Litigation, Other Contingencies and Guarantees
9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2011
Litigation, Other Contingencies and Guarantees  
Litigation, Other Contingencies and Guarantees

Note 13 – Litigation, Other Contingencies and Guarantees

 

We are subject to various legal and governmental proceedings involving routine litigation incidental to our business. Reserves have been established based on our best estimates of our potential liability in certain of these matters. These estimates have been developed in consultation with in-house and outside counsel. While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of these matters, management currently believes that the final resolution of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources.

 

As of October 29, 2011, we estimated our total potential environmental liabilities to range from $26 million to $33 million and recorded our best estimate of $27 million in other liabilities in the unaudited Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet as of that date. This estimate covered potential liabilities primarily related to underground storage tanks, remediation of environmental conditions involving our former drugstore locations and asbestos removal in connection with approved plans to renovate or dispose of our facilities. We continue to assess required remediation and the adequacy of environmental reserves as new information becomes available and known conditions are further delineated. If we were to incur losses at the upper end of the estimated range, we do not believe that such losses would have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

As of October 29, 2011, we had a guarantee totaling $20 million for the maximum exposure on insurance reserves established by a former subsidiary included in the sale of our Direct Marketing Services business.

 

In connection with the sale of the operations of our outlet stores (see Note 10), we assigned leases on 10 outlet store locations to the purchaser.  As part of the assignment agreement, we became third guarantors for all 10 of the assigned lease agreements.  In the event of lease default by the purchaser, our maximum obligation under the lease guarantees, as of October 29, 2011, is $26 million, assuming acceleration of all lease payments.  The 10 leases have expirations dates beginning in June 2014 with the last lease expiring in November 2020.