NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31,
2018
and
2017
1. Description of Plan
The following description of the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. For more complete information, Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for the Plan. If these Notes to Financial Statements or the Summary Plan Description result in any misunderstanding or inconsistency with the Plan document, the Plan document will govern.
The Plan is a defined contribution plan available to eligible employees (Associates) of J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. (the Company and Plan Sponsor) and certain subsidiaries. Associates who were hired or rehired after Dec. 31, 2006, are not accruing a benefit in the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Pension Plan (the Pension), and have attained age 21 are immediately eligible to participate in the Plan upon completing one hour of service. An eligible Associate must be enrolled in the Plan to be a participant in the Plan (Participant). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). The financial statements include all of the funds that comprise the Plan.
The Benefit Plans Investment Committee (BPIC) is the named fiduciary for the control and management of the assets of the Plan except for the J. C. Penney Common Stock Fund (Penney Stock Fund). Newport Group, Inc. is the named fiduciary with respect to the management and disposition of the Penney Stock Fund. The BPIC also has the responsibility for selecting investment funds, other than the Penney Stock Fund, to be offered under the Plan. The Benefits Administration Committee (BAC) is the named fiduciary for the review of denied benefit claims and has overall responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Plan. The Human Resources Committee (HRC) approves the Company’s overall benefit strategy for the Plan and any modifications or amendments to the Plan and is responsible for appointing members of the BAC and the BPIC and appoints the trustee. The HRC has named State Street Bank & Trust Company (State Street Bank or Trustee) as the trustee for the Plan and Alight Solutions LLC as the third party administrator/record keeper for the Plan.
Generally, Participants who have separated from service with account balances over $5,000 remain in the Plan until the Participant elects payment. A Participant will receive an involuntary lump sum distribution if the total vested account balance is $5,000 or less at the time of distribution. If the participant is under the age of 65 and the participant does not elect to receive the mandatory lump-sum distribution directly as a cash distribution, as a direct rollover to an eligible retirement Plan or as a direct rollover to an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA), then the participant’s mandatory lump-sum distribution will be automatically paid as a direct rollover to an IRA in the participant’s name with Millennium Trust Company. If a cash distribution is elected applicable taxes and early withdrawal penalties may apply. Certain Participants who have separated from service and who are 100% vested in the Company contributions may request periodic withdrawals, fixed monthly payments of at least $100, or a complete distribution. Minimum required distributions will begin by April 1 of the year following the year of separation for a Participant who has attained age 70½ and will continue each year thereafter to comply with federal law. Hardship withdrawals are permitted provided the requirements for financial hardship under IRS rules are met.
Participants are permitted to make from 1% to 50% of their eligible pay in pre-tax, Roth and/or after-tax contributions (pre-tax and Roth contributions were subject to an annual maximum of $18,500 in 2018 and $18,000 in 2017). Federal law limits the amount of annual pay that can be taken into account when calculating your Plan deposits and Company matching contributions. This limit is determined by the IRS and changes from time to time. The limit was $275,000 in 2018 and $270,000 in 2017.
The Plan allows Participants who have attained the age of 50 by the end of the year to make an additional tax-deferred deposit (catch-up contribution) up to a maximum of $6,000 during 2018 and 2017. These catch-up contributions, to the extent possible, are eligible for the Company’s matching contribution.
The Plan allows Participants who participated in another employer’s qualified retirement plan before coming to work for the Company to rollover a portion or all of their distributions from the prior employer’s plan. The Participant cannot rollover a loan from another plan. The Plan accepts eligible cash rollovers directly from another qualified
retirement plan that meets certain legal requirements within 60 days after receipt of an eligible distribution. If the rollover is not a direct rollover, then only the taxable portion of the prior Roth 401(k) account may be rolled over and the Roth Begin Date doesn’t carryover. The associate is immediately vested in these contributions to the Plan.
Participants age 21 or older become eligible for the Company matching contributions after completing 1,000 hours of service in an eligibility period. The Company matching contribution is a per pay period Company match of $1.00 for every dollar deposited of the first 5% of eligible pay. If the participant is eligible to receive Company matching contributions, the participant is also eligible to receive a year-end true-up contribution to their account. Annually, the participant's prior year eligible pay will be compared to the prior year’s Company matching contributions. If the total amount of Company matching contributions that the participant received on a per-paycheck basis was less than the annualized amount of Company matching contributions that the participant should have received based on their effective contribution rate, they will receive a true-up contribution. The year-end true-up process will ensure the participant receives their full Company matching contributions. In some years the Company may choose to make an additional discretionary contribution to the Plan to eligible participants.
During 2018, the Company matching contributions, net of forfeitures, totaled approximately $31.6 million and the true-up contribution totaled approximately $0.6 million. During 2017, the Company matching contribution totaled approximately $33.4 million and the true-up contribution totaled approximately $0.5 million.
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
Participants’ Investment Funds
|
All Participant contributions, Company matching contributions and Company retirement account contributions are invested in the Plan’s investment funds in accordance with the Participant’s investment elections. Participants direct their investments amongst three tiers of funds as follows: Tier 1 funds consist of target date retirement funds managed by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company. Tier 2 funds consist of index funds, including the Penney Stock Fund. Tier 3 funds consist of the Participant directed brokerage window. The funds are maintained on a unit-value basis, and, accordingly, the actual earnings and appreciation or depreciation in the underlying securities are reflected in the daily unit value.
Each Participant’s account is credited with the Participant’s contributions, the Company’s contributions, Plan earnings and appreciation or depreciation in underlying securities, and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on Participant account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a Participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the Participant’s vested account.
A Participant who has not separated from service may request a loan. The minimum loan amount is $500. The maximum loan amount is the lesser of: the value of a Participant’s before-tax, Roth, Roth rollover, rollover and after-tax deposits on the valuation date, 50% of a Participant’s total vested account value on the valuation date, or $50,000 minus the highest aggregate balance of any other loans owed to the Plan during the previous 12 months. All loans must be adequately secured and bear interest at the prime rate plus 1%. Interest rates on the loans outstanding as of December 31, 2018 ranged from 4.25% to 9.25% and maturities through 2024. Loan amounts and the terms of repayment are limited in accordance with Plan provisions. Interest rates on the loans outstanding as of December 31, 2017 ranged from 4.25% to 7.61% and maturities through 2024. Loan amounts and the terms of repayment are limited in accordance with Plan provisions.
Participants are immediately vested in the value of their deposits and earnings thereon. All Company contributions in the 401(k) Plan are 100 percent vested as soon as they are deposited into your account. If the participants account transferred from the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (the 401(k) Savings Plan) to the Plan the non-vested portion of your Company contributions and any related earnings are subject to the vesting schedule of the 401(k) Savings Plan. Company contributions to the 401(k) Savings Plan and earnings thereon for Plan years 2007 and later will be 100% cliff vested after three years of service or if they separate from service at normal retirement age, death, total disability, or a reduction in force or unit closing.
Forfeitures are available to restore forfeited amounts of rehired Participants, offset Company contributions, or pay Plan expenses. Forfeitures available as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, totaled $0.4 million and $0.2 million respectively. A portion of the forfeiture balance in 2018 is reserved for non-cashed checks paid to participants as part of the
Ramirez v. J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc.
litigation settlement. No forfeitures were utilized to offset company contributions during 2018 and in 2017 approximately $1.9 million in forfeitures were utilized to offset company contributions.
Participants’ accounts share in the expenses to administer the Plan. These expenses include trustee, investment management, audit, administrative service provider fees, and other expenses. Administrative expenses not paid by the Plan are paid by the Company.
|
|
|
|
(j)
|
Transfers from Affiliated Plan
|
Effective January 1, 2017, the Company added the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) that was made available for active employees hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2007. The Plan replaced the noncontributory Company retirement account previously provided for in the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings, Profit‑Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (401(k) Savings Plan). On January 1, 2017, net assets of approximately $367 million, which consisted of approximately $334 million in investments, $18 million in notes receivable from participants, and $15 million for the 2016 2% RAP company contribution receivable, were transferred into the Plan from the 401(k) Savings Plan. During 2018 and 2017 approximately $8 million and $7 million, respectively, in net assets was transferred to the Plan for participants who lost eligibility in the 401(k) Savings Plan and became eligible for the Plan.
|
|
|
|
(k)
|
Interest in Master Trust
|
The Plan participates in the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings Plans Master Trust (Master Trust) along with the 401(k) Savings Plan. Certain investments of the Plan are maintained through the Master Trust. The value of the Plan's interest in the Master Trust is based on the beginning value of the Plan's interest in the Master Trust plus actual contributions and allocated net investment income (loss) less actual distributions and allocated administrative expenses. The Plan's allocated share of investment activities is based upon each plan's participation in investment options within the Master Trust.
2. Related Party and Party in Interest Transactions
Certain Master Trust investment options are investment products managed by State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), which is the investment management division of State Street Bank and Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. State Street Bank and Trust Company is the trustee, as defined by the Plan, and the disbursement agent. The trustee and investment manager fees are paid by the Plan.
As of December 31, 2018, the Master Trust held investments in J.C. Penney Company Inc. common stock totaling $14.8 million. During the year ended December 31, 2018, 6.4 million shares were acquired and 5.8 million were sold by the Master Trust. As of December 31, 2017, the Master Trust held investments in J.C. Penney Company Inc. common stock totaling $43.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2017, 5.5 million shares were acquired and 5.0 million were sold by the Master Trust. All of these transactions are exempt from the prohibitions against party-in-interest transactions.
Eligible Participants may borrow from their individual account balance in the Plan as discussed in note 1(f), and these transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions.
Certain administrative functions and services necessary for the operation of the plan are performed by employees of the Company who may also be Participants in the Plan. The Plan pays reasonable compensation for those services.
3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition
|
The Plan’s investments and investments in the Master Trust are stated at fair value. Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade‑date basis. The average cost method is used to calculate gains and losses on the sale of investments. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex‑dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
Notes Receivable From Participants
|
Participant loans are recorded at amortized costs which represent the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest.
Benefits are recorded when paid.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
|
|
|
|
(f)
|
New Accounting Pronouncements
|
I
n February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-06, Plan Accounting-Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): Employee Benefit Plan Master Trust reporting (A Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force). The guidance clarifies that for each master trust in which a plan holds an interest, the plan should report its interest in each master trust and the change in value in each master trust interest on separate line items on the statement of net asset available for benefits and statement of changes in net assets available for benefits . The guidance continues to require disclosure of a master trust's investments by general type and now additionally requires disclosure of the individual plan's dollar amount of its interest in the master trust's investments by general type. The update also clarifies that the master trust's other assets and liabilities and the individual plan's interest in each of those balances should be disclosed. The guidance eliminates the disclosure of a plan's percentage interest in the master trust for a plan with a divided interest in the individual investments of a master trust. The amendments are effective for the Plan beginning January 1, 2019 and are to be applied retrospectively. Earlier adoption is permitted. The Plan elected to adopt this new guidance early, beginning on January 1, 2017, and as a result, the Plan's financial statements are presented to conform to the requirements of ASU 2017-06.
4. Plan's Interest in Master Trust
As previously discussed, a majority of the investments of the Plan are maintained through the Master Trust at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
A majority of the investments of the Plan are maintained through the Master Trust. Use of the Master Trust permits the commingling of Plan assets with the assets of the other Plan sponsored by the Company for investment and administrative purposes. Although assets of the plans are commingled in the Master Trust, the record keeper maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the net gain or loss of the investment account to the participating plans. The net investment income or loss of the investment assets are allocated by the record keeper to each participating plan based on the relationship of the interest of each plan to the total of the interests of the participating plans.
The following tables present the Master Trust net assets and the Plan's interest in the Master Trust net assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/2018
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
Master Trust
|
|
Plan's Interest in
Master Trust
|
|
Investments
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. common stock
|
$
|
14,769
|
|
|
$
|
2,683
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts, at fair value
|
1,589,478
|
|
|
394,878
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts:
|
|
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts, at fair value
|
632,089
|
|
|
29,059
|
|
|
Wrapper contracts
|
9,421
|
|
|
434
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts, at contract value
|
641,510
|
|
|
29,493
|
|
|
Total investments
|
2,245,757
|
|
|
427,054
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets available for benefits
|
$
|
2,245,757
|
|
|
$
|
427,054
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/2017
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
Master Trust
|
|
Plan's Interest in
Master Trust
|
|
Investments
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. common stock
|
$
|
43,105
|
|
|
$
|
5,476
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts, at fair value
|
1,812,847
|
|
|
404,199
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts:
|
|
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts, at fair value
|
706,257
|
|
|
28,346
|
|
|
Wrapper contracts
|
(412
|
)
|
|
(16
|
)
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts, at contract value
|
705,845
|
|
|
28,330
|
|
|
Total investments
|
2,561,797
|
|
|
438,005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets available for benefits
|
$
|
2,561,797
|
|
|
$
|
438,005
|
|
The following table presents net investment income (loss) for the Master Trust and the Plan's interest in the Master Trust net investment income (loss) for the years ended
December 31, 2018
and
2017
:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
2018
|
|
2017
|
|
Additions and net income (loss) to net assets attributed to:
|
|
|
|
|
Net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of investments
|
$
|
(132,762
|
)
|
|
$
|
205,888
|
|
|
Interest
|
18,616
|
|
|
17,731
|
|
|
|
(114,146
|
)
|
|
223,619
|
|
|
Less investment expenses
|
(778
|
)
|
|
(830
|
)
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
|
(114,924
|
)
|
|
222,789
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net purchases (sales)
|
(206,266
|
)
|
|
(320,611
|
)
|
|
Administrative expenses
|
(1,519
|
)
|
|
(1,539
|
)
|
|
Net (decrease) in assets
|
(322,709
|
)
|
|
(99,361
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net transfers
|
6,669
|
|
|
2,661,158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning net assets available for benefits
|
2,561,797
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Ending net assets available for benefits
|
$
|
2,245,757
|
|
|
$
|
2,561,797
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan's interest in the Master Trust - net investment income (loss):
|
$
|
(30,952
|
)
|
|
$
|
54,122
|
|
5. Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three‑level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value, as follows:
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Significant observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, such as quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs reflecting our own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.
The following tables present a summary of the Master Trust's investments, the Plan's interest in the Master Trust's investments, and the investments in the self-directed brokerage accounts measured at fair value as of
December 31, 2018
:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
Quoted Prices in Active Market
(Level 1)
|
|
Significant Other Observable Input
(Level 2)
|
|
Total
|
|
Master Trust investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock (a):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
|
$
|
14,769
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
14,769
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts (b)
|
—
|
|
|
1,589,478
|
|
|
1,589,478
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts in synthetic investment contracts, at fair value
|
—
|
|
|
632,089
|
|
|
632,089
|
|
|
Total investments in the Master Trust, at fair value
|
14,769
|
|
|
2,221,567
|
|
|
2,236,336
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts, wrapper contracts, at contract value
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
9,421
|
|
|
Total investments in the Master Trust
|
$
|
14,769
|
|
|
$
|
2,221,567
|
|
|
$
|
2,245,757
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan's interest in Master Trust investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock (a):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
|
$
|
2,683
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
2,683
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts (b)
|
—
|
|
|
394,878
|
|
|
394,878
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts in synthetic investment contracts, at fair value
|
—
|
|
|
29,059
|
|
|
29,059
|
|
|
Total investments in the Master Trust, at fair value
|
2,683
|
|
|
423,937
|
|
|
426,620
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts, wrapper contracts, at contract value
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
434
|
|
|
Total plan's interest in the Master Trust investments
|
$
|
2,683
|
|
|
$
|
423,937
|
|
|
$
|
427,054
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan investments not in the Master Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Self-directed brokerage accounts (c):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mutual funds
|
$
|
531
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
531
|
|
|
Common stock
|
1,079
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,079
|
|
|
Other:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
3
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
267
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
267
|
|
|
Partnerships
|
13
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
Total other
|
283
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
283
|
|
|
Total investments not in the Master Trust, at fair value
|
1,893
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,893
|
|
|
Total plan investments
|
$
|
4,576
|
|
|
$
|
423,937
|
|
|
$
|
428,947
|
|
The following tables present a summary of the Master Trust's investments, the Plan's interest in the Master Trust's investments, and the investments in the self-directed brokerage accounts measured at fair value as of
December 31, 2017
:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
Quoted Prices in Active Market
(Level 1)
|
|
Significant Other Observable Input
(Level 2)
|
|
Total
|
|
Master Trust investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock (a):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
|
$
|
43,105
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
43,105
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts (b)
|
—
|
|
|
1,812,847
|
|
|
1,812,847
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts in synthetic investment contracts, at fair value
|
—
|
|
|
706,257
|
|
|
706,257
|
|
|
Total investments in the Master Trust, at fair value
|
43,105
|
|
|
2,519,104
|
|
|
2,562,209
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts, wrapper contracts, at contract value
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(412
|
)
|
|
Total investments in the Master Trust
|
$
|
43,105
|
|
|
$
|
2,519,104
|
|
|
$
|
2,561,797
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan's interest in Master Trust investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock (a):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
|
$
|
5,476
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
5,476
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts (b)
|
—
|
|
|
404,199
|
|
|
404,199
|
|
|
Common and collective trusts in synthetic investment contracts, at fair value
|
—
|
|
|
28,346
|
|
|
28,346
|
|
|
Total investments in the Master Trust, at fair value
|
5,476
|
|
|
432,545
|
|
|
438,021
|
|
|
Synthetic investment contracts, wrapper contracts, at contract value
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(16
|
)
|
|
Total plan's interest in the Master Trust investments
|
$
|
5,476
|
|
|
$
|
432,545
|
|
|
$
|
438,005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan investments not in the Master Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Self-directed brokerage accounts (c):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mutual funds
|
$
|
520
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
520
|
|
|
Common stock
|
860
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
860
|
|
|
Other:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
3
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
289
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
289
|
|
|
Partnerships
|
13
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
Total other
|
305
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
305
|
|
|
Total investments not in the Master Trust, at fair value
|
1,685
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,685
|
|
|
Total plan investments
|
$
|
7,161
|
|
|
$
|
432,545
|
|
|
$
|
439,690
|
|
Actual risk depends on the individual investments which are selected by each applicable participant.
As of
December 31, 2018
and
2017
, the plan’s investments have no future commitments and a daily redemption frequency with one days notice. In addition, the Plan’s investments had no transfers between levels 1 to 3 from
December 31, 2017
to
December 31, 2018
or from January 1, 2017 to
December 31, 2017
.
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. See also footnote 3(b) for more information.
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Common stock
: Valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the individual securities are traded.
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
Common and collective trusts
: Valued at the net asset value (NAV) of shares held by the plan at year end. The target date funds are comprised of eleven collective trusts, which manage risk and investment return over time. There are three general market risk levels: low to moderate, moderate, and moderate to high. Each fund is a different mix of investments – stocks, bonds and cash. The funds start out with more stock for growth opportunity and end with less stock. The equity funds are comprised of 3 large cap funds and 2 small cap funds with low to moderate and high risk levels, respectively. The fixed income securities have low general market risk.
|
There are no known commitments or restrictions on the common and collective trusts except for some withdrawal restrictions as related to liquidation by the Plan Sponsor of the equity funds. The Plan Sponsor has no plans to liquidate these funds.
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
Self-directed brokerage window includes cash and cash equivalents, common stock, corporate bonds, mutual funds, notes, preferred stock, publicly traded partnerships
: Certain U.S. Treasury notes and corporate bonds are valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the security is traded. Other corporate bonds are valued based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings. Other investments listed are valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the individual securities are traded. Actual risk depends on the individual investments which are selected by each applicable participant.
|
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan Sponsor believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement as of the reporting date.
6. Synthetic Investment Contracts
In 2017, the Master Trust entered into two new synthetic investment contracts (SICs), while retaining three existing SICs, with certain insurance companies and financial institutions (the Contract Issuers). The SICs provide a crediting rate based on the performance of fixed income securities underlying each SIC and held by the Master Trust for the Plan. SICs totaled $641.5 million and $705.8 million in the Master Trust as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, there are no reserves against contract values for credit risk of the Contract Issuer or otherwise.
The SICs include wrapper contracts in order to manage the market risk and return of the investments and securities held by the SICs. The wrapper contracts generally modify the investment characteristics of certain underlying securities such that they perform in a manner similar to guaranteed investment contracts. Each wrapper contract and the related underlying assets comprise the SICs , which are recorded at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest at the contract rate, less withdrawals and contract administrative expenses.
Key factors that could influence future average interest crediting rates include, but are not limited to: Plan cash flows, changes in interest rates, total return performance of the fair market value bond strategies underlying each SIC contract, default or credit failures of any of the securities, investment contracts, or other investments held in the fund, the initiation of an extended termination (immunization) of one or more SIC contracts by the manager or the Contract Issuers.
Specific coverage provided by each SIC may be different for each contract, and can be found in the individual SIC contracts held by the Master Trust. Contract Issuers are not allowed to terminate any of the above SICs and settle at an amount different from contract value unless there is a breach of the contracts terms, which is not corrected within the applicable cure period. Actions that may result in a breach (after any relevant cure period) include, but are not limited to: material misrepresentation; failure to pay SIC fees, or any other payment due under the contract; failure to adhere to investment guidelines; and the bankruptcy or liquidation of the Plan sponsor.
7. Tax Status
The Plan is a spinoff of the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (401(k) Savings Plan). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined and informed the Company by a letter (determination letter) dated February 22, 2016 that the 401(k) Savings Plan and the related trust are designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in material compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. If, and when, the IRS modifies the determination letter process to allow for determination letter application for spinoff plans, the Company intends to apply for a determination letter for the Plan.
The Plan evaluates the uncertainties of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a return based on the probability of whether the position taken will be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The Plan uses a more likely than not threshold for
recognition and derecognition of tax positions taken or to be taken in a return. The Plan concluded that it has no material uncertain tax liabilities to be recognized as of December 31, 2018. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2017.
8. Form 5500 Reconciliation
There were no reconciling items between the net assets available for benefits as disclosed in these financial statements and the Form 5500.
9. Plan Termination
Although the Company has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right to terminate the Plan and the related Trust at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, affected Participants will become fully vested in amounts allocated to their accounts as of the date of the termination.
10. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan and Master Trust invest in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits and participant accounts.
Market conditions can result in a high degree of volatility and increase the risks and short-term liquidity associated with certain investments held by the Plan, which could impact the value of investments after the date of these financial statements. Due to uncertainties inherent in the estimations and assumptions process, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in these estimates and assumptions in the near term would be material to the financial statements.