, which security interest can be released upon attainment of certain credit rating levels, and is available for general corporate purposes, including the issuance of letters of credit. Pricing under the Credit Facility is tiered based on JCP’s senior unsecured long-term credit ratings issued by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. JCP’s obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

The Credit Facility requires that we maintain certain financial covenants, which include a leverage ratio, a fixed charge coverage ratio and an asset coverage ratio (each as defined in the Credit Facility). Under the terms of the Credit Facility, non-cash charges or credits related to retirement plans are not included in the calculation of EBITDA (consolidated earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization), which is used in the leverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio.

   

The leverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of the quarter and measured on a trailing four-quarter basis, cannot exceed 3 to 1.

   

The fixed charge coverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of the quarter and measured on a trailing four-quarter basis, cannot be less than 2.5 to 1 through October 29, 2011; and 3 to 1 thereafter.

   

The asset coverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of each fiscal month, cannot be less than 3 to 1.

 

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As of January 29, 2011, we were in compliance with these requirements with a leverage ratio of 2 to 1, a fixed charge coverage ratio of 3.8 to 1 and an asset coverage ratio of 19 to 1.

No borrowings, other than the issuance of standby and import letters of credit totaling $172 million as of the end of 2010, have been made under the Credit Facility.

9) Long-Term Debt

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009  

Issue:

    

5.75% Senior Notes Due 2018(1)

   $ 300      $     300   

5.65% Senior Notes Due 2020(1)

     400          -   

6.375% Senior Notes Due 2036(1)

     400        700   

6.875% Medium-Term Notes Due 2015

     200        200   

6.9% Notes Due 2026

     2        2   

7.125% Debentures Due 2023

     255        255   

7.4% Debentures Due 2037

     326        326   

7.625% Notes Due 2097

     500        500   

7.65% Debentures Due 2016

     200        200   

7.95% Debentures Due 2017

     285        285   

8.0% Notes Due 2010

       -        393   

9.0% Notes Due 2012

     230        230   
                

Total notes and debentures

     3,098        3,391   

Capital lease obligations

     1        1   
                

Total long-term debt, including current maturities

     3,099        3,392   

Less: current maturities

       -        393   
                

Total long-term debt

   $ 3,099      $ 2,999   
                

Weighted-average interest rate at year end

     7.1     7.3

Weighted-average maturity

     24 years     

(1) Contain provisions that, at the holders’ option, would put the debt back to the Company in the event of a change of control coupled with certain debt rating minimum standards or downgrades.

2010 Debt Issuance

In May 2010, we closed on our offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2020 and used proceeds of the offering, net of underwriting discounts, of approximately $392 million to make a voluntary cash contribution to the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Pension Plan.

2010 Debt Reductions

In May 2010, we accepted for purchase $300 million principal amount of JCP’s outstanding 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 (2036 Notes), which were validly tendered pursuant to a cash tender offer. We paid approximately $314 million aggregate consideration, including accrued and unpaid interest, for the accepted 2036 Notes in May 2010.

In March 2010 we repaid at maturity the remaining $393 million outstanding principal amount of JCP’s 8.0% Notes due 2010 (2010 Notes).

2009 Debt Reductions

In May 2009, we accepted for purchase $104 million principal amount of JCP’s outstanding 2010 Notes, which were validly tendered pursuant to the cash tender offer we initiated in April 2009 to

 

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purchase up to $200 million aggregate principal amount of the 2010 Notes. We paid approximately $107 million aggregate consideration, including accrued and unpaid interest, for the accepted 2010 Notes in May 2009. In addition, we purchased $9 million of the 2010 Notes in the open market in July 2009.

Long-Term Debt Financial Covenants

We have an indenture covering approximately $255 million of long-term debt that contains a financial covenant requiring us to have a minimum of 200% net tangible assets to senior funded indebtedness (as defined in the indenture). This indenture permits our Company to issue additional long-term debt if we are in compliance with the covenant. At year-end 2010, our percentage of net tangible assets to senior funded indebtedness was 366%.

Scheduled Annual Principal Payments on Long-Term Debt

 

($ in millions)                         

2011

  

2012

  

2013

  

2014

  

2015

  

2016-2097

$    -

   $    230    $    -    $    -    $    200    $    2,669
                          

10) Net Interest Expense

 

($ in millions)    2010     2009     2008  

Long-term debt

   $     223      $     255      $     268   

Short-term investments

     (2     (3     (32

Other, net

     10 (1)      8 (1)      (11
                        

Total

   $ 231      $ 260      $ 225   
                        

(1) Reflects increased financing costs due to the Credit Facility and lower levels of capitalized interest due to lower capital expenditures.

11) Stockholders’ Equity

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income

 

    2010     2009  
    Pre-Tax
Amount
    Deferred
Tax
(Liability)/
Asset
    Net of
Tax
Amount
    Pre-Tax
Amount
    Deferred
Tax
(Liability)/
Asset
    Net of
Tax
Amount
 

($ in millions)

           

Net unrealized gains on real estate investments

      $ 174         $ (62   $       112      $ 98         $ (35       $ 63      

Net actuarial (loss)/gain and prior service (cost)/credit – pension and postretirement plans(1)

        (1,502)          585         (917)        (2,118)          825             (1,293)     
                                               

Accumulated other
comprehensive (loss)

      $ (1,328)        $     523       $ (805)      $     (2,020)        $     790           $ (1,230)     
                                               

(1) See Note 14 for breakdowns of the pre-tax actuarial (loss)/gain and prior service (cost)/credit balances.

 

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Common Stock

As of January 29, 2011, we had 32,185 stockholders of record. On a combined basis, our 401(k) savings plan, including our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), held approximately 16 million shares, or approximately 6.8% of outstanding Company common stock, at January 29, 2011. Also at January 29, 2011, our primary pension plan held 6.7 million shares, or approximately 2.8% of outstanding Company common stock.

Preferred Stock

We have authorized 25 million shares of preferred stock; no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding as of January 29, 2011 or January 30, 2010.

Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement

As authorized by our Company’s Board of Directors, the Company entered into a Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2010 (Rights Agreement), by and between the Company and Mellon Investor Services, LLC, as Rights Agent. Pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement, which has a one-year term, one preferred stock purchase right (a Right) was attached to each outstanding share of Common Stock of $0.50 par value of the Company (Common Stock) held by holders of record as of the close of business on October 25, 2010. Additionally, the Company will issue one Right with each new share of Common Stock issued. The Rights will initially trade with and be inseparable from our Common Stock and will not be evidenced by separate certificates unless they become exercisable.

Each Right entitles its holder to purchase from the Company 1/100th of a share of participating preferred stock having economic and voting terms similar to the Common Stock at an exercise price of $130 per Right, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, once the Rights become exercisable. In general terms, under the Rights Agreement, the Rights become exercisable if any person or group acquires 10% or more of the Common Stock or, in the case of any person or group that owned 10% or more of the Common Stock as of October 15, 2010, upon the acquisition of any additional shares by such person or group. The Company, its subsidiaries, employee benefit plans of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, are excepted. Upon exercise of the Right in accordance with the Rights Agreement, the holder would be able to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock from the Company having an aggregate market price (as defined in the Rights Agreement) equal to twice the then-current exercise price for an amount in cash equal to the then-current exercise price. The Rights will not prevent a takeover of our Company, but may cause substantial dilution to a person that acquires 10% or more of our Common Stock.

12) Stock-Based Compensation

The J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2009 Plan) was approved by our stockholders in May 2009 and allows for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights and stock awards (collectively, Equity Awards) and cash incentive awards (together, Awards) to employees (associates) and Equity Awards to our non-employee members of the Board of Directors. Under the 2009 Plan, Awards to associates are subject to such conditions as continued employment, qualifying termination, passage of time and/or satisfaction of performance criteria as specified in the 2009 Plan or set by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board. As of January 29, 2011, approximately 11 million shares of stock were available for future grant under the 2009 Plan.

 

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Associate stock options and restricted stock awards typically vest over periods ranging from one to three years. The exercise price of stock options and the market value of restricted stock awards are determined based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. The 2009 Plan does not permit awarding stock options below grant-date market value nor does it allow any repricing subsequent to the date of grant. Associate stock options have a maximum term of 10 years.

Over the past three years, our stock option and restricted stock award grants have averaged about 2.0% of total outstanding stock. We issue new shares upon the exercise of stock options, granting of restricted shares and vesting of restricted stock units.

Stock-Based Compensation Cost

 

($ in millions)    2010      2009      2008  

Stock options

   $     28       $     28       $     29   

Stock awards (shares and units)

     25         12         18   
                                

Total stock-based compensation cost

   $ 53       $ 40       $ 47   
                          

Total income tax benefit recognized for stock-based compensation arrangements

   $ 21       $ 15       $ 18   
                          

Stock Options

On March 16, 2010, we made an annual grant of stock options covering approximately 2.7 million shares to associates at an option price of $30.72, with a fair value of $9.04 per option. In addition to our annual grant, we made two ad-hoc grants of stock options to associates; one covering 20,000 shares on February 23, 2010 at an option price of $27.61, with a fair value of $9.70 and the second covering approximately 25,000 shares on August 17, 2010 at an option price of $20.14, with a fair value of $5.93.

If all outstanding options were exercised, common stock outstanding would increase by 6.3%. Additional information regarding options outstanding as of January 29, 2011 follows:

(Shares in thousands; price is weighted-average exercise price)

 

     Exercisable             Total Outstanding  
     Shares      Price             Shares      Price  

In-the-money

         2,974       $