BBY (11/1/14) 10Q
Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
FORM 10-Q 
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended November 1, 2014 

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: 1-9595

 
BEST BUY CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota
 
41-0907483
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
7601 Penn Avenue South
 
 
Richfield, Minnesota
 
55423
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(612) 291-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) 
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 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 Web site, 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 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 ¨
 
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
The registrant had 350,759,999 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 28, 2014.



Table of Contents

BEST BUY CO., INC.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED NOVEMBER 1, 2014 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2

Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 
($ in millions) (unaudited)
 
November 1, 2014
 
February 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Assets
 

 
 

 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,929

 
$
2,678

 
$
2,170

Short-term investments
1,209

 
223

 

Receivables, net
1,066

 
1,308

 
1,123

Merchandise inventories
6,900

 
5,376

 
6,978

Other current assets
959

 
900

 
963

Total current assets
12,063

 
10,485

 
11,234

Property and equipment, net
2,524

 
2,598

 
2,726

Goodwill
425

 
425

 
528

Intangibles, net
99

 
101

 
175

Other assets
651

 
404

 
405

Total assets
$
15,762

 
$
14,013

 
$
15,068

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
6,626

 
$
5,122

 
$
6,578

Unredeemed gift card liabilities
381

 
406

 
368

Deferred revenue
449

 
399

 
418

Accrued compensation and related expenses
305

 
444

 
350

Accrued liabilities
788

 
873

 
815

Accrued income taxes
33

 
147

 
91

Current portion of long-term debt
44

 
45

 
45

Total current liabilities
8,626

 
7,436

 
8,665

Long-term liabilities
972

 
976

 
1,035

Long-term debt
1,591

 
1,612

 
1,624

Equity
 

 
 

 
 

Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders’ equity
 

 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value: Authorized — 400,000 shares; Issued and outstanding — none

 

 

Common stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized — 1.0 billion shares; Issued and outstanding — 350,407,000, 346,751,000 and 345,564,000 shares, respectively
35

 
35

 
35

Additional paid-in capital
377

 
300

 
253

Retained earnings
3,689

 
3,159

 
2,926

Accumulated other comprehensive income
468

 
492

 
528

Total Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders’ equity
4,569

 
3,986

 
3,742

Noncontrolling interests
4

 
3

 
2

Total equity
4,573

 
3,989

 
3,744

Total liabilities and equity
$
15,762

 
$
14,013

 
$
15,068

 
NOTE:  The Consolidated Balance Sheet as of February 1, 2014, has been condensed from the audited consolidated financial statements.
 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Earnings
($ in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Revenue
$
9,380

 
$
9,327

 
$
27,311

 
$
27,940

Cost of goods sold
7,252

 
7,170

 
21,108

 
21,167

Gross profit
2,128

 
2,157

 
6,203

 
6,773

Selling, general and administrative expenses
1,929

 
2,036

 
5,561

 
6,058

Restructuring charges
9

 
31

 
17

 
44

Operating income
190

 
90

 
625

 
671

Other income (expense)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of investments
5

 
4

 
7

 
18

Investment income and other
3

 
8

 
17

 
18

Interest expense
(22
)
 
(24
)
 
(68
)
 
(77
)
Earnings from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
176

 
78

 
581

 
630

Income tax (benefit) expense
69

 
34

 
(133
)
 
252

Net earnings from continuing operations
107

 
44

 
714

 
378

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations (Note 2), net of tax benefit (expense) of $0, $10, ($1) and $34

 
10

 
1

 
(149
)
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests
107

 
54

 
715

 
229

Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
1

 

 
11

Net earnings attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders
$
107

 
$
54

 
$
714

 
$
239

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.30

 
$
0.13

 
$
2.05

 
$
1.11

Discontinued operations

 
0.03

 

 
(0.41
)
Basic earnings per share
$
0.30

 
$
0.16

 
$
2.05

 
$
0.70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.30

 
$
0.12

 
$
2.02

 
$
1.09

Discontinued operations

 
0.04

 

 
(0.40
)
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.30

 
$
0.16

 
$
2.02

 
$
0.69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
$
0.19

 
$
0.17

 
$
0.53

 
$
0.51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
350.1

 
342.8

 
349.0

 
340.7

Diluted
354.0

 
348.9

 
352.5

 
345.3

 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 

4

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 
($ in millions) (unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests
$
107

 
$
54

 
$
715

 
$
229

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(25
)
 
(2
)
 
(22
)
 
(106
)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments
(1
)
 
1

 
(2
)
 
1

Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments into earnings due to sale of business

 

 

 
654

Reclassification of losses on available-for-sale investments into earnings

 

 

 
2

Comprehensive income including noncontrolling interests
81

 
53

 
691

 
780

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 
(1
)
 
(125
)
Comprehensive income attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders
$
81

 
$
53

 
$
690

 
$
655


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 


5

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Change in Shareholders' Equity 
($ and shares in millions) (unaudited)
 
Best Buy Co., Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
Common
Shares
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Total 
Best Buy
Co., Inc.
 
Non-
controlling
Interests
 
Total
Balances at February 1, 2014
347

 
$
35

 
$
300

 
$
3,159

 
$
492

 
$
3,986

 
$
3

 
$
3,989

Net earnings, nine months ended November 1, 2014

 

 

 
714

 

 
714

 
1

 
715

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 
(22
)
 
(22
)
 

 
(22
)
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments

 

 

 

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
Stock-based compensation

 

 
64

 

 

 
64

 

 
64

Restricted stock vested and stock options exercised
3

 

 
19

 

 

 
19

 

 
19

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

 
8

 

 

 
8

 

 
8

Tax deficit from stock options exercised, restricted stock vesting and employee stock purchase plan

 

 
(14
)
 

 

 
(14
)
 

 
(14
)
Common stock dividends, $0.53 per share

 

 

 
(184
)
 

 
(184
)
 

 
(184
)
Balances at November 1, 2014
350

 
$
35

 
$
377

 
$
3,689

 
$
468

 
$
4,569

 
$
4

 
$
4,573

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at February 2, 2013
338

 
$
34

 
$
54

 
$
2,861

 
$
112

 
$
3,061

 
$
654

 
$
3,715

Net earnings (loss), nine months ended November 2, 2013

 

 

 
239

 

 
239

 
(10
)
 
229

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 
(95
)
 
(95
)
 
(11
)
 
(106
)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments

 

 

 

 
2

 
2

 
(1
)
 
1

Sale of noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 
(776
)
 
(776
)
Dividend distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments into earnings

 

 

 

 
508

 
508

 
146

 
654

Reclassification of losses on available-for-sale investments into earnings

 

 

 

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
2

Stock-based compensation

 

 
74

 

 

 
74

 

 
74

Restricted stock vested and stock options exercised
7

 
1

 
135

 

 

 
136

 

 
136

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan
1

 

 
13

 

 

 
13

 

 
13

Tax deficit from stock options exercised, restricted stock vesting and employee stock purchase plan

 

 
(23
)
 

 

 
(23
)
 

 
(23
)
Common stock dividends, $0.51 per share

 

 

 
(174
)
 

 
(174
)
 

 
(174
)
Balances at November 2, 2013
346

 
$
35

 
$
253

 
$
2,926

 
$
528

 
$
3,742

 
$
2

 
$
3,744


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($ in millions) (unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Operating activities
 
 
 
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests
$
715

 
$
229

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings including noncontrolling interests to total cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
484

 
537

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets

 
13

Restructuring charges
17

 
144

(Gain) loss on sale of business, net
(1
)
 
123

Stock-based compensation
63

 
70

Deferred income taxes
(381
)
 
(3
)
Other, net
4

 
6

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Receivables
237

 
208

Merchandise inventories
(1,541
)
 
(974
)
Other assets
14

 
(102
)
Accounts payable
1,526

 
465

Other liabilities
(263
)
 
(347
)
Income taxes
(100
)
 
(45
)
Total cash provided by operating activities
774

 
324

 
 
 
 
Investing activities
 

 
 

Additions to property and equipment
(425
)
 
(422
)
Purchases of investments
(2,067
)
 
(5
)
Sales of investments
1,084

 
49

Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash transferred upon sale
38

 
67

Change in restricted assets
25

 
(3
)
Other, net
3

 
(1
)
Total cash used in investing activities
(1,342
)
 
(315
)
 
 
 
 
Financing activities
 

 
 

Borrowings of debt

 
2,414

Repayments of debt
(19
)
 
(2,027
)
Dividends paid
(185
)
 
(174
)
Issuance of common stock
27

 
147

Other, net
2

 
(1
)
Total cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(175
)
 
359

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(6
)
 
(24
)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(749
)
 
344

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
2,678

 
1,826

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
1,929

 
$
2,170


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

7

Table of Contents

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)

1.
Basis of Presentation
 
Unless the context otherwise requires, the use of the terms “Best Buy,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements refers to Best Buy Co., Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation as prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). All adjustments were comprised of normal recurring adjustments, except as noted in these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Description of Business

Historically, we have generated a higher proportion of our revenue and earnings in the fiscal fourth quarter, which includes the majority of the holiday shopping season in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. The interim financial statements and the related notes in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014. The first nine months of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 included 39 weeks.

In order to align our fiscal reporting periods and comply with statutory filing requirements in certain foreign jurisdictions, we consolidate the financial results of our China and Mexico operations on a one-month lag. Our policy is to accelerate recording the effect of events occurring in the lag period that significantly affect our consolidated financial statements. No such events were identified for this period.

In preparing the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, we evaluated the period from November 2, 2014, through the date the financial statements were issued, for material subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure. Other than as disclosed in Note 13, Subsequent Event, no such events were identified for this period.

2.
Discontinued Operations

On June 26, 2013, we completed the sale of our 50% ownership interest in Best Buy Europe to Carphone Warehouse Group plc ("CPW") in return for the following consideration upon closing: net cash of £341 million ($526 million); £80 million ($123 million) of ordinary shares of CPW; £25 million ($39 million), plus 2.5% interest, to be paid by CPW on June 26, 2014; and £25 million ($39 million), plus 2.5% interest, to be paid by CPW on June 26, 2015. We subsequently sold the ordinary shares of CPW for $123 million on July 3, 2013, and we received the first such deferred cash payment on June 26, 2014.

Discontinued operations are comprised of mindSHIFT Technologies, Inc. ("mindSHIFT") operations within our Domestic segment, which we sold in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, and Best Buy Europe operations within our International segment, as described above. The presentation of discontinued operations has been retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented.


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Table of Contents

The aggregate financial results of all discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014 and November 2, 2013, respectively, were as follows ($ in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Revenue
$

 
$
35

 
$

 
$
2,785

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring charges(1)

 

 

 
100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss from discontinued operations before income tax benefit

 

 

 
(235
)
Income tax benefit(2)

 
10

 

 
34

Gain on sale of discontinued operations

 

 
2

 
52

Income tax expense on sale

 

 
(1
)
 

Net gain (loss) from discontinued operations, including noncontrolling interests

 
10

 
1

 
(149
)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
1

 

 
11

Net gain (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders
$

 
$
11

 
$
1

 
$
(138
)
(1)
See Note 5, Restructuring Charges, for further discussion of the restructuring charges associated with discontinued operations.
(2)
Income tax benefit for the three months ended November 2, 2013 includes a $16 million benefit related to the impairment of our investment in Best Buy Europe, partially offset by $6 million of expense related to a tax allocation between continuing and discontinued operations. The fiscal 2014 effective tax rate for discontinued operations differs from the statutory tax rate primarily due to the tax allocation, restructuring charges and the impairment of our investment in Best Buy Europe. The restructuring charges and impairment generally included minimal related tax benefit. The deferred tax assets related to the restructuring charges generally resulted in an increase in the valuation allowance in an equal amount, while the investment impairment is generally not tax deductible.
 
3.    Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. To measure fair value, we use a three-tier valuation hierarchy based upon observable and non-observable inputs:
 
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices that are available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
 
Level 2 — Significant other observable inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, either directly or indirectly, including:
 
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets in non-active markets;
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data.
 
Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 
The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.


9

Table of Contents

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at November 1, 2014, February 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, according to the valuation techniques we used to determine their fair values ($ in millions).
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements
Using Inputs Considered as
 
Fair Value at
November 1, 2014
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market funds
$
74

 
$
74

 
$

 
$

Corporate bonds
31

 

 
31

 

Commercial paper
91

 

 
91

 

Short-term investments
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Corporate bonds
97

 

 
97

 

Commercial paper
381

 

 
381

 

Other current assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency derivative instruments
4

 

 
4

 

Other assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Auction rate securities
9

 

 

 
9

Marketable equity securities
9

 
9

 

 

Marketable securities that fund deferred compensation
97

 
97

 

 


 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements
Using Inputs Considered as
 
Fair Value at
February 1, 2014
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Money market funds
$
53

 
$
53

 
$

 
$

Commercial paper
80

 

 
80

 

Treasury bills
263

 
263

 

 

Short-term investments
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial paper
100

 

 
100

 

Other current assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency derivative instruments
2

 

 
2

 

Other assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Auction rate securities
9

 

 

 
9

Marketable securities that fund deferred compensation
96

 
96

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accrued liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency derivative instruments
5

 

 
5

 

 

10

Table of Contents

 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements
Using Inputs Considered as
 
Fair Value at
November 2, 2013
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
$
495

 
$
495

 
$

 
$

Other assets
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Auction rate securities
9

 

 

 
9

Marketable equity securities
10

 
10

 

 

Marketable securities that fund deferred compensation
94

 
94

 

 

LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency derivative instruments
2

 

 
2

 


There was no change in the beginning and ending balances of items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the tables above that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:
 
Money Market Funds. Our money market fund investments were measured at fair value as they trade in an active market using quoted market prices and therefore, were classified as Level 1.

Corporate Bonds. Our corporate bond investments were measured at fair value using quoted market prices. They were classified as Level 2 as they trade in a non-active market for which bond prices are readily available.
 
Commercial Paper. Our investments in commercial paper were measured using inputs based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets and, therefore, were classified as Level 2.
 
Treasury Bills. Our Treasury bills were classified as Level 1 as they trade with sufficient frequency and volume to enable us to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis.
 
Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments. Comprised primarily of foreign currency forward contracts and foreign currency swap contracts, our foreign currency derivative instruments were measured at fair value using readily observable market inputs, such as quotations on forward foreign exchange points and foreign interest rates. Our foreign currency derivative instruments were classified as Level 2 as these instruments are custom, over-the-counter contracts with various bank counterparties that are not traded in an active market.
 
Auction Rate Securities. Our investments in auction rate securities ("ARS") were classified as Level 3 as quoted prices were unavailable. Due to limited market information, we utilized a discounted cash flow ("DCF") model to derive an estimate of fair value. The assumptions we used in preparing the DCF model included estimates with respect to the amount and timing of future interest and principal payments, forward projections of the interest rate benchmarks, the probability of full repayment of the principal considering the credit quality and guarantees in place, and the rate of return required by investors to own such securities given the current liquidity risk associated with ARS.
 
Marketable Equity Securities. Our marketable equity securities were measured at fair value using quoted market prices. They were classified as Level 1 as they trade in an active market for which closing stock prices are readily available.
 
Marketable Securities that Fund Deferred Compensation. The assets that fund our deferred compensation consist of investments in mutual funds. These investments were classified as Level 1 as the shares of these mutual funds trade with sufficient frequency and volume to enable us to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis.


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Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
 
Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis relate primarily to our tangible fixed assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, which are remeasured when the derived fair value is below carrying value on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. For these assets, we do not periodically adjust carrying value to fair value, except in the event of impairment. When we determine that impairment has occurred, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to fair value and the difference is recorded within operating income in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

The following table summarizes the fair value remeasurements for non-restructuring property and equipment impairments and restructuring activities recorded during the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013 ($ in millions):
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
Impairments
 
Remaining Net Carrying Value(1)
 
Impairments
 
Remaining Net Carrying Value(1)
Continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment (non-restructuring)
$
28

 
$
17

 
$
37

 
$

Restructuring activities(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment

 

 
4

 

Investments

 

 
16

 

Total continuing operations
$
28

 
$
17

 
$
57

 
$

Discontinued operations(3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment(4)
$

 
$

 
$
220

 
$

Tradename

 

 
4

 

Total discontinued operations
$

 
$

 
$
224

 
$

(1)
Remaining net carrying value approximates fair value.
(2)
See Note 5, Restructuring Charges, for additional information.
(3)
Property and equipment and tradename impairments associated with discontinued operations are recorded within gain (loss) from discontinued operations in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
(4)
Includes the $175 million impairment to write down the book value of our investment in Best Buy Europe to fair value based on expected net proceeds as described in Note 2, Discontinued Operations. The impairment was calculated based on the fair value and foreign currency translation adjustment associated with the business and was applied to the fixed assets.

All of the fair value remeasurements included in the table above were based on significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). Fixed asset fair values were derived using a DCF model to estimate the present value of net cash flows that the asset or asset group was expected to generate. The key inputs to the DCF model generally included our forecasts of net cash generated from revenue, expenses and other significant cash outflows, such as capital expenditures, as well as an appropriate discount rate. For the tradename, fair value was derived using the relief from royalty method. In the case of assets for which the impairment was the result of restructuring activities, no future cash flows have been assumed as the assets will cease to be used and expected sale values are nominal.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments, other than those presented in the disclosures above, include cash, receivables, short-term investments, other investments, accounts payable, other payables, and long-term debt. The fair values of cash, receivables, short-term investments, accounts payable and other payables approximated carrying values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. If these instruments were measured at fair value in the financial statements, they would be classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Short-term investments other than those disclosed in the tables above represent time deposits. Fair values for other investments held at cost are not readily available, but we estimate that the carrying values for these investments approximate fair value. See Note 6, Debt, for information about the fair value of our long-term debt.


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4.    Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
The changes in the carrying values of goodwill and indefinite-lived tradenames by segment were as follows in the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013 ($ in millions):
 
Goodwill
 
Indefinite-lived Tradenames
 
Domestic
 
International
 
Total
 
Domestic
 
International
 
Total
Balances at February 1, 2014
$
425

 
$

 
$
425

 
$
19

 
$
82

 
$
101

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates

 

 

 

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Balances at November 1, 2014
$
425

 
$

 
$
425

 
$
19

 
$
80

 
$
99

 

 
Goodwill
 
Indefinite-lived Tradenames
 
Domestic
 
International
 
Total
 
Domestic
 
International
 
Total
Balances at February 2, 2013
$
528

 
$

 
$
528

 
$
19

 
$
112

 
$
131

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates

 

 

 

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Sale of Best Buy Europe

 

 

 

 
(22
)
 
(22
)
Impairments

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Balances at November 2, 2013
$
528

 
$

 
$
528

 
$
19

 
$
84

 
$
103


The following table provides the gross carrying amount of goodwill and cumulative goodwill impairment losses ($ in millions):
 
November 1, 2014
 
February 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount(1)
 
Cumulative
Impairment(1)
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount(1)
 
Cumulative
Impairment(1)
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Cumulative
Impairment
Goodwill
$
1,308

 
$
(883
)
 
$
1,308

 
$
(883
)
 
$
1,412

 
$
(884
)
(1)
Excludes the gross carrying amount and cumulative impairment related to mindSHIFT goodwill, which was sold during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.

5.    Restructuring Charges

Charges incurred in the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, for our restructuring activities were as follows ($ in millions):
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Continuing operations
 
 
 
Renew Blue
$
23

 
$
52

Fiscal 2013 U.S. restructuring
(6
)
 
(8
)
Total continuing operations
17

 
44

Discontinued operations
 
 
 
Fiscal 2013 Europe restructuring

 
95

Fiscal 2012 restructuring

 
5

Total discontinued operations (Note 2)

 
100

Total restructuring charges
$
17

 
$
144


Renew Blue

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, we began implementing initiatives intended to reduce costs and improve operating performance. These initiatives included focusing on core business activities, reducing headcount, updating our store operating model and optimizing our real estate portfolio. These cost reduction initiatives represented one of the key Renew Blue priorities for fiscal 2014 and cost reduction continues to be a priority in fiscal 2015. We incurred $23 million and $52 million of restructuring charges related to Renew Blue initiatives during the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively. The charges in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 were primarily due to employee termination benefits and facility closure costs. The charges in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 were primarily comprised of employee termination benefits, investment

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impairments, and facility closure costs. We expect to continue to implement cost reduction initiatives throughout the remainder of fiscal 2015, as we further analyze our operations and strategies.

All restructuring charges related to this program are from continuing operations and are presented in restructuring charges in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The composition of the restructuring charges we incurred for this program in the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, as well as the cumulative amount incurred through November 1, 2014, was as follows ($ in millions):
 
Domestic
 
International
 
Total
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Cumulative
Amount
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Cumulative
Amount
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Cumulative
Amount
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
Continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory write-downs
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

Property and equipment impairments

 
2

 
14

 
1

 
2

 
26

 
1

 
4

 
40

Termination benefits
11

 
16

 
163

 
5

 
10

 
42

 
16

 
26

 
205

Investment impairments

 
16

 
43

 

 

 

 

 
16

 
43

Facility closure and other costs
1

 

 
4

 
5

 
6

 
66

 
6

 
6

 
70

Total
$
12

 
$
34

 
$
225

 
$
11

 
$
18

 
$
134

 
$
23

 
$
52

 
$
359


The following tables summarize our restructuring accrual activity during the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, related to termination benefits and facility closure and other costs associated with this program ($ in millions):
 
Termination
Benefits
 
Facility
Closure and
Other Costs
 
Total
Balances at February 1, 2014
$
111

 
$
51

 
$
162

Charges
35

 
12

 
47

Cash payments
(117
)
 
(16
)
 
(133
)
Adjustments(1)
(19
)
 
(5
)
 
(24
)
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates

 
(6
)
 
(6
)
Balances at November 1, 2014
$
10

 
$
36

 
$
46

(1)
Adjustments to termination benefits were due to higher-than-expected employee retention. Adjustments to facility closure and other costs represent changes in sublease assumptions and reductions in our remaining lease obligations.
 
Termination
Benefits
 
Facility
Closure and
Other Costs
 
Total
Balances at February 2, 2013
$
54

 
$
54

 
$
108

Charges
25

 
14

 
39

Cash payments
(65
)
 
(16
)
 
(81
)
Adjustments
(7
)
 
8

 
1

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates
1

 
(1
)
 

Balances at November 2, 2013
$
8

 
$
59

 
$
67


Fiscal 2013 U.S. Restructuring

In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, we initiated a series of actions to restructure operations in our Domestic segment intended to improve operating performance. The actions included closure of 49 large-format Best Buy branded stores in the U.S. and changes to the store and corporate operating models. The costs of implementing the changes were primarily comprised of

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facility closure costs, employee termination benefits, and property and equipment (primarily store fixtures) impairments. We recognized a reduction to restructuring charges of $6 million and $8 million in the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, respectively, as a result of changes in sublease assumptions and the buyout of a lease for less than the remaining vacant space liability. We have completed activities under this restructuring program and do not expect to incur further material restructuring charges, with the exception of potential additional adjustments to facility closure and other costs. In addition, lease payments for vacated stores will continue until leases expire or are terminated.

The restructuring charges related to this program are from continuing operations and are presented in restructuring charges in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The composition of the restructuring charges we incurred for this program in the nine months ended November 1, 2014 and November 2, 2013, as well as the cumulative amount incurred through November 1, 2014, was as follows ($ in millions):
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Cumulative Amount
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
Continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment impairments
$

 
$

 
$
29

Termination benefits

 

 
77

Facility closure and other costs
(6
)
 
(8
)
 
139

Total
$
(6
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
245


The following tables summarize our restructuring accrual activity during the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, related to termination benefits and facility closure and other costs associated with this program ($ in millions):
 
Facility
Closure and
Other Costs
Balances at February 1, 2014
$
58

Charges
2

Cash payments
(16
)
Adjustments
(6
)
Balances at November 1, 2014
$
38

 
Termination
Benefits
 
Facility
Closure and
Other Costs
 
Total
Balances at February 2, 2013
$
4

 
$
113

 
$
117

Charges

 
3

 
3

Cash payments
(2
)
 
(39
)
 
(41
)
Adjustments(1)
(2
)
 
(13
)
 
(15
)
Balances at November 2, 2013
$

 
$
64

 
$
64

(1)
Adjustments to facility closure and other costs represent reductions in our remaining lease obligations.

Fiscal 2013 Europe Restructuring

In the third quarter of fiscal 2013, we initiated a series of actions to restructure our Best Buy Europe operations in our International segment intended to improve operating performance. As described in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, we completed the sale of our 50% ownership interest in Best Buy Europe on June 26, 2013. This program ended as of the date of sale, at which time we wrote off all remaining restructuring liabilities. The cumulative amount of charges we incurred under this program was $131 million, which included $95 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, primarily related to property and equipment impairments and termination benefits. All restructuring charges related to this program are reported within gain (loss) from discontinued operations in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.


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The following table summarizes our restructuring accrual activity during the nine months ended November 2, 2013, related to termination benefits and facility closure and other costs associated with this program ($ in millions):
 
Termination
Benefits
 
Facility
Closure and
Other Costs
 
Total
Balances at February 2, 2013
$

 
$
5

 
$
5

Charges
36

 
2

 
38

Cash payments
(2
)
 
(7
)
 
(9
)
Adjustments(1)
(34
)
 

 
(34
)
Balances at November 2, 2013
$

 
$

 
$

(1)
Represents the remaining liability written off as a result of the sale of Best Buy Europe, as described in Note 2, Discontinued Operations.

Fiscal 2012 Restructuring

In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we implemented a series of actions to restructure operations in our Domestic and International segments. The actions within our Domestic segment included a decision to modify our strategy for certain mobile broadband offerings. In our International segment, we closed our large-format Best Buy branded stores in the U.K. and impaired certain information technology assets supporting the restructured operations. The cumulative amount of charges we incurred under this program was $246 million, comprised of $22 million within our Domestic segment and $224 million within our International segment, primarily related to property and equipment impairments and facility closure and other costs. We incurred $5 million of charges related to this program in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, representing a change in sublease assumptions. We did not incur any charges related to this program in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and do not expect to incur further material restructuring charges related to this program, as we have completed these restructuring activities.

The following table summarizes our restructuring accrual activity during the nine months ended November 2, 2013, related to facility closure and other costs associated with this program ($ in millions):
 
Facility
Closure and
Other Costs
Balances at February 2, 2013
$
36

Cash payments
(33
)
Adjustments(1)
(1
)
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates
(2
)
Balances at November 2, 2013
$

(1)
Included within Adjustments is a $5 million charge related to a change in sublease assumptions, offset by a $6 million adjustment to write off the remaining liability as a result of the sale of Best Buy Europe, as described in Note 2, Discontinued Operations.

6.    Debt
 
U.S. Revolving Credit Facilities

Our $500 million 364-day senior unsecured revolving credit facility agreement with a syndicate of banks, which was entered into on June 25, 2013, expired on June 25, 2014.

On June 30, 2014, we entered into a $1.25 billion five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility agreement (the "Five-Year Facility Agreement") with a syndicate of banks. The Five-Year Facility Agreement replaced the previous $1.5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, which was originally scheduled to expire in October 2016, but was terminated on June 30, 2014.

The interest rate under the Five-Year Facility Agreement is variable and is determined at our option as: (i) the sum of (a) the greatest of (1) JPMorgan's prime rate, (2) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, and (3) the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 1.0%, and (b) a variable margin rate (the “ABR Margin”); or (ii) the LIBOR plus a variable margin rate (the “LIBOR Margin”). In addition, a facility fee is assessed on the commitment amount. The ABR Margin, LIBOR Margin and the facility fee are based upon the registrant’s current senior unsecured debt rating. Under the Five-Year Facility Agreement, the ABR Margin ranges from 0.0% to 0.925%, the LIBOR Margin ranges from 1.000% to 1.925%, and the facility fee ranges from 0.125% to 0.325%.

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The Five-Year Facility Agreement is guaranteed by specified subsidiaries of Best Buy Co., Inc. and contains affirmative and negative covenants. Among other things, these covenants restrict Best Buy Co., Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries’ ability to incur certain types or amounts of indebtedness, incur liens on certain assets, make material changes in corporate structure or the nature of its business, dispose of material assets, engage in a change in control transaction, make certain foreign investments, enter into certain restrictive agreements, or engage in certain transactions with affiliates. The Five-Year Facility Agreement also contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a maximum cash flow leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio (both ratios measured quarterly for the previous 12 months). The Five-Year Facility Agreement contains default provisions including, but not limited to, failure to pay interest or principal when due and failure to comply with covenants.

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following ($ in millions):
 
November 1, 2014
 
February 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
2016 Notes
$
350

 
$
349

 
$
349

2018 Notes
500

 
500

 
500

2021 Notes
649

 
649

 
649

Financing lease obligations
77

 
95

 
103

Capital lease obligations
59

 
63

 
67

Other debt

 
1

 
1

   Total long-term debt
1,635

 
1,657

 
1,669

Less: current portion
(44
)
 
(45
)
 
(45
)
   Total long-term debt, less current portion
$
1,591

 
$
1,612

 
$
1,624

 

The fair value of long-term debt approximated $1,672 million, $1,690 million, and $1,717 million at November 1, 2014, February 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, respectively, based primarily on the market prices quoted from external sources, compared with carrying values of $1,635 million, $1,657 million, and $1,669 million, respectively. If long-term debt was measured at fair value in the financial statements, it would be classified primarily as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

See Note 7, Debt, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, for additional information regarding the terms of our debt facilities, debt instruments and other obligations.

7.    Derivative Instruments

We manage our economic and transaction exposure to certain risks through the use of foreign currency derivative instruments. Our objective in holding these derivatives is to reduce the volatility of net earnings and cash flows, as well as net asset value associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We do not hold derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. We have no derivatives that have credit risk-related contingent features, and we mitigate our credit risk by engaging with major financial institutions as our counterparties.

We record all foreign currency derivative instruments on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and evaluate hedge effectiveness prospectively and retrospectively when electing to apply hedge accounting. We formally document all hedging relations at inception for derivative hedges and the underlying hedged items, as well as the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. In addition, we have derivatives which are not designated as hedging instruments.

Net Investment Hedges

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we entered into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against the effect of Canadian dollar exchange rate fluctuations on a portion of our net investment in our Canadian operations. The contracts have terms up to 12 months. For a net investment hedge, we recognize changes in the fair value of the derivative as a component of foreign currency translation within other comprehensive income to offset a portion of the change in translated value of the net investment being hedged, until the investment is sold or liquidated. We limit recognition in net earnings of amounts previously recorded in other comprehensive income to circumstances such as complete or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the hedged foreign operation. We report the ineffective portion of the gain or loss, if any, in net earnings. At November 1, 2014, the notional amount of these instruments was $106 million, and we recognized a pre-tax gain of $1 million

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in other comprehensive income in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We did not reclassify any amount from accumulated other comprehensive income to net earnings, and we did not recognize any amount related to ineffectiveness in net earnings during the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

We use foreign currency forward contracts to manage the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to recognized receivable and payable balances denominated in non-functional currencies, and on certain forecast inventory purchases denominated in non-functional currencies. The contracts generally have terms of up to 12 months. These derivative instruments are not designated in hedging relationships and, therefore, we record gains and losses on these contracts directly to net earnings. At November 1, 2014, February 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, the notional amount of these instruments was $111 million, $157 million, and $138 million, respectively. We recognized a gain of $4 million in selling general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings during the three months ended November 1, 2014 related to these instruments. We recognized no material SG&A impact from these instruments during the nine months ended November 1, 2014. For the three and nine months ended November 2, 2013, we recognized a $3 million loss and $3 million gain, respectively, in SG&A expenses.
 
In conjunction with our agreement to sell our 50% ownership interest in Best Buy Europe as described in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, we entered into a deal-contingent foreign currency forward contract to hedge £455 million of the total £471 million of net proceeds. The contract was settled in cash following the completion of the sale on June 26, 2013. This instrument had no effect on our Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the three months ended November 2, 2013, and we recognized a $2 million loss recognized in gain (loss) from discontinued operations in the nine months ended November 2, 2013.

8.    Earnings per Share
 
We compute our basic earnings per share based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and our diluted earnings per share based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding adjusted by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding had potentially dilutive common shares been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include stock options, nonvested share awards and shares issuable under our employee stock purchase plan. Nonvested market-based share awards and nonvested performance-based share awards are included in the average diluted shares outstanding for each period if established market or performance criteria have been met at the end of the respective periods.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. ($ and shares in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Numerator
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net earnings from continuing operations
$
107

 
$
44

 
$
714

 
$
378

Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc.
$
107

 
$
43

 
$
713

 
$
377

 


 


 
 
 
 
Denominator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
350.1

 
342.8

 
349.0

 
340.7

Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonvested share awards
3.9

 
6.1

 
3.5

 
4.6

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution
354.0

 
348.9

 
352.5

 
345.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.30

 
$
0.13

 
$
2.05

 
$
1.11

Diluted
$
0.30

 
$
0.12

 
$
2.02

 
$
1.09



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The computation of weighted-average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution, excluded options to purchase 11.6 million and 12.6 million shares of our common stock for the three months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, respectively, and options to purchase 13.8 million and 16.4 million shares of our common stock for the nine months ended November 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, respectively. These amounts were excluded as the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common stock for the periods presented and, therefore, the effect would be anti-dilutive (i.e., including such options would result in higher earnings per share).

9.    Comprehensive Income
 
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014, and the three and nine months ended November 2, 2013, respectively ($ in millions).
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Available-For-Sale Investments
 
Total
Balances at August 2, 2014
$
488

 
$
6

 
494

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(25
)
 

 
(25
)
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Balances at November 1, 2014
$
463

 
$
5

 
$
468

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Available-For-Sale Investments
 
Total
Balances at February 1, 2014
$
485

 
$
7

 
$
492

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(22
)
 

 
(22
)
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Balances at November 1, 2014
$
463

 
$
5

 
$
468

 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Available-For-Sale Investments
 
Total
Balances at August 3, 2013
$
528

 
$
1

 
$
529

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments

 
1

 
1

Balances at November 2, 2013
$
526

 
$
2

 
$
528

 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Available-For-Sale Investments
 
Total
Balances at February 2, 2013
$
113

 
$
(1
)
 
$
112

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(95
)
 

 
(95
)
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments into earnings due to sale of business
508

 

 
508

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments

 
2

 
2

Reclassification of losses on available-for-sale investments into earnings

 
1

 
1

Balances at November 2, 2013
$
526

 
$
2

 
$
528


There is generally no tax impact related to foreign currency translation adjustments, as the earnings are considered permanently reinvested. In addition, there were no material tax impacts related to gains or losses on available-for-sale investments in the periods presented.

10.    Income Taxes
 
As disclosed in Note 3, Profit Share Buy-Out, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we purchased CPW’s interest in the Best Buy Mobile profit share agreement for $1.3 billion (the “Mobile buy-out”). The Mobile buy-out completed by our U.K. subsidiary resulted in the $1.3 billion purchase price being assigned, for U.S. tax purposes only, to an intangible asset. The

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Mobile buy-out did not, however, result in a similar intangible asset in the U.K., as the Mobile buy-out was considered part of a tax-free equity transaction for U.K. tax purposes.

Because the U.S. tax basis in the intangible asset was considered under U.S. tax law to be held by our U.K. subsidiary, which is regarded as a foreign corporation for U.S. tax purposes, ASC 740, Income Taxes, requires that no deferred tax asset may be recorded in respect of the intangible asset. ASC 740-30-25-9 also precludes the recording of a deferred tax asset on the outside basis difference of the U.K. subsidiary. As a result, the amortization of the U.S. tax basis in the intangible asset only resulted in a periodic income tax benefit by reducing the amount of the U.K. subsidiary’s income, if any, that would otherwise have been subject to U.S. income taxes.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we filed an election with the Internal Revenue Service to treat the U.K. subsidiary as a disregarded entity such that its assets are now deemed to be assets held directly by a U.S. entity for U.S. tax purposes. This tax-only election, which results in the liquidation of the U.K. subsidiary for U.S. tax purposes, resulted in the elimination of the Company’s outside basis difference in the U.K. subsidiary. Additionally, the election resulted in the recognition of a deferred tax asset (and corresponding income tax benefit) for the remaining unrecognized inside tax basis in the intangible, in a manner similar to a change in tax status as provided in ASC 740-10-25-32.

Our effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was (22.9)%, compared to 40% in the prior year period. Without the impact of the election described above, which contributed to an income tax benefit of $353 million, the effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 would have been 37.9%. The 37.9% effective tax rate was lower than the prior year primarily due to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters in the current year period, partially offset by the unfavorable ongoing periodic impact as a result of the election described above.

11.    Segments
 
Our chief operating decision maker ("CODM") is our Chief Executive Officer. Our business is organized into two segments: Domestic (which is comprised of all operations within the U.S. and its territories) and International (which is comprised of all operations outside the U.S. and its territories). Our CODM has ultimate responsibility for enterprise decisions. Our CODM determines, in particular, resource allocation for, and monitors performance of, the consolidated enterprise, the Domestic segment and the International segment. The Domestic and International segment managers have responsibility for operating decisions, allocating resources and assessing performance within their respective segments. Our CODM relies on internal management reporting that analyzes enterprise results to the net earnings level and segment results to the operating income level.
 
We do not aggregate our operating segments, so our operating segments also represent our reportable segments. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014.

Revenue by reportable segment was as follows ($ in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Domestic
$
7,992

 
$
7,812

 
$
23,358

 
$
23,533

International
1,388

 
1,515

 
3,953

 
4,407

Total revenue
$
9,380

 
$
9,327

 
$
27,311

 
$
27,940

 

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Operating income (loss) by reportable segment and the reconciliation to earnings from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense were as follows ($ in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Domestic
$
204

 
$
110

 
$
688

 
$
752

International
(14
)
 
(20
)
 
(63
)
 
(81
)
Total operating income
190

 
90

 
625

 
671

Other income (expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of investments
5

 
4

 
7

 
18

Investment income and other
3

 
8

 
17

 
18

Interest expense
(22
)
 
(24
)
 
(68
)
 
(77
)
Earnings from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
$
176

 
$
78

 
$
581

 
$
630

 
Assets by reportable segment were as follows ($ in millions):
 
November 1, 2014
 
February 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Domestic
$
13,137

 
$
11,146

 
$
11,971

International
2,625

 
2,867

 
3,097

Total assets
$
15,762

 
$
14,013

 
$
15,068


12.    Contingencies

We are involved in a number of legal proceedings. Where appropriate, we have made accruals with respect to these matters, which are reflected in our consolidated financial statements. However, there are cases where liability is not probable or the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore accruals have not been made. We provide disclosure of matters where we believe it is reasonably possible the impact may be material to our consolidated financial statements.

Securities Actions
 
In February 2011, a purported class action lawsuit captioned, IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Best Buy Co., Inc., et al., was filed against us and certain of our executive officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. This federal court action alleges, among other things, that we and the officers named in the complaint violated Sections 10(b) and 20A of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act in connection with press releases and other statements relating to our fiscal 2011 earnings guidance that had been made available to the public. Additionally, in March 2011, a similar purported class action was filed by a single shareholder, Rene LeBlanc, against us and certain of our executive officers in the same court. In July 2011, after consolidation of the IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund and Rene LeBlanc actions, a consolidated complaint captioned, IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund v. Best Buy Co., Inc., et al., was filed and served. We filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint in September 2011, and in March 2012, subsequent to the end of fiscal 2012, the court issued a decision dismissing the action with prejudice. In April 2012, the plaintiffs filed a motion to alter or amend the court's decision on our motion to dismiss. In October 2012, the court granted plaintiff's motion to alter or amend the court's decision on our motion to dismiss in part by vacating such decision and giving plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint, which plaintiff did in October 2012. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint in November 2012 and all responsive pleadings were filed in December 2012. A hearing was held on April 26, 2013. On August 5, 2013, the court issued an order granting our motion to dismiss in part and, contrary to its March 2012 order, denying the motion to dismiss in part, holding that certain of the statements alleged to have been made were not forward-looking statements and therefore were not subject to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA). Plaintiffs moved to certify the purported class. By Order filed August 6, 2014, the court certified a class of persons or entities who acquired Best Buy common stock between 10:00 a.m. EDT on September 14, 2010, and December 13, 2010, and who were damaged by the alleged violations of law. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted our request for interlocutory appeal of that order with briefing expected to be complete in January 2015 and oral argument to be scheduled later in 2015. The trial court has stayed proceedings while the appeal is pending. We continue to believe that these allegations are without merit and intend to vigorously defend our company in this matter.
 
In June 2011, a purported shareholder derivative action captioned, Salvatore M. Talluto, Derivatively and on Behalf of Best Buy Co., Inc. v. Richard M. Schulze, et al., as Defendants and Best Buy Co., Inc. as Nominal Defendant, was filed against both

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present and former members of our Board of Directors serving during the relevant periods in fiscal 2011 and us as a nominal defendant in the U.S. District Court for the State of Minnesota. The lawsuit alleges that the director defendants breached their fiduciary duty, among other claims, including violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, in failing to correct public misrepresentations and material misstatements and/or omissions regarding our fiscal 2011 earnings projections and, for certain directors, selling stock while in possession of material adverse non-public information. Additionally, in July 2011, a similar purported class action was filed by a single shareholder, Daniel Himmel, against us and certain of our executive officers in the same court. In November 2011, the respective lawsuits of Salvatore M. Talluto and Daniel Himmel were consolidated into a new action captioned, In Re: Best Buy Co., Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, and a stay ordered pending the close of discovery in the consolidated IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund v. Best Buy Co., Inc., et al. case.

The plaintiffs in the above securities actions seek damages, including interest, equitable relief and reimbursement of the costs and expenses they incurred in the lawsuits. As stated above, we believe the allegations in the above securities actions are without merit, and we intend to defend these actions vigorously. Based on our assessment of the facts underlying the claims in the above securities actions, their respective procedural litigation history, and the degree to which we intend to defend our company in these matters, the amount or range of reasonably possible losses, if any, cannot be estimated.

Other Legal Proceedings
 
We are involved in various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of conducting business. For such legal proceedings, we have accrued an amount that reflects the aggregate liability deemed probable and estimable, but this amount is not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Because of the preliminary nature of many of these proceedings, the difficulty in ascertaining the applicable facts relating to many of these proceedings, the variable treatment of claims made in many of these proceedings and the difficulty of predicting the settlement value of many of these proceedings, we are not able to estimate an amount or range of any reasonably possible additional losses. However, based upon our historical experience, the resolution of these proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

13.    Subsequent Event

On December 3, 2014, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co., Ltd. ("Five Star") and exit our retail business in China. The closing of the sale is contingent on certain conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, we expect to present Five Star as held for sale and include its results in discontinued operations. We do not expect the transaction to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.


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Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Unless the context otherwise requires, the use of the terms “Best Buy,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in the following refers to Best Buy Co., Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative, from the perspective of our management, on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. Unless otherwise noted, transactions and other factors significantly impacting our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity are discussed in order of magnitude. Our MD&A is presented in seven sections:

Overview
Business Strategy Update
Results of Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates
New Accounting Pronouncements

Our MD&A should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, as well as our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other publicly available information. All amounts herein are unaudited.

Overview

We are a multi-national, multi-channel retailer of technology products, including tablets and computers, televisions, mobile phones, large and small appliances, entertainment products, digital imaging, and related accessories. We also offer consumers technology services – including technical support, repair, troubleshooting and installation – under the Geek Squad brand. We operate two reportable segments: Domestic and International. The Domestic segment is comprised of all operations within the U.S. and its territories. The International segment is comprised of all operations outside the U.S. and its territories.

Our business, like that of many retailers, is seasonal. Historically, we have realized more of our revenue and earnings in the fiscal fourth quarter, which includes the majority of the holiday shopping season in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. While consumers view some of the products and services we offer as essential, others are viewed as discretionary purchases. Consequently, our financial results are susceptible to changes in consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors, including unemployment, consumer credit availability and the condition of the housing market. Additionally, there are other factors that directly impact our performance, such as product life-cycles (including the introduction and pace of adoption of new technology) and the competitive retail environment. As a result of these factors, predicting our future revenue and net earnings is difficult. However, we remain confident in our customer promise to deliver advice, service and convenience at competitive prices.

Throughout this MD&A, we refer to comparable sales. Our comparable sales calculation compares revenue from stores, websites and call centers operating for at least 14 full months, as well as revenue related to certain other comparable sales channels for a particular period to the corresponding period in the prior year. Relocated stores, as well as remodeled, expanded, and downsized stores closed more than 14 days, are excluded from the comparable sales calculation until at least 14 full months after reopening. Acquisitions are included in the comparable sales calculation beginning with the first full quarter following the first anniversary of the date of the acquisition. The calculation of comparable sales excludes the impact of revenue from discontinued operations. The portion of the calculation of comparable sales attributable to our International segment excludes the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Comparable online sales are included in our comparable sales calculation. The method of calculating comparable sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our method of calculating comparable sales may not be the same as other retailers' methods.

We occasionally refer to trends in traffic at our stores and on our websites. We estimate store traffic by measuring the number of times people enter our stores using equipment at our store entrances. Website traffic is measured by the number of visits, which are defined as a sequence of consecutive page views on the website without exiting the web browser or exceeding a pre-determined period of inactivity. These traffic measures represent estimates, and our methods of measuring traffic may not be the same as other retailers' methods.

In our discussions of the operating results of our consolidated business and our International segment, we sometimes refer to the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates or the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which

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are references to the differences between the foreign currency exchange rates we use to convert the International segment’s operating results from local currencies into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations is typically calculated as the difference between current period activity translated using the current period’s currency exchange rates and the comparable prior-year period’s currency exchange rates. We use this method to calculate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates for all countries where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

In our discussions of the operating results below, we sometimes refer to the impact of net new stores on our results of operations. The key factors that dictate the impact that the net new stores have on our operating results include: (i) store opening and closing decisions; (ii) the size and format of new stores, as we operate stores ranging from approximately 1,000 square feet to approximately 50,000 square feet; (iii) the length of time the stores were open during the period; and (iv) the overall success of new store launches.

This MD&A includes reference to sales for certain consumer electronics categories. According to The NPD Group’s ("NPD") Weekly Tracking Service as published November 11, 2014, revenue for the consumer electronics industry was down 0.2% during the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2014, compared to the 13 weeks ended November 2, 2013. The consumer electronics industry, as defined by The NPD Group, includes televisions, desktop and notebook computers, tablets not including Kindle, digital imaging and other categories. Sales of these products represent approximately 65% of our Domestic revenue. The data does not include mobile phones, gaming, movies, music, appliances or services.

This MD&A includes financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), as well as certain non-GAAP financial measures such as non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations and non-GAAP debt to earnings before goodwill impairment, interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent ("EBITDAR") ratio. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP measures as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

We believe that the non-GAAP measures described above provide meaningful supplemental information to assist shareholders in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance. Management believes non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations are important indicators of our operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, our core operating results and provide a baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Management makes standard adjustments for items such as restructuring charges, goodwill impairments, non-restructuring asset impairments and gains or losses on sales of investments, as well as adjustments for other items that may arise during the period and have a meaningful impact on comparability. To measure non-GAAP operating income, we removed the impact of the second quarter fiscal 2014 LCD-related legal settlements, non-restructuring asset impairments and restructuring charges from our calculation of operating income. Non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations was calculated by removing the after-tax impact of operating income adjustments and the gain on sales of investments, as well as the income tax impacts of reorganizing certain European legal entities and the Best Buy Europe sale from our calculation of net earnings from continuing operations. To measure non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, we excluded the per share impact of net earnings adjustments from our calculation of diluted earnings per share. Management believes our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio is an important indicator of our creditworthiness. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These non-GAAP financial measures are an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures within our discussion of consolidated performance below, provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors and shareholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Business Strategy Update

In the fall of 2012, we laid out for investors the state of our business and summarized the challenges we faced by articulating two fundamental problems: (1) declining comparable sales and (2) shrinking margins. To address the problems and achieve our goal of becoming the leading authority and destination for technology products and services, we revealed plans for our Renew Blue transformation.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2015, our teams delivered positive comparable sales, improved profitability and continued progress in our Renew Blue transformation. This resulted in $9.4 billion in revenue and $0.32 in non-GAAP ($0.30 GAAP) diluted

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earnings per share versus $0.18 ($0.12 GAAP) last year. Operationally, this year-over-year improvement was primarily driven by 0.6% revenue growth and the benefits from our Renew Blue and other SG&A cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by strategic pricing investments and the ongoing competitive pressure on our gross profit rate. On the top line, while sales in the consumer electronics categories (as defined and reported by NPD) declined 0.2%, our strength in televisions, computing, and tablets versus the industry, in addition to our growth in gaming and appliances, drove a Domestic segment comparable sales increase of 3.2%, or 2.4% excluding the 0.8% of revenue estimated benefit associated with the classification of revenue for the new mobile carrier installment billing plans. Domestic online comparable sales increased 21.6%.

During the quarter, we also continued to make progress against our Renew Blue priorities. In our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, we outlined our Renew Blue road map to address three key business imperatives, which are to improve our operational performance; build our foundational capabilities to unlock future growth strategies; and leverage our unique assets to create a differentiated value proposition that is meaningful to our customers and our vendors. The road map is built around eight priorities and highlights of our progress in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 include the following:

Merchandising. During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we continued to expand our appliance offering through the opening of 15 Pacific Kitchen and Home stores-within-a-store and are on track to end the year with 117 stores versus 67 last year. In home theater, we opened 10 Magnolia Design Center stores-within-a-store and are on track to end the year with 50 stores versus 33 last year. We also continued to expand our ultra high definition, or 4K, television assortment. In mobile, despite major phone launches being quantity-constrained, the adoption of mobile carrier installment billing plans continued to accelerate throughout the quarter. Within these plans, we saw higher average phone prices and higher attach rates of services and phone accessories. In phone accessories, we significantly expanded our exclusive assortment through new partnerships with fashion designers and growth in our own private label brands, which allowed us to offer our customers an industry-leading phone case assortment in time for the new iPhone launch.

Marketing. We continued to shift marketing dollars away from television and print to digital media and display campaigns, including a highly successful traffic-generating back-to-school initiative. We also continued to drive increasingly powerful customer communication through the leveraging of our new Athena database. While we remain in the very early stages of being able to personalize marketing messages to individual customers, we are beginning to see better click-through rates from these new campaigns when compared to mass, non-targeted emails.

Online. In the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we continued to leverage our ship-from-store, digital marketing, and enhanced website functionality to drive a 21.6% increase in Domestic comparable online sales. Similar to the first half of fiscal 2015, ship-from-store represented over half of our online sales growth. We also launched several customer-facing website improvements including (1) significantly richer visual and editorial content for the home theater, mobile, appliance and gaming categories; (2) expanded wish list capabilities; (3) an expanded and more inspirational holiday gift center; and (4) an improved checkout process that provides faster and precise “Get it By” delivery dates on approximately 60% of Best Buy-delivered SKUs, rather than an up to five-to-eight day range.

Retail Stores. During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we continued to improve the physical presence and shopping experience by (1) expanding our fleet of appliance and home theater stores-within-a-store; (2) increasing our investment in store refresh initiatives; (3) adding compelling vendor displays; (4) increasing sales training; and (5) integrating new vendor-funded labor into our premium customer experiences. While traffic to our stores continued to decline year-over-year, the trend improved compared to the first half of the year.

Our overall Net Promoter Score was flat year-over-year in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, which we believe was driven in part by the impact of product availability associated with the launch of new phones. This plateau follows a 400 basis point, year-over-year improvement in the prior-year period.

Supply Chain. We continued to transform our distribution and fulfillment capabilities by (1) operationalizing a faster and more precise delivery experience for our online customers; (2) unlocking a significant percentage of our major appliance and large screen television inventory that was systemically trapped in a single market and not available to be purchased by a customer outside of that market; and (3) in returns, replacements and damages, we launched a new section on the website called Best Buy Outlet, which expands the online visibility of open box inventory that can be purchased online and picked up in store. We also expanded the percentage of returned products that we are Geek Squad certifying, which, while small, is leading to higher margin recovery due to customer confidence in the quality statement that Geek Squad certification inspires.

Geek Squad Services. We continued to increase our services Net Promoter Score year-over-year and reduce costs through operational efficiencies. We also launched a Loss and Theft mobile phone insurance program to supplement our historical Geek Squad protection plans. However, service revenue continued to decline, and we continue to face declining demand and

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increasing pricing pressures for extended warranty services, which is partially driven by improving product reliability and declining average selling prices for parent products.

Cost Structure. In the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we eliminated an additional $65 million in annualized costs, taking our total Renew Blue cost reductions to $965 million towards our target of $1 billion.

Fiscal 2015 Trends

As we enter the fourth quarter, we are excited about our holiday plan, which has been built around (1) the cumulative progress we have made against our Renew Blue priorities; (2) an operational road map that incorporates the specific learnings that we gained from last year; and (3) our current views on the consumer and competitive environment. Within this plan, we believe the following initiatives will drive better year-over-year outcomes: (1) the customer-facing changes that we have made on our website and in our stores that touch many of our key categories, especially home theater, accessories, appliances, emerging categories such as health & wearables and connected home, and digital imaging; (2) our ability this year to sell mobile carrier installment billing plans in the mobile phone category; (3) a more inspirational gifting strategy; (4) a more defined, structured and analytical approach to our promotional strategy and competitive response plans; (5) more relevant and targeted marketing investments, including a more concise statement of our value proposition – Expert Service. Unbeatable Price.; and (6) increased inventory availability primarily due to the rollout of ship-from-store to 1,400 stores versus 400 stores last year. Like every holiday, though, we believe the outcome of these initiatives is, and will continue to be, tempered by other external and internal factors – including the investments that are required to drive them.

The sales trends we are seeing in our business as we enter the fourth quarter are encouraging from a top-line perspective. But to drive these results, similar to the third quarter, there are internal and external factors that we believe could put pressure on our operating income rate. The internal factors include: (1) the increased mix of faster growing, but lower-margin products in our revenue; (2) the potential impact of higher incentive compensation, particularly in our retail stores, based on our expected year-over-year improvement in performance; (3) higher growth in our lower-margin online channel; and (4) intensified investments in customer-facing initiatives. The external factors include: (1) an intensely promotional competitive environment; (2) a possible constraint in product availability in recent high-profile product launches; (3) a potential supply chain disruption related to the West Coast port delays; and (4) increasing customer service investments such as free and faster shipping or expert service in our retail stores and greater customer expectations around supply chain experiences.

The financial outcomes that these factors are expected to drive in the fourth quarter are as follows: (1) near flat year-over-year revenue and comparable sales growth – assuming revenue declines in the NPD reported Consumer Electronics categories are in line with the third quarter of fiscal 2015; (2) an improvement in the year-over-year gross profit rate; and (3) flat year-over-year SG&A expense – including higher incentive compensation, the intensified investments in customer-facing initiatives and an incremental $20 million due to a greater proportion of our vendor funding being recorded as an offset to cost of goods sold rather than SG&A. The net result of these outcomes, similar to the prior quarter’s outlook, is expected to equate to a year-over-year expansion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 non-GAAP operating income rate of approximately 0.5% of revenue. In light of the unpredictability of many of the factors that affect our business, our future results are inherently uncertain. As a result, our actual results may differ significantly from our current expectations.

As discussed in Note 10, Income Taxes, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we reorganized certain foreign legal entities in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 to simplify our overall tax structure which resulted in an accelerated non-cash tax benefit of approximately $353 million. This benefit has historically been recognized on a periodic basis, and as a result of the acceleration, there will be no future earnings benefit. Therefore, we expect to have a higher income tax rate going forward. We estimate that the impact of this and other known discrete income tax items will affect diluted earnings per share on a year-over-year basis in the range of negative $0.09 to $0.10 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Results of Operations

In order to align our fiscal reporting periods and comply with statutory filing requirements in certain foreign jurisdictions, we consolidate the financial results of our China and Mexico operations on a one-month lag. Consistent with such consolidation, the financial and non-financial information presented in our MD&A relative to these operations is also presented on a one-month lag. Our policy is to accelerate recording the effect of events occurring in the lag period that significantly affect our consolidated financial statements. There were no significant intervening events which would have materially affected our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or other factors had they been recorded during the three months ended November 1, 2014.


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Discontinued Operations Presentation
 
Discontinued operations are comprised of mindSHIFT operations within our Domestic segment and Best Buy Europe operations within our International segment. Unless otherwise stated, financial results discussed herein refer to continuing operations.

Consolidated Performance Summary

Net earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 increased $64 million, or 49%, from the prior-year period. The increase is primarily driven by lower SG&A due to Renew Blue cost reductions and tighter expense management throughout the company and comparable sales growth of 2.2%, which were partially offset by lower gross profit.
 
We now offer mobile carrier installment billing plans to our customers as well as two-year contract plans. While the two types of contracts have broadly similar overall economics, installment billing plans typically generate higher revenues due to higher proceeds for devices and higher cost of sales due to lower device subsidies. As we increase our mix of installment billing plans, there is an associated increase in revenue and cost of goods sold, and a decrease in gross profit rate, with gross profit dollars relatively unaffected. We estimate that our consolidated comparable sales of 2.2% includes a 0.6% of revenue impact from this classification difference. The impact on our consolidated gross profit rate for the quarter was immaterial.

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data ($ in millions, except per share amounts):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Revenue
$
9,380

 
$
9,327

 
$
27,311

 
$
27,940

Revenue % gain (decline)
0.6
%
 
(0.2
)%
 
(2.3
)%
 
(3.6
)%
Comparable sales % gain (decline)
2.2
%
 
0.3
 %
 
(0.8
)%
 
(0.6
)%
Gross profit
$
2,128

 
$
2,157

 
$
6,203

 
$
6,773

Gross profit as a % of revenue(1)
22.7
%
 
23.1
 %
 
22.7
 %
 
24.2
 %
SG&A
$
1,929

 
$
2,036

 
$
5,561

 
$
6,058

SG&A as a % of revenue(1)
20.6
%
 
21.8
 %
 
20.4
 %
 
21.7
 %
Restructuring charges
$
9

 
$
31

 
$
17

 
$
44

Operating income
$
190

 
$
90

 
$
625

 
$
671

Operating income as a % of revenue
2.0
%
 
1.0
 %
 
2.3
 %
 
2.4
 %
Net earnings from continuing operations(2)
$
107

 
$
43

 
$
713

 
$
377

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations(3)
$

 
$
11

 
$
1

 
$
(138
)
Net earnings attributable to Best Buy Co., Inc. shareholders
$
107

 
$
54

 
$
714

 
$
239

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
$
0.30

 
$
0.12

 
$
2.02

 
$
1.09

Diluted earnings per share
$
0.30

 
$
0.16

 
$
2.02

 
$
0.69

(1)
Because retailers vary in how they record costs of operating their supply chain between cost of goods sold and SG&A, our gross profit rate and SG&A rate may not be comparable to other retailers’ corresponding rates. For additional information regarding costs classified in cost of goods sold and SG&A, refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014.
(2)
Includes both net earnings from continuing operations and net earnings from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests.
(3)
Includes both net gain (loss) from discontinued operations and net loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests.
 

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The components of the 0.6% revenue increase and 2.3% revenue decreases for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively, were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 1, 2014
Comparable sales impact
2.1
 %
 
(0.8
)%
Impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations
(0.7
)%
 
(0.6
)%
Non-comparable sales(1)
(0.4
)%
 
(0.6
)%
Net store changes
(0.4
)%
 
(0.3
)%
Total revenue increase (decrease)
0.6
 %
 
(2.3
)%
(1)
Non-comparable sales reflects the impact of revenue streams not included within our comparable sales calculation, such as credit card revenue, gift card breakage, commercial sales, and sales of merchandise to wholesalers and dealers.

The gross profit rate decreased by 0.4% of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The gross profit rate decline in our Domestic segment accounted for the majority of the decrease. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, the gross profit rate decreased by 1.5% of revenue. Our Domestic and International segments accounted for a decrease of 1.4% of revenue and 0.1% of revenue, respectively. For further discussion of each segment’s gross profit rate changes, see Segment Performance Summary below.

The SG&A rate decreased by 1.2% of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The Domestic segment accounted for the majority of the decrease. The SG&A rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 decreased by 1.3% of revenue. SG&A rate declines in our Domestic and International segments accounted for a decrease of 1.2% of revenue and 0.1% of revenue, respectively. For further discussion of each segment’s SG&A rate changes, see Segment Performance Summary below.

Operating income increased $100 million and our operating income rate increased to 2.0% of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 1.0% of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. The increase in operating income was primarily due to lower SG&A driven by Renew Blue cost reduction initiatives and increased Domestic segment comparable sales. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, operating income decreased 6.9% to $625 million or, as a percentage of revenue, to 2.3%, compared to 2.4% of revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2014. The decrease in operating income was the result of decreased gross profit, primarily due to the LCD-related legal settlements in the prior-year period, which was partially offset by lower SG&A.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

Income tax expense increased to $69 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $34 million in the prior-year period, primarily as a result of an increase in pre-tax earnings. Our effective income tax rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was 39.4% compared to a rate of 44.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to the increase in our pre-tax earnings, as the impact of discrete items on our effective income tax rate is less when our pre-tax earnings are higher.

Income tax decreased to a tax benefit of $133 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 compared to a tax expense of $252 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to a $353 million discrete benefit related to reorganizing certain European legal entities and a decrease in pre-tax earnings in the current-year period. Our effective income tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was (22.9)%, compared to a rate of 40.0% in the first nine months of fiscal 2014. The decrease was caused primarily by reorganizing certain European legal entities and the favorable resolution of certain tax matters in the current-year period. Refer to Note 10, Income Taxes, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
  
Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. We update our estimate of the annual effective tax rate each quarter, and we make a cumulative adjustment if our estimated tax rate changes. These interim estimates are subject to variation due to several factors, including our ability to accurately forecast our pre-tax and taxable income and loss by jurisdiction, tax audit developments, changes in laws or regulations, and expenses or losses for which tax benefits are not recognized. Our effective tax rate can be more or less volatile based on the amount of pre-tax income. For example, the impact of discrete items and non-deductible losses on our effective tax rate is greater when our pre-tax income is lower.

In addition, our consolidated effective tax rate is impacted by the statutory income tax rates applicable to each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. As our foreign earnings are generally taxed at lower statutory rates than the 35% U.S. statutory rate, changes in the proportion of our consolidated taxable earnings originating in foreign jurisdictions impact our

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consolidated effective rate. Our foreign earnings have been indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. and are not subject to current U.S. income tax.

Discontinued Operations

There were no material results from discontinued operations in the third quarter or the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The gain of $11 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was primarily the result of a tax allocation between continuing and discontinued operations. The loss from discontinued operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was primarily the result of the non-cash impairment of our investment in Best Buy Europe in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and increased restructuring charges, partially offset by a first quarter gain on the sale of Best Buy Europe's fixed-line business in Switzerland and a tax allocation benefit between continuing and discontinued operations. Refer to Note 2, Discontinued Operations, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following table reconciles operating income, net earnings, and diluted earnings per share for the periods presented from continuing operations (GAAP financial measures) to non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net earnings, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the periods presented ($ in millions, except per share amounts).
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Operating income
$
190

 
$
90

 
$
625

 
$
671

Net LCD settlements(1)

 

 

 
(229
)
Non-restructuring asset impairments
6

 
9

 
28

 
36

Restructuring charges
9

 
31

 
17

 
44

Non-GAAP operating income
$
205

 
$
130

 
$
670

 
$
522

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings from continuing operations
$
107

 
$
43

 
$
713

 
$
377

After-tax impact of net LCD settlements(1)

 
(1
)
 

 
(148
)
After-tax impact of non-restructuring asset impairments
4

 
6

 
18

 
25

After-tax impact of restructuring charges
6

 
21

 
12

 
30

After-tax impact of gain on sale of investments
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
(12
)
Income tax impact of Best Buy Europe sale

 
(2
)
 

 
14

Income tax impact of Europe legal entity reorganization

 

 
(353
)
 

Non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations
$
114

 
$
64

 
$
386

 
$
286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
$
0.30

 
$
0.12

 
$
2.02

 
$
1.09

Per share impact of net LCD settlements(1)

 

 

 
(0.43
)
Per share impact of non-restructuring asset impairments
0.01

 
0.02

 
0.05

 
0.07

Per share impact of restructuring charges
0.02

 
0.06

 
0.04

 
0.09

Per share impact of gain on sale of investments
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.03
)
Per share impact of income tax impact of Best Buy Europe sale

 
(0.01
)
 

 
0.04

Per share impact of income tax impact of Europe legal entity reorganization

 

 
(1.01
)
 

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
$
0.32

 
$
0.18

 
$
1.09

 
$
0.83

(1)
Amounts for the nine months ended November 2, 2013, exclude the pre-tax impact of $44 million of net proceeds from LCD settlements reached in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, as we did not adjust for LCD settlements prior to the material settlements reached in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

Non-GAAP operating income increased $75 million, to 2.2% of revenue, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, and $148 million, to 2.5% of revenue, in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 compared to the prior-year periods. The increase in both periods was driven by SG&A cost reductions in both segments primarily due to the realization of our Renew Blue cost reduction initiatives and tighter expense management, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit due to a lower gross profit rate. The increase in

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operating income resulted in a year-over-year increase in non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 compared to the prior-year periods.

Segment Performance Summary

Domestic

Domestic segment revenue increased 2.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, primarily driven by comparable sales growth of 3.2%. Excluding the 0.8% of revenue estimated benefit associated with the classification of the new mobile carrier installment billing plans as described above under Consolidated Performance Summary, comparable sales increased 2.4%. This increase was partially offset by the timing of recovery on mobile phone trade-in liquidations, store closures, and a revenue decline of $8 million due to the less favorable economics of the new credit card agreement. Including the decline of $8 million in the third quarter, we have experienced a revenue decline of $75 million related to our credit card agreement in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The impact of our credit card agreement on our revenue is substantially the same as the impact on our gross profit and operating income.

Comparable online revenue was $601 million and comparable online sales increased to 21.6% due to (1) improved inventory availability made possible by the chain-wide rollout of our ship-from-store capability that was completed in January 2014; (2) higher average order value; and (3) increased traffic driven by greater investment in online digital marketing.

The following table presents selected financial data for the Domestic segment ($ in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Revenue
$
7,992

 
$
7,812

 
$
23,358

 
$
23,533

Revenue % gain (decline)
2.3
%
 
2.3
%
 
(0.7
)%
 
(2.7
)%
Comparable sales % gain(1)
3.2
%
 
1.8
%
 
 %
 
 %
Gross profit
$
1,841

 
$
1,836

 
$
5,382

 
$
5,820

Gross profit as a % of revenue
23.0
%
 
23.5
%
 
23.0
 %
 
24.7
 %
SG&A
$
1,632

 
$
1,702

 
$
4,688

 
$
5,042

SG&A as a % of revenue
20.4
%
 
21.8
%
 
20.1
 %
 
21.4
 %
Restructuring charges
$
5

 
$
24

 
$
6

 
$
26

Operating income
$
204

 
$
110

 
$
688

 
$
752

Operating income as a % of revenue
2.6
%
 
1.4
%
 
2.9
 %
 
3.2
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selected Online Revenue Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Online revenue as a % of total segment revenue
7.5
%
 
6.4
%
 
7.8
 %
 
6.3
 %
Comparable online sales % growth(1)
21.6
%
 
15.1
%
 
24.3
 %
 
13.9
 %
(1)
Comparable online sales is included in the comparable sales calculation.

The components of our Domestic segment's 2.3% revenue increase and 0.7% revenue decrease for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively, were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 1, 2014
Comparable sales impact
3.1
 %
 
 %
Non-comparable sales(1)
(0.5
)%
 
(0.5
)%
Net store changes
(0.3
)%
 
(0.2
)%
Total revenue increase (decrease)
2.3
 %
 
(0.7
)%
 
(1)
Non-comparable sales reflects the impact of revenue streams not included within our comparable sales calculation, such as credit card revenue, gift card breakage, commercial sales, and sales of merchandise to wholesalers and dealers.


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The following table reconciles the number of Domestic stores open at the beginning and end of the third quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014:
 
Fiscal 2015
 
Fiscal 2014
 
Total Stores at Beginning of Third Quarter
 
Stores Opened
 
Stores Closed
 
Total Stores at End of Third Quarter
 
Total Stores at Beginning of Third Quarter
 
Stores Opened
 
Stores Closed
 
Total Stores at End of Third Quarter
Best Buy
1,053

 

 
(1
)
 
1,052

 
1,055

 

 

 
1,055

Best Buy Mobile stand-alone
391

 

 
(2
)
 
389

 
416

 
1

 
(2
)
 
415

Pacific Sales stand-alone
29

 

 

 
29

 
34

 

 
(4
)
 
30

Magnolia Audio Video stand-alone
4

 

 
(1
)
 
3

 
4

 

 

 
4

Total Domestic segment stores
1,477

 

 
(4
)
 
1,473

 
1,509

 
1

 
(6
)
 
1,504


The closure of Best Buy stores, Best Buy Mobile stand-alone stores, Pacific Sales stand-alone stores and Magnolia Audio Video stand-alone stores over the last 12 months all contributed to the decrease in revenue attributable to net store changes in the first nine months of fiscal 2015.

The following table presents the Domestic segment’s revenue mix percentages and comparable sales percentage changes by revenue category in the third quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014:
 
Revenue Mix
 
Comparable Sales
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Consumer Electronics
29
%
 
29
%
 
3.1
 %
 
(2.5
)%
Computing and Mobile Phones
49
%
 
49
%
 
3.2
 %
 
6.7
 %
Entertainment
7
%
 
6
%
 
16.6
 %
 
(26.8
)%
Appliances
8
%
 
8
%
 
5.7
 %
 
23.5
 %
Services
6
%
 
7
%
 
(10.3
)%
 
4.2
 %
Other
1
%
 
1
%
 
n/a

 
n/a

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
3.2
 %
 
1.8
 %
 

The following is a description of the notable comparable sales changes in our Domestic segment by revenue category:

Consumer Electronics: The 3.1% comparable sales gain was driven primarily by an increase in the sales of large screen televisions.
Computing and Mobile Phones: The 3.2% comparable sales gain primarily resulted from increased sales of computers. This increase was partially offset by a decline in mobile phones, excluding the aforementioned impact of mobile carrier installment billing plans, and a decrease in tablets from the continued industry softness seen in prior quarters.
Entertainment: The 16.6% comparable sales gain was driven primarily by gaming sales due to new console launches in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, partially offset by declines in movies and music due to continued industry declines and rationalization of the store space dedicated to these products.
Appliances: The 5.7% comparable sales gain was a result of gains in major appliances primarily driven by the addition of Pacific Kitchen & Home stores-within-a-store.
Services: The 10.3% comparable sales decline was primarily driven by lower mobile repair revenue due to our success in decreasing claim severity and frequency, which is an operational positive, and lower attach rates.

Our Domestic segment experienced an increase in gross profit of $5 million, or 0.3%, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014; however the gross profit rate decreased by 0.5% of revenue. This rate decrease was primarily due to (1) a lower gross profit rate in the mobile business including a decline in customer demand for mobile broadband products; (2) structural investments in price competitiveness, particularly accessories; (3) increased revenue in the lower-margin gaming category; (4) a highly competitive promotional environment in tablets; and (5) the negative impact related to the less favorable economics of the new credit card agreement. These declines were partially offset by (1) increased revenue in higher-margin large screen televisions; (2) the realization of our Renew Blue cost reductions and other supply chain cost containment initiatives; and (3) the receipt of restitution from a legal claim related to an inventory dispute of $11.5 million.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, our Domestic segment experienced a decrease in gross profit of $438 million, or 7.5%, compared to the prior-year period. The most significant driver of the decrease was $264 million of LCD-related legal

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settlements that we received in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and, to a lesser extent, $50 million of LCD settlements in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Excluding these LCD settlements, we experienced a decrease in gross profit of $124 million, and the gross profit rate decreased by 0.4 % of revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. The primary drivers of the rate decrease were (1) a lower gross profit rate in the mobile business – including a decline in customer demand for mobile broadband products; (2) a mix shift into the lower-margin gaming and computing categories; (3) structural investments in price competitiveness, particularly in accessories; (4) the negative impact related to the less favorable economics of the new credit card agreement; and (5) a highly competitive promotional environment in tablets. These decreases were partially offset by (1) increased revenue in higher-margin large-screen televisions; (2) the realization of our Renew Blue cost reductions and other supply chain cost containment initiatives; (3) the receipt of restitution from a legal claim related to an inventory dispute; and (4) an increased mix of higher margin accessory categories.
 
Our Domestic segment’s SG&A decreased $70 million, or 4.1%, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the prior-year period. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, our Domestic segment’s SG&A decreased $354 million, or 7.0%, compared to the prior-year period. In addition, the SG&A rate decreased by 1.4% and 1.3% of revenue in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively, compared to the prior-year periods. The decreases in SG&A and SG&A rate in both periods were primarily driven by the realization of Renew Blue cost reduction initiatives and the benefit from tighter expense management throughout the company. These declines were partially offset by Renew Blue investments in online growth and our in-store experience.

Our Domestic segment recorded $5 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and incurred $24 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014, our Domestic segment recorded $6 million and $26 million of restructuring charges, respectively. These restructuring charges had minimal impact on our operating income for either period. Refer to Note 5, Restructuring Charges, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Our Domestic segment’s operating income in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 increased by $94 million and decreased by $64 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. The increase in the third quarter was driven by lower SG&A and a comparable sales increase, partially offset by a lower gross profit rate. The decrease in the first nine months was primarily due to a decrease in gross profit driven by the prior-year LCD-related legal settlements, partially offset by lower SG&A, as described above.

International

Our International segment experienced a decrease in SG&A primarily driven by Renew Blue cost reductions and tighter expense management in Canada and China; however, revenue declined 8.4% primarily driven by the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, a comparable sales decline of 3.0%, and the loss of revenue from store closures in Canada and China. In light of this decline, we are beginning to implement the same Renew Blue transformation road map that we are following in the Domestic segment.

The following table presents selected financial data for the International segment ($ in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Revenue
$
1,388

 
$
1,515

 
$
3,953

 
$
4,407

Revenue % decline
(8.4
)%
 
(11.3
)%
 
(10.3
)%
 
(8.1
)%
Comparable sales % decline(1)
(3.0
)%
 
(6.4
)%
 
(5.1
)%
 
(3.8
)%
Gross profit
$
287

 
$
321

 
$
821

 
$
953

Gross profit as a % of revenue
20.7
 %
 
21.2
 %
 
20.8
 %
 
21.6
 %
SG&A
$
297

 
$
334

 
$
873

 
$
1,016

SG&A as a % of revenue
21.4
 %
 
22.0
 %
 
22.1
 %
 
23.1
 %
Restructuring charges
$
4

 
$
7

 
$
11

 
$
18

Operating loss
$
(14
)
 
$
(20
)
 
$
(63
)
 
$
(81
)
Operating loss as a % of revenue
(1.0
)%
 
(1.3
)%
 
(1.6
)%
 
(1.8
)%
(1)
Comparable online sales is included in the comparable sales calculation.


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The components of our International segment's 8.4% and 10.3% revenue decreases for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively, were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 1, 2014
Impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations
(4.4
)%
 
(4.0
)%
Comparable sales impact
(2.9
)%
 
(4.9
)%
Net store changes
(1.0
)%
 
(1.2
)%
Non-comparable sales(1)
(0.1
)%
 
(0.2
)%
Total revenue decrease
(8.4
)%
 
(10.3
)%
 
(1)
Non-comparable sales reflects the impact of revenue streams not included within our comparable sales calculation, such as credit card revenue, gift card breakage, commercial sales, and sales of merchandise to wholesalers and dealers.

The following table reconciles the number of International stores open at the beginning and end of the third quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014:
 
Fiscal 2015
 
Fiscal 2014
 
Total Stores at Beginning of Third Quarter
 
Stores Opened
 
Stores Closed
 
Total Stores at End of Third Quarter
 
Total Stores at Beginning of Third Quarter
 
Stores Opened
 
Stores Closed
 
Total Stores at End of Third Quarter
Canada
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Future Shop
135

 

 

 
135

 
140

 

 

 
140

Best Buy
72

 

 

 
72

 
72

 

 

 
72

Best Buy Mobile stand-alone
56

 

 

 
56

 
54

 
1

 

 
55

China
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Five Star
184

 
4

 
(4
)
 
184

 
197

 

 
(4
)
 
193

Mexico
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Best Buy
17

 
1

 

 
18

 
15

 
2

 

 
17

Express
2

 
1

 

 
3

 
1

 
1

 

 
2

Total International segment stores
466

 
6

 
(4
)
 
468

 
479

 
4

 
(4
)
 
479

 

The closure of large-format Future Shop stores in Canada and net closure of Five Star stores in China over the past 12 months contributed to the decrease in revenue associated with net store changes in our International segment in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015. The addition of large and small-format stores in Mexico and a Best Buy Mobile stand-alone store in Canada partially offset this decrease.

The following table presents revenue mix percentages and comparable sales percentage changes for the International segment by revenue category in the third quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014:
 
Revenue Mix
 
Comparable Sales
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Consumer Electronics
25
%
 
26
%
 
(6.6
)%
 
(13.2
)%
Computing and Mobile Phones
44
%
 
43
%
 
(0.3
)%
 
(5.5
)%
Entertainment
6
%
 
6
%
 
5.0
 %
 
(11.7
)%
Appliances
19
%
 
20
%
 
(8.4
)%
 
5.2
 %
Services
5
%
 
5
%
 
0.5
 %
 
(9.5
)%
Other
1
%
 
< 1%

 
n/a

 
n/a

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
(3.0
)%
 
(6.4
)%
 

The following is a description of the notable comparable sales changes in our International segment by revenue category:

Consumer Electronics: The 6.6% comparable sales decline was driven primarily by a decrease in the sales of digital imaging products across the segment and televisions in Canada. The decrease in digital imaging products was a result of device convergence and industry trends similar to those experienced in prior quarters. The decline in sales of televisions in Canada was due to overall market softness and competitive pressures.
Computing and Mobile Phones: The 0.3% comparable sales decline was primarily driven by the delay of highly anticipated product launches in China.

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Entertainment: The 5.0% comparable sales gain was primarily driven by Canada due to growth in gaming from new console launches in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. This growth was partially offset by a decline in movies and music, as a result of similar trends to those experienced in our Domestic segment.
Appliances: The 8.4% comparable sales decline was primarily driven by air conditioners in China due to cooler weather compared to the prior year.
Services: The 0.5% comparable sales gain was primarily due to an increase in sales of warranties in Canada.

Our International segment experienced a decrease in gross profit of $34 million, or 10.6%, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the decrease in gross profit was $19 million. The gross profit rate decline of 0.5% of revenue was primarily driven by Canada due to a highly competitive promotional environment in tablets and higher revenue in the lower-margin gaming category. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, our International segment experienced a decrease in gross profit of $132 million, or 13.9%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the decrease in gross profit was $90 million. The 0.8% of revenue decrease in the gross profit rate was primarily driven by increased promotional activity and, to a lesser extent, higher revenue in the lower-margin gaming category in Canada.

Our International segment’s SG&A decreased $37 million, or 11.1%, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the decrease in SG&A was $22 million. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, our International segment’s SG&A decreased $143 million, or 14.1%, compared to the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the decrease in SG&A was $100 million. In addition, the SG&A rate decreased by 0.6% and 1.0% of revenue in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively, compared to the prior-year periods. The decrease in SG&A and SG&A rate in both periods was primarily driven by Renew Blue cost reductions and tighter expense management in Canada and, to a lesser extent, China.

Our International segment recorded $4 million and $11 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively, which resulted in a decrease in operating income of 0.3% of revenue in both periods. In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014, our International segment recorded $7 million and $18 million of restructuring charges, respectively. These restructuring charges resulted in a decrease in operating income of 0.5% and 0.4% of revenue, respectively. Refer to Note 5, Restructuring Charges, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Our International segment experienced a decreased operating loss of $6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the prior-year period, driven primarily by a decrease in SG&A, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit as described above. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, the International segment experienced a decreased operating loss of $18 million primarily due to a reduction in SG&A expenses, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit as described above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Summary

We closely manage our liquidity and capital resources. Our liquidity requirements depend on key variables, including the level of investment to support our Renew Blue priorities, discretionary SG&A spending, capital expenditures, credit facilities, and working capital management. Capital expenditures are a component of our cash flow and capital management strategy which, to a large extent, we can adjust in response to economic and other changes in our business environment. We have a disciplined approach to capital allocation, which focuses on investing in key priorities that support our Renew Blue transformation.

The following table summarizes our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balances at November 1, 2014, February 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013 ($ in millions):
 
November 1, 2014
 
February 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,929

 
$
2,678

 
$
2,170

Short-term investments
1,209

 
223

 

Total cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
$
3,138

 
$
2,901

 
$
2,170


The increase in total cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments from November 2, 2013, was primarily due to cash generated from operating activities and proceeds from the sale of mindSHIFT, partially offset by capital expenditures. The increase in total cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments from February 1, 2014, was primarily due to cash generated from operating activities, partially offset by capital expenditures and dividend payments.

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Cash Flows
 
The following table summarizes our cash flows from total operations for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 ($ in millions):
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 1, 2014
 
November 2, 2013
Total cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
774

 
$
324

Investing activities
(1,342
)
 
(315
)
Financing activities
(175
)
 
359

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(6
)
 
(24
)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
(749
)
 
$
344

 
Cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 increased compared to the prior-year period primarily due to timing of vendor payments resulting in higher-than-normal cash outflow in fiscal 2014, and timing of cellular receivable collections resulting in higher cash inflow in fiscal 2015, partially offset by operating cash inflow in fiscal 2014 from Best Buy Europe.

Cash used in investing activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 increased compared to the prior-year period primarily due to purchases of short-term investments.

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 decreased compared to the prior-year period primarily due to the inclusion of the borrowings of debt by Best Buy Europe in fiscal 2014 and a decrease in cash from the issuance of common stock.

Sources of Liquidity

Funds generated by operating activities, available cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and our credit facilities are our most significant sources of liquidity. We believe our sources of liquidity will be sufficient to sustain operations and to finance anticipated capital investments and strategic initiatives. However, in the event our liquidity is insufficient, we may be required to limit our spending. There can be no assurance that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels or that we will be able to maintain our ability to borrow under our existing credit facilities or obtain additional financing, if necessary, on favorable terms.

On June 30, 2014, we entered into a new $1.25 billion five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Five-Year Facility Agreement") with a syndicate of banks that expires in June 2019. The Five-Year Facility Agreement replaced the previous $1.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, which was originally scheduled to expire in October 2016, but was terminated on June 30, 2014. Refer to Note 6, Debt, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. At November 1, 2014, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Five-Year Facility Agreement.

We have $125 million available (based on the exchange rates in effect as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015) under unsecured revolving demand facilities related to our International segment operations. There were no borrowings outstanding at November 1, 2014.

Our ability to access our revolving credit facility under the Five-Year Facility Agreement, is subject to our compliance with the terms and conditions of the facility, including financial covenants. The financial covenants require us to maintain certain financial ratios. At November 1, 2014, we were in compliance with all such financial covenants. If an event of default were to occur with respect to any of our other debt, it would likely constitute an event of default under our facilities as well.


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Our credit ratings and outlooks at November 1, 2014, are summarized below. On September 3, 2014, Fitch Ratings Limited ("Fitch") upgraded its long-term credit rating from BB- to BB with a Stable outlook. On July 2, 2014, Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") reaffirmed its Baa2 long-term credit rating and changed its outlook from Negative to Stable. The rating and outlook from Standard & Poor's Rating Services ("Standard & Poor's") remain consistent with those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014.
Rating Agency
 
Rating
 
Outlook
Standard & Poor's
 
BB
 
Stable
Moody's
 
Baa2
 
Stable
Fitch
 
BB
 
Stable

Credit rating agencies review their ratings periodically and, therefore, the credit rating assigned to us by each agency may be subject to revision at any time. Accordingly, we are not able to predict whether our current credit ratings will remain as disclosed above. Factors that can affect our credit ratings include changes in our operating performance, the economic environment, conditions in the retail and consumer electronics industries, our financial position and changes in our business strategy. If further changes in our credit ratings were to occur, they could impact, among other things, interest costs for certain of our credit facilities, our future borrowing costs, access to capital markets, vendor financing terms and future new-store leasing costs.

Restricted Cash
 
Our liquidity is affected by restricted cash balances that are pledged as collateral or restricted to use for vendor payables, general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and customer warranty and insurance programs. Restricted cash and cash equivalents, which are included in other current assets, were $281 million, $308 million, and $315 million at November 1, 2014, February 1, 2014, and November 2, 2013, respectively. The decrease in restricted assets from the end of fiscal 2014 and the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was due to decreased cash reserve amounts within our China operations due to fewer vendor payables which require cash restrictions.

Debt and Capital
 
We have $350 million principal amount of notes due March 15, 2016 (the “2016 Notes”), $500 million principal amount of notes due August 1, 2018 (the “2018 Notes”) and $650 million principal amount of notes due March 15, 2021 (the “2021 Notes”). Refer to Note 7, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014 for further information about our Notes.

Dividends
 
During the third quarters of fiscal 2015 and 2014, we declared and paid our regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share, or $66 million and $58 million in the aggregate, respectively. As announced on November 21, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized payment of our next regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share, payable on December 31, 2014, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 11, 2014.

Other Financial Measures
 
Our current ratio, calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities, stayed consistent at 1.4 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 1.4 at the end of fiscal 2014 and 1.3 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2014.
 
Our debt to net earnings (loss) ratio was 1.6 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 2.4 at the end of fiscal 2014, and (20.4) at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2014, driven primarily by higher net earnings in the trailing twelve months. Our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio, which includes capitalized operating lease obligations in its calculation, remained relatively consistent at 3.1 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 3.3 at the end of fiscal 2014, and 3.0 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2014.
 
Our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio is considered a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, the most directly comparable ratio determined in accordance with GAAP. We have included this information in our MD&A as we view the non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio as an important indicator of our creditworthiness. Furthermore, we believe that our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio is important for understanding our financial position and

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provides meaningful additional information about our ability to service our long-term debt and other fixed obligations and to fund our future growth. We also believe our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio is relevant because it enables investors to compare our indebtedness to that of retailers who own, rather than lease, their stores. Our decision to own or lease real estate is based on an assessment of our financial liquidity, our capital structure, our desire to own or to lease the location, the owner’s desire to own or to lease the location, and the alternative that results in the highest return to our shareholders.
 
Our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio is calculated as follows:
 
Non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR =
Non-GAAP debt
 
EBITDAR
 
 
The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio is our debt to net earnings ratio, which excludes capitalized operating lease obligations from debt in the numerator of the calculation and does not adjust net earnings in the denominator of the calculation.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our debt to net earnings (loss) ratio and our non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio for continuing operations ($ in millions):
 
November 1, 2014(1)
 
February 1, 2014(1)
 
November 2, 2013(1)
Debt (including current portion)
$
1,635

 
$
1,657

 
$
1,669

Capitalized operating lease obligations (8 times rental expense)(2)
7,429

 
7,484

 
7,490

Non-GAAP debt
$
9,064

 
$
9,141

 
$
9,159

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss) including noncontrolling interests(3)
$
1,025

 
$
689

 
$
(82
)
Goodwill impairment

 

 
822

Interest expense, net
56

 
53

 
66

Income tax (benefit) expense
13

 
398

 
506

Depreciation and amortization expense(4)
869

 
692

 
755

Rental expense
929

 
935

 
936

EBITDAR
$
2,892

 
$
2,767

 
$
3,003

 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt to net earnings (loss) ratio
1.6

 
2.4

 
(20.4
)
Non-GAAP debt to EBITDAR ratio
3.1

 
3.3

 
3.0

(1)
Debt is reflected as of the balance sheet dates for each of the respective fiscal periods, while rental expense and the other components of EBITDAR represent activity for the 12 months ended as of each of the respective dates.
(2)
The multiple of eight times annual rental expense in the calculation of our capitalized operating lease obligations is the multiple used for the retail sector by one of the nationally recognized credit rating agencies that rate our creditworthiness, and we consider it to be an appropriate multiple for our lease portfolio.
(3)
We utilize net earnings (loss) including noncontrolling interests within our calculation; as such, net earnings and related cash flows attributable to noncontrolling interests are available to service our debt and operating lease commitments.
(4)
Depreciation and amortization expense includes impairments of fixed assets, investments and intangible assets (including impairments associated with our fiscal restructuring activities) and excludes $229 million of net LCD-related legal settlements that occurred in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Amounts include the impact of net proceeds from LCD settlements of $44 million, $16 million and $13 million reached in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and third quarter of fiscal 2013, respectively. We did not exclude LCD settlements prior to the material settlements reached in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
 
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
 
Our liquidity is not dependent on the use of off-balance-sheet financing arrangements other than in connection with our operating leases.
 
There has been no material change in our contractual obligations other than as described above and in the ordinary course of business since the end of fiscal 2014. See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014 for additional information regarding our off-balance-sheet arrangements and contractual obligations.

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Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014. We discuss our critical accounting estimates in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014. There has been no significant change in our significant accounting policies or critical accounting estimates since the end of fiscal 2014.

New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Components of an Entity. The new guidance amends the definition of a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. The new guidance will be effective prospectively in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, although early adoption is permitted. We do not expect adoption of the new guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as a new Topic, Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606. The new guidance provides a comprehensive framework for the analysis of revenue transactions and will apply to all of our revenue streams. Based on the current effective dates, the new guidance would first apply in the first quarter of our fiscal 2018. We are currently evaluating the effect of adoption on our financial statements, and do not currently expect a material impact on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
 
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), provide a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their companies. With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements and may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "estimate," "expect," “guidance,” "intend," "outlook," "plan," "project," and other words and terms of similar meaning. Such statements reflect our current view with respect to future market conditions, company performance and financial results, business prospects, new strategies, the competitive environment and other events. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in such forward-looking statements. Readers should review Item 1A, Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, for a description of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Among the factors that could cause our actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements are the following: macro-economic conditions, conditions in the industries and categories in which we operate, changes in consumer preferences (including shopping preferences), changes in consumer confidence, consumer spending and debt levels, online sales levels and trends, average ticket size, the mix of products and services offered for sale in our physical stores and online, credit market changes and constraints, product availability, competitive initiatives of competitors (including pricing actions and promotional activities of competitors), strategic and business decisions of our vendors (including actions that could impact product margin or supply), the impact of pricing investments and promotional activity, weather, natural or man-made disasters, attacks on our data systems, our ability to react to a disaster recovery situation, changes in law or regulations, changes in tax rates, changes in taxable income in each jurisdiction, tax audit developments and resolution of other discrete tax matters, foreign currency fluctuation, availability of suitable real estate locations, our ability to manage our property portfolio, the impact of labor markets and new product launches, the availability of qualified labor pools, our ability to retain qualified employees, failure to achieve anticipated expense and cost reductions from operational and restructuring changes, disruptions in our supply chain, the costs of procuring goods the we sell, failure to achieve anticipated revenue and profitability increases from operational and restructuring changes (including investments in our multi-channel capabilities), failure to accurately predict the duration over which we will incur costs, acquisitions and development of new businesses, divestitures of existing businesses, failure to achieve anticipated benefits of announced transactions, integration challenges relating to new ventures, and our ability to protect information relating to our customers. We caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete, and any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement that we may make.


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Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
In addition to the risks inherent in our operations, we are exposed to certain market risks, including adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
 
We have market risk arising from changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to our International segment operations. On a limited basis, we utilize foreign exchange forward contracts to manage foreign currency exposure to certain forecast inventory purchases, recognized receivable and payable balances and our investment in our Canadian operations. Our primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of net earnings and cash flows, as well as net asset value associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our foreign currency risk management strategy includes both hedging instruments and derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments, which generally have terms of up to 12 months. The aggregate notional amount and fair value recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at November 1, 2014, related to our foreign exchange forward and swap contracts outstanding from continuing operations was $217 million and $4 million, respectively. The amount recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings from continuing operations related to all contracts settled and outstanding was a gain of $4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

The strength of the U.S. dollar compared to the Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan and Mexican peso compared to the same period last year had a negative overall impact on our revenue as these foreign currencies translated into fewer U.S. dollars. We estimate that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations had a negative impact on our revenue of approximately $67 million and a minimal impact on our net earnings in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We have established a Disclosure Committee, consisting of certain members of management, to assist in this evaluation. The Disclosure Committee meets on a regular quarterly basis, and otherwise as needed.
 
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act), at November 1, 2014. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, at November 1, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
 
There was no change in internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended November 1, 2014, that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
For a description of our legal proceedings, see Note 12, Contingencies, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 6.
Exhibits

Any agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and should not be relied upon for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by the registrant in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
3.1
 
Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by Best Buy Co., Inc. on May 12, 2009)
 
 
 
3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Best Buy Co., Inc. on September 26, 2013)
 
 
 
10.1
 
Form of Best Buy Co., Inc. Long-Term Incentive Program Award Agreement (2014)
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)
 
 
 
101
 
The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, filed with the SEC on December 5, 2014, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at November 1, 2014; February 1, 2014; and November 2, 2013, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014 and November 2, 2013, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2014 and November 2, 2013, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended November 1, 2014 and November 2, 2013, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended November 1, 2014 and November 2, 2013, and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
___________________________________
(1) 
The certifications in Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability of that section and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing or document.

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has not filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q certain instruments with respect to long-term debt under which the amount of securities authorized does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the registrant. The registrant hereby agrees to furnish copies of all such instruments to the SEC upon request.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
BEST BUY CO., INC.
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date: December 5, 2014
By:
/s/ HUBERT JOLY
 
 
Hubert Joly
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(duly authorized and principal executive officer)
 
 
 
Date: December 5, 2014
By:
/s/ SHARON L. McCOLLAM
 
 
Sharon L. McCollam
 
 
Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(duly authorized and principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)




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