BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

The Children's Place, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is the largest pure-play children's specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company provides apparel, accessories, footwear and other items for children. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture, sells at retail and wholesale, and licenses to sell trend right, high-quality merchandise at value prices, the substantial majority of which is under our proprietary “The Children's Place”, "Place" and "Baby Place" brand names.

The Company classifies its business into two segments: The Children’s Place U.S. and The Children’s Place International. Included in The Children’s Place U.S. segment are the Company's U.S. and Puerto Rico based stores and revenue from its U.S. based wholesale business. Included in The Children's Place International segment are its Canadian based stores, revenue from the Company's Canada wholesale business, as well as revenue from international franchisees. Each segment includes an e-commerce business located at www.childrensplace.com.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.

Terms that are commonly used in the Company's notes to consolidated financial statements are defined as follows:


•	Fiscal 2016 - The fifty-two weeks ended January 28, 2017


•	Fiscal 2015 - The fifty-two weeks ended January 30, 2016


•	Fiscal 2014 - The fifty-two weeks ended January 31, 2015


•	Fiscal 2017 - The Company's next fiscal year representing the fifty-three weeks ending February 3, 2018


•	SEC- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission


•	GAAP - Generally Accepted Accounting Principles


•	FASB- Financial Accounting Standards Board


•	FASB ASC - FASB Accounting Standards Codification, which serves as the source for authoritative U.S. GAAP, except that rules and interpretive releases by the SEC are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year is a 52-week or 53-week period ending on the Saturday on or nearest to January 31. All years presented were 52-week years.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and amounts of revenues and expenses reported during the period. Actual results could differ from the assumptions used and estimates made by management, which could have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations. Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements include reserves for the realizability of inventory; reserves for litigation and other contingencies; useful lives and impairments of long-lived assets; fair value measurements; accounting for income taxes and related uncertain tax positions; insurance reserves; valuation of stock-based compensation awards and related estimated forfeiture rates, among others.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly‑owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. As of January 28, 2017, the Company does not have any investments in unconsolidated affiliates. FASB ASC 810--Consolidation is considered when determining whether an entity is subject to consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments consist of investments which the Company expects to convert into cash within one year, including time deposits, which have original maturities greater than 90 days. The Company classifies its investments in securities at the time of purchase as held-to-maturity and reevaluates such classifications on a quarterly basis. Held-to-maturity investments consist of securities that the Company has the intent and ability to retain until maturity. These securities are recorded at cost and adjusted for the amortization of premiums and discounts, which approximates fair value. Cash inflows and outflows related to the sale and purchase of investments are classified as investing activities in the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows. All of the Company's short-term investments are U.S. dollar denominated time deposits with banking institutions in Hong Kong that have six month maturity dates from inception.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue, including shipping and handling fees billed to customers, upon purchase at the Company's retail stores or when received by the customer if the product was purchased via the Internet, net of coupon redemptions and anticipated sales returns. Sales tax collected from customers is excluded from revenue. An allowance for estimated sales returns is calculated based upon the Company's sales return experience and is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

The Company's policy with respect to gift cards is to record revenue as the gift cards are redeemed for merchandise. Prior to their redemption, gift cards are recorded as a liability, included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Company recognizes breakage income for the estimated portion of unredeemed gift cards that is unlikely to be redeemed and the Company determines that it does not have a legal obligation to remit the value of the unredeemed gift card to the relevant jurisdiction as unclaimed or abandoned property. The Company recognized gift card breakage income of approximately $1.3 million, $3.3 million and $1.6 million during Fiscal 2016, Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014, respectively, and is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

In Fiscal 2016, the Company launched a new points-based customer loyalty program to replace its prior program. In this program, customers earn points based on purchases and other promotional activities. These points can be redeemed for coupons to discount future purchases. The Company has developed an estimated value of each point earned based on the awards customers can attain less a reasonable breakage rate. The value of each point earned is recorded as deferred revenue and is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

The Company has an international expansion program through territorial agreements with franchisees. At January 28, 2017, the Company's franchisees had a total of 150 international points of distribution. The Company generates revenues from the franchisees from the sale of product and sales royalties. The Company records gross sales and cost of goods sold on the sale of product to franchisees when the franchisor takes ownership of the product. The Company records gross sales for royalties when the franchisee sells the product to their customers. Under certain agreements the Company receives a fee from each franchisee for exclusive territorial rights. The Company records this territorial fee as deferred revenue and amortizes the fee into gross sales over the life of the territorial agreement.

Inventories

Inventories, which consist primarily of finished goods, are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on an average cost basis. The Company capitalizes supply chain costs in inventory and these costs are reflected in cost of sales as the inventories are sold. Inventory includes items that have been marked down to the Company's best estimate of their lower of cost or market value and an estimate for inventory shrinkage. The Company bases its decision to mark down merchandise upon its current rate of sale, the season and the expected sell-through of the item. The Company adjusts its inventory based upon an annual physical inventory and shrinkage is estimated in interim periods based upon the historical results of physical inventories in the context of current year facts and circumstances.

Cost of Sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

In addition to the cost of inventory sold, the Company includes buying, design and distribution expenses, shipping and handling costs on merchandise sold directly to customers, and letter of credit fees in its cost of sales. The Company records all occupancy costs in its cost of sales, except administrative office buildings, which are recorded in selling, general, and


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

administrative expenses. All depreciation is reported on a separate line on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company's stock-based compensation plans are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Compensation Committee is comprised of independent members of the Board. Effective May 20, 2011, the shareholders approved the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Plan"). Upon adoption of the Equity Plan, the Company ceased granting awards under its 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. The Equity Plan allows the Compensation Committee to grant multiple forms of stock‑based compensation such as stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, deferred stock awards and performance stock awards.

The Company accounts for its stock‑based compensation in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718-- Compensation—Stock Compensation. These provisions require, among other things: (a) the fair value at grant date of all stock awards be expensed over their respective vesting periods; (b) the amount of cumulative compensation cost recognized at any date must at least be equal to the portion of the grant-date value of the award that is vested at that date and (c) that compensation expense include a forfeiture estimate for those shares not expected to vest. Also in accordance with these provisions, for those awards with multiple vest dates, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

Earnings per Common Share

The Company reports its earnings per share in accordance with FASB ASC 260--Earnings Per Share, which requires the presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share on the statements of operations. The diluted weighted average common shares include adjustments for the potential effects of outstanding stock options, Deferred Awards and Performance Awards (as both terms are used in Note 3 to these consolidated financial statements), but only in the periods in which such effect is dilutive under the treasury stock method. Included in our basic and diluted weighted average common shares are those shares due to participants in the deferred compensation plan, which are held in treasury stock. Anti-dilutive stock awards are comprised of stock options and unvested deferred, restricted and performance shares which would have been anti-dilutive in the application of the treasury stock method in accordance with FASB ASC 260--Earnings Per Share.

In accordance with this topic, the following table reconciles income and share amounts utilized to calculate basic and diluted net income per common share:



	Fiscal Year Ended
	January 28, 2017	January 30, 2016	January 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Basic weighted average common shares	18,584	20,438	21,681
Dilutive effect of stock awards	375	264	243
Diluted weighted average common shares	18,959	20,702	21,924
Antidilutive stock awards	—	—	—

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of credit and debit card receivables, franchisee and wholesale receivables, landlord construction allowance receivables and other miscellaneous items. Credit and debit card receivables represent credit and debit card sales for which the respective third party service company has yet to remit the cash. The unremitted balance approximates the last few days of related sales for each reporting period. Bad debt associated with these sales is not material. Franchisee and wholesale receivables represent product sales and sale royalties in which cash has not yet been remitted from our partners. Landlord construction allowance receivables represent landlord contributions to our construction costs of building out the related real estate, primarily new and remodeled stores. Total construction costs are capitalized as property and equipment and the landlord construction allowances are recorded as a lease incentive, a component of deferred rent, which is amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term.


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Insurance and Self-Insurance Reserves

The Company self-insures and purchases insurance policies to provide for workers' compensation, general liability and property losses, cyber-security coverage, as well as director and officer's liability, vehicle liability, and employee medical benefits. The Company estimates risks and records a liability based on historical claim experience, insurance deductibles, severity factors, and other actuarial assumptions. The Company records the current portions of employee medical benefits, workers compensation and general liability reserves in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. As of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, the current portions of these reserves were approximately $6.9 million and $7.0 million, respectively. The Company records the long-term portions of employee medical benefits, workers' compensation and general liability reserves in other long-term liabilities. As of January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, the long-term portions of these reserves were approximately $6.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the life of the lease or the estimated useful life of the asset. All other property and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis based upon their estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to twenty-five years. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

The Company accounts for internally developed software intended for internal use in accordance with provisions of FASB ASC 350--Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. The Company capitalizes development‑stage costs such as direct external costs and direct payroll related costs. When development is substantially complete, the Company amortizes the cost of the software on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the software. Preliminary project costs and post-implementation costs such as training, maintenance and support are expensed as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company periodically reviews its long-lived assets when events indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Such events include a history trend or projected trend of cash flow losses or a future expectation that the Company will sell or dispose of an asset significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. In reviewing for impairment the Company groups its long-lived assets at the lowest possible level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. In that regard, the Company groups its assets into two categories: corporate-related and store-related. Corporate-related assets consist of those associated with the Company's corporate offices, distribution centers and its information technology systems. Store-related assets consist of leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures, certain computer equipment and lease related assets associated with individual stores.

For store-related assets, the Company reviews all stores that have reached comparable sales status, or sooner if circumstances should dictate, on at least an annual basis. The Company believes waiting this period of time allows a store to reach a maturity level where a more comprehensive analysis of financial performance can be performed. For each store that shows indications of operating losses, the Company projects future cash flows over the remaining life of the lease and compares the total undiscounted cash flows to the net book value of the related long-lived assets. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the related net book value of the long-lived assets, they are written down to their fair market value. The Company primarily determines fair market value to be the discounted future cash flows associated with those assets. In evaluating future cash flows, the Company considers external and internal factors. External factors comprise the local environment in which the store resides, including mall traffic, competition, and their effect on sales trends. Internal factors include the Company's ability to gauge the fashion taste of its customers, control variable costs such as cost of sales and payroll, and in certain cases, its ability to renegotiate lease costs.

Deferred Financing Costs

The Company capitalizes costs directly associated with acquiring third party financing. Deferred financing costs are included in other assets and are amortized as interest expense over the term of the related indebtedness. At January 28, 2017, deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3.3 million, were approximately $1.0 million. At January 30, 2016, deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3.1 million, were approximately $1.2 million.


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock is recorded at acquisition cost. Gains and losses on disposition are recorded as increases or decreases to additional paid-in capital with losses in excess of previously recorded gains charged directly to retained earnings. When treasury shares are retired and returned to authorized but unissued status, the carrying value in excess of par is allocated to additional paid-in capital and retained earnings on a pro rata basis.

Advertising and Marketing Costs

The Company expenses the cost of advertising over the period the advertising is run or displayed. Included in selling, general and administrative expenses for Fiscal 2016, Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014 are advertising and other marketing costs of approximately $26.4 million, $27.9 million and $30.9 million, respectively. Deferred advertising, marketing, and promotional costs, which principally relate to advertisements that have not yet been exhibited or services that have not yet been received, were approximately $5.3 million and $3.9 million at January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016, respectively, and were recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Rent Expense and Deferred Rent

The Company leases certain facilities and equipment, including its retail stores. Certain of the Company's lease agreements contain renewal options, rent escalation clauses, and/or landlord incentives. Renewal terms generally reflect market rates at the time of renewal. Rent expense for non-cancellable operating leases with scheduled rent increases and/or landlord incentives is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including any applicable rent holidays, beginning on the earlier of the lease commencement date or the date the Company takes control of the leased space. The Company records rent expense and the impact of lease incentives for its stores and distribution centers as a component of cost of sales. The unamortized portion of deferred rent is included in deferred rent liabilities.

Income Taxes

We utilize the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in FASB ASC 740-- Income Taxes. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as well as for net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which the basis differences and tax assets are expected to be realized. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that any of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for valuation allowances we consider projected future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies. If in the future we determine that we would not be able to realize our recorded deferred tax assets, an increase in the valuation allowance would decrease earnings in the period in which such determination is made.

We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon our evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Accumulated other comprehensive income primarily consists of cumulative translation adjustments as well as changes in the value of cash flow hedges.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The Company has determined that the local currencies of its Canadian and Asian subsidiaries are their functional currencies. In accordance with FASB ASC 830--Foreign Currency Matters, the assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange existing at period-end and revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Related translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. The Company also transacts certain business in foreign denominated currencies primarily with its Canadian subsidiary purchasing inventory in U.S. Dollars, and there are inter-company charges between various subsidiaries.


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

In Fiscal 2016, Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014, the Company recorded realized and unrealized gains (losses) on such transactions of approximately $(0.8) million, $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Derivative Instruments

The Company is exposed to gains and losses resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates attributable to inventory purchases denominated in a foreign currency. Specifically, its Canadian subsidiary’s functional currency is the Canadian dollar, but purchases inventory from suppliers in U.S. dollars. In order to mitigate the variability of cash flows associated with certain of these forecasted inventory purchases, the Company began entering into foreign exchange forward contracts in the second quarter of Fiscal 2015. These contracts typically mature within 12 months. The Company does not use forward contracts to engage in currency speculation and we do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings within cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in earnings within selling, general, and administrative expenses, consistent with where the Company records realized and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses on transactions in foreign denominated currencies. All derivative instruments are presented at gross fair value on the consolidated balance sheets within either prepaid expenses and other current assets or accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

Legal Contingencies

The Company reserves for the outcome of litigation and contingencies when it determines an adverse outcome is probable and can estimate losses. Estimates are adjusted as facts and circumstances require. The Company expenses the costs to resolve litigation as incurred, net of amounts, if any, recovered through our insurance coverage.

Retained Earnings

There are no restrictions on the Company's retained earnings.

Fair Value Measurement and Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 820-- Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure provides a single definition of fair value, together with a framework for measuring it, and requires additional disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities.

This topic defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and establishes a three-level hierarchy, which encourages an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are defined as follows:


•	Level 1 - inputs to the valuation techniques that are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities


•	Level 2 - inputs to the valuation techniques that are other than quoted prices but are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly


•	Level 3 - inputs to the valuation techniques that are unobservable for the assets or liabilities

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, assets of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan, accounts receivable, accounts payable and revolving loan are all short-term in nature. As such, their carrying amounts approximate fair value and fall within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company stock included in the Deferred Compensation Plan is not subject to fair value measurement.

Our derivative assets and liabilities include foreign exchange forward contracts that are measured at fair value using observable market inputs such as forward rates, our credit risk and our counterparties’ credit risks. Based on these inputs, our derivative assets and liabilities are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include long-lived assets. The Company reviews the carrying amounts of such assets when events indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Any resulting asset impairment would require that the asset be recorded at its fair value. The resulting fair value measurements of the assets are considered to be Level 3 inputs. Long-lived assets, primarily comprised of property and equipment, held and used with a carrying amount of $4.2 million were written down to their fair value, resulting in an impairment charge of $4.0 million, which was included in earnings for Fiscal 2016. For Fiscal 2015, long-lived assets held and used with a carrying amount of $4.6 million were written down to their fair value, resulting in an impairment charge of $2.4 million, which was included in earnings for Fiscal 2015. For Fiscal 2014, long-lived assets held and used with a carrying amount of $15.9 million were written down to their fair value, resulting in an impairment charge of $11.1 million, which was included in earnings for Fiscal 2014.

Recently Issued Accounting Updates

Adopted in Fiscal 2016

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance relating to accounting for fees paid in connection with cloud-based software arrangements. This guidance provides clarification on whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a software license is included, the customer should account for the license consistent with its accounting for other software licenses. If a software license is not included, the arrangement should be accounted for as a service contract. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

To Be Adopted After Fiscal 2016

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance relating to the accounting for share-based payment transactions. This guidance involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classifications of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in Fiscal 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption was permitted. The potential impacts that this adoption will have on our income tax expense or benefit and related cash flows during and after the period of adoption are dependent in part upon future grants and vesting of stock-based compensation awards and other factors that are not fully controllable or predicable by the Company, such as the future market price of the Company's common stock and the future achievement of performance criteria that affect performance-based awards. Therefore, the impact on the consolidated financial statements will be dependent upon future events which are unpredictable. However, based on our stock price and our outstanding unvested Deferred and Performance Awards as of January 28, 2017, the adoption of this pronouncement at the beginning of Fiscal 2017 will significantly reduce our income tax expense and increase our net income during Fiscal 2017.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance relating to the accounting for leases. This guidance applies a right of use model that requires a lessee to record, for all leases with a lease term of more than 12 months, an asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and a liability to make lease payments. The lease term is the noncancellable period of the lease, and includes both periods covered by an option to extend the lease, if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option, and periods covered by an option to terminate the lease, if the lessee is reasonably certain not to exercise that termination option. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in its fiscal year 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently reviewing the potential impact of this standard. However, the Company expects that the adoption of this standard will require the Company to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that will be material to the Company's consolidated balance sheet given the extent of the Company's lease portfolio.

In November 2015, the FASB issued guidance relating to balance sheet classification of deferred taxes. Currently, entities are required to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and non-current on the balance sheet. This guidance simplifies the current guidance by requiring entities to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities, together with any related valuation allowance, as non-current on the balance sheet. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in its fiscal year 2017, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The adoption is not expected to impact the Company's consolidated financial statements other than the change in presentation of deferred tax assets and liabilities within its consolidated balance sheets.


1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance relating to revenue recognition from contracts with customers. This guidance requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In August

2015, the FASB issued guidance to defer the effective date by one year and, therefore, the standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017 and is to be applied retrospectively. We are currently reviewing the potential impact of this standard.