| DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of Business Albertsons Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "ACI") is a food and drug retailer that, as of February 24, 2024, operated 2,269 retail stores together with 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers, 19 manufacturing facilities and various digital platforms. The Company's retail food businesses and in-store pharmacies operate throughout the United States under more than 20 well known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw's, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Haggen, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market . The Company has no separate assets or liabilities other than its investments in its subsidiaries, and all of its business operations are conducted through its operating subsidiaries. Basis of Presentation The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation for all periods presented. Significant Accounting Policies Fiscal year: The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in February. Unless the context otherwise indicates, reference to a fiscal year of the Company refers to the calendar year in which such fiscal year commences. The Company's first quarter consists of 16 weeks, the second, third and fourth quarters generally each consist of 12 weeks, and the fiscal year generally consists of 52 weeks. Use of estimates: The preparation of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting periods presented. Certain estimates require difficult, subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and cash equivalents: Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase and outstanding deposits related to credit and debit card sales transactions that settle within a few days. Cash and cash equivalents related to credit and debit card transactions were $558.9 million and $576.9 million as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively. The Company has cash and cash equivalents that are in excess of federally insured limits. Though the Company has not experienced any losses on its cash and cash equivalents to date and it does not anticipate incurring any losses, the Company cannot be assured that it will not experience losses on its cash and cash equivalents. Restricted cash: Restricted cash is included in Other current assets and Other assets within the Consolidated Balance Sheets and primarily relates to surety bonds and funds held in escrow. The Company had $4.5 million and $8.0 million of restricted cash as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively. Receivables, net: Receivables consist primarily of trade accounts receivable, pharmacy accounts receivable, tenant receivables and vendor receivables. Management makes estimates of the uncollectibility of its accounts receivable. In determining the adequacy of the allowances for doubtful accounts, management analyzes the value of collateral, historical collection experience, aging of receivables and other economic and industry factors. It is possible that the accuracy of the estimation process could be materially impacted by different judgments, estimations and assumptions based on the information considered and could result in a further adjustment of receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts and bad debt expense were not material for any of the periods presented. Inventories, net: Substantially all of the Company's inventories consist of finished goods valued at the lower of cost or market and net of vendor allowances. As of February 24, 2024, and February 25, 2023, approximately 85.5% and 85.1%, respectively, of the Company's inventories were valued under the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method. The Company primarily uses the retail inventory or the cost method to determine inventory cost before application of any LIFO adjustment. Under the retail inventory method, inventory cost is determined, before the application of any LIFO adjustment, by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to various categories of similar items to the retail value of those items. Under the cost method, the most recent purchase cost is used to determine the cost of inventory before the application of any LIFO adjustment. Replacement or current cost was higher than the carrying amount of inventories valued using LIFO by $637.4 million and $585.4 million as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively. During fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, inventory quantities in certain LIFO layers were reduced. These reductions resulted in a liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs prevailing in prior years as compared with the cost of fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 purchases. As a result, cost of sales decreased by $19.0 million, $0.5 million and $11.3 million in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. Cost for the remaining inventories, which consists primarily of certain perishable and fuel inventories, was determined using the most recent purchase cost, which approximates the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Perishables are counted every four weeks and are carried at the last purchased cost which approximates FIFO cost. Fuel inventories are carried at the last purchased cost, which approximates FIFO cost. The Company records inventory shortages based on actual physical counts at its facilities and also provides allowances for inventory shortages for the period between the last physical count and the balance sheet date. Property and equipment, net: Property and equipment is recorded at cost or fair value for assets acquired as part of a business combination, and depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are generally as follows: buildings - seven ten three Property and equipment under finance leases are recorded at the lower of the present value of the future minimum lease payments or the fair value of the asset and are amortized on the straight-line method over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful life. Interest capitalized on property under construction was immaterial for all periods presented. Leases: The Company leases certain retail stores, distribution centers, office facilities and equipment from third parties. The Company determines whether a contract is or contains a lease at contract inception. Operating and finance lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets, current operating lease obligations and long-term operating lease obligations on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in Property and equipment, net, current maturities of long-term debt and finance lease obligations and long-term debt and finance lease obligations on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Operating lease assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease liabilities are based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. As the rate implicit in the Company's leases is not readily determinable, the Company's applicable incremental borrowing rate, which is estimated to approximate the interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms, is used in calculating the present value of the sum of the lease payments. Operating lease assets are based on the lease liability, adjusted for any prepayments, lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The typical real estate lease period is 15 to 20 years with renewal options for varying terms and, to a limited extent, options to purchase. The Company includes renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised as part of the lease term. The Company has lease agreements with non-lease components that relate to the lease components. Certain leases contain percent rent based on sales, escalation clauses or payment of executory costs such as property taxes, utilities, insurance and maintenance. Non-lease components primarily relate to common area maintenance. Non-lease components and the lease components to which they relate are accounted for together as a single lease component for all asset classes. The Company recognizes lease payments for short-term leases as expense either straight-line over the lease term or as incurred depending on whether lease payments are fixed or variable. Impairment of long-lived assets: The Company regularly reviews the operating performance of our individual stores and other long-lived assets, together with current market conditions, for indicators of impairment. When events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the individual store's assets or other long-lived assets may not be recoverable, their future undiscounted cash flows are compared to the carrying value. If the carrying value of the asset is greater than the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying value of the asset is compared to the asset's estimated fair value and an impairment loss is recognized when the asset's carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. For assets held for sale, the Company recognizes impairment charges for the excess of the carrying value plus estimated costs of disposal over the fair value. Fair values are based on discounted cash flows or current market rates. These estimates of fair value can be significantly impacted by factors such as changes in the current economic environment and real estate market conditions. Long-lived asset impairments are recorded as a component of Loss (gain) on property dispositions and impairment losses, net. Intangible assets, net: Intangible assets with finite lives consist primarily of trade names, customer prescription files and internally developed software. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated economic life ranging from three Cloud computing arrangements that are service contracts: The Company enters into hosted cloud computing arrangements that are considered to be service contracts and capitalizes certain development costs related to implementing the cloud computing arrangement. As of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, the Company had capitalized implementation costs of $275.9 million and $272.3 million, respectively, included in Other assets. The Company amortizes the costs over the related service contract period of the hosting arrangement. Amortization expense for the implementation costs was $80.5 million, $64.9 million and $38.3 million for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 respectively, and is included within Selling and administrative expenses. In fiscal 2023, there was $23.4 million of impairment and disposal losses related to capitalized implementation costs, recorded as a component of Loss (gain) on property dispositions and impairment losses, net. In fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, there were no impairment and disposal losses related to capitalized implementation costs. Goodwill: Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized as the Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually on the first day of its fourth quarter and also if events or changes in circumstances indicate the occurrence of a triggering event. The Company reviews goodwill for impairment by initially considering qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative analysis. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative analysis is performed to identify goodwill impairment. If it is determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it is unnecessary to perform a quantitative analysis. The Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing a quantitative analysis. Based on the qualitative analysis performed in fiscal 2023, the Company determined that there was no goodwill impairment. Business combination measurements: In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Company estimates the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities as of the acquisition date of business combinations. These fair value adjustments are input into the calculation of goodwill related to the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are determined using market, income and cost approaches from the perspective of a market participant. The fair value measurements can be based on significant inputs that are not readily observable in the market. The market approach indicates value for a subject asset based on available market pricing for comparable assets. The market approach used includes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving comparable assets, as well as pricing guides and other sources. The income approach indicates value for a subject asset based on the present value of cash flows projected to be generated by the asset. Projected cash flows are discounted at a required market rate of return that reflects the relative risk of achieving the cash flows and the time value of money. The cost approach, which estimates value by determining the current cost of replacing an asset with another of equivalent economic utility, is used for certain assets for which the market and income approaches could not be applied due to the nature of the asset. The cost to replace a given asset reflects the estimated reproduction or replacement cost for the asset, adjusted for obsolescence, whether physical, functional or economic. Equity method investments : Investments in certain companies over which the Company exerts significant influence, but does not control the financial and operating decisions, are accounted for as equity method investments. For equity method investments, the Company regularly reviews its investments to determine whether there is a decline in fair value below carrying value. If there is a decline that is other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value. As of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, the Company has equity method investments of $78.2 million and $250.1 million, respectively, included in Other assets. Equity in earnings from unconsolidated affiliates is included in Other income, net, including losses of $8.7 million in fiscal 2023, and gains of $11.8 million and $63.5 million in fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. The Company's equity method investments included an equity interest in Mexico Foods Parent LLC and La Fabrica Parent LLC ("El Rancho"), a Texas-based specialty grocer. During fiscal 2023, El Rancho exercised its contractual option to repurchase the Company's 45% ownership interest in El Rancho and the Company received proceeds of $166.1 million. As a result, the Company realized a gain of $10.5 million during fiscal 2023, included in Other income, net. Other investments : Investments in equity securities with a readily determinable fair value, not accounted for under the equity method, are recorded at fair value with realized and unrealized gains and losses included in Other income, net. For equity securities without a readily determinable fair value, the investment is recorded at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus adjustments related to observable transactions for the same or similar securities, with realized and unrealized gains and losses included in Other income, net. As of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, the Company has other investments of $39.4 million and $116.9 million, respectively, included in Other assets. Net realized and unrealized losses were $1.3 million and $11.5 million for fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, respectively. Net realized and unrealized gains were $15.5 million for fiscal 2021. Company-Owned life insurance policies ("COLI"): The Company has COLI policies that have a cash surrender value. The Company has loans against these policies. The Company has no intention of repaying the loans prior to maturity or cancellation of the policies. Therefore, the Company offsets the cash surrender value by the related loans. As of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, the cash surrender values of the policies were $136.2 million and $135.6 million, and the balances of the policy loans were $82.3 million and $82.9 million, respectively. The net balance of the COLI policies is included in Other assets. Derivatives: The Company has entered into several pay fixed, receive variable interest rate swap contracts ("Swaps") to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates. Swaps are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The Swaps are not designated as cash flow hedges, and as a result, all changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings, rather than through other comprehensive income (loss). All of the Company's Swaps expired in March 2023. The Company has also entered into contracts to purchase electricity and natural gas at fixed prices for a portion of its energy needs. The Company expects to take delivery of the electricity and natural gas in the normal course of business. Contracts that qualify for the normal purchase exception under derivatives and hedging accounting guidance are not recorded at fair value. Energy purchased under these contracts is expensed as delivered. The Company also manages its exposure to changes in diesel prices utilized in the Company's distribution process through the use of short-term heating oil derivative contracts. These contracts are economic hedges of price risk and are not designated or accounted for as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in current period earnings. Self-Insurance liabilities : The Company is primarily self-insured for workers' compensation, property, automobile and general liability. The self-insurance liability is undiscounted and determined actuarially, based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. The Company has established stop-loss amounts that limit the Company's further exposure after a claim reaches the designated stop-loss threshold. Stop-loss amounts for claims incurred for the years presented range from $0.25 million to $5.0 million per claim, depending upon the type of insurance coverage and the year the claim was incurred. In determining its self-insurance liabilities, the Company performs a continuing review of its overall position and reserving techniques. Since recorded amounts are based on estimates, the ultimate cost of all incurred claims and related expenses may be more or less than the recorded liabilities. The Company has reinsurance receivables of $21.2 million and $21.7 million recorded within Receivables, net and $53.5 million and $50.1 million recorded within Other assets as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively. The self-insurance liabilities and related reinsurance receivables are recorded gross. Changes in self-insurance liabilities consisted of the following (in millions): February 24, February 25, Beginning balance $ 1,234.1 $ 1,171.1 Expense, net of actuarial adjustments 373.0 373.3 Claim payments (339.5) (310.3) Ending balance 1,267.6 1,234.1 Less current portion (367.7) (355.5) Long-term portion $ 899.9 $ 878.6 Benefit plans and Multiemployer plans: Substantially all of the Company's employees are covered by various contributory and non-contributory pension, profit sharing or 401(k) plans, in addition to sponsored defined benefit plans. Certain employees participate in a long-term retention incentive bonus plan. The Company also provides certain health and welfare benefits, including short-term and long-term disability benefits to inactive disabled employees prior to retirement. The Company recognizes a liability for the underfunded status of the defined benefit plans as a component of Other long-term liabilities. Actuarial gains or losses and prior service costs or credits are recorded within Other comprehensive income (loss). The determination of the Company's obligation and related expense for its sponsored pensions and other post-retirement benefits is dependent, in part, on management's selection of certain actuarial assumptions in calculating these amounts. These assumptions include, among other things, the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Most union employees participate in multiemployer retirement plans pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, unless the collective bargaining agreement provides for participation in plans sponsored by the Company. Pension expense for the multiemployer plans is recognized as contributions are funded. Equity-based compensation: The Company recognizes equity-based compensation expense for restricted stock units ("Restricted Stock Units" or "RSUs") and restricted common stock of the Company ("RSAs") granted to employees and non-employee directors. Actual forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Equity-based compensation expense is based on the fair value on the grant date and is recognized over the requisite service period of the award, generally between one Revenue recognition : Revenues from the retail sale of products are recognized at the point of sale or delivery to the customer, net of returns and sales tax. Pharmacy sales are recorded upon the customer receiving the prescription. Third-party receivables from pharmacy sales were $376.1 million and $313.5 million as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively, and are recorded in Receivables, net. For digital related sales, which primarily include home delivery and Drive Up & Go curbside pickup, revenues are recognized upon either pickup in store or delivery to the customer and may include revenue for separately charged delivery services. Discounts provided to customers by the Company at the time of sale are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold. Discounts provided to customers by vendors, usually in the form of coupons, are not recognized as a reduction in sales, provided the coupons are redeemable at any retailer that accepts coupons. The Company recognizes revenue and records a corresponding receivable from the vendor for the difference between the sales prices and the cash received from the customer. The Company records a contract liability when rewards are earned by customers in connection with the Company's loyalty programs. As rewards are redeemed or expire, the Company reduces the contract liability and recognizes revenue. The contract liability balance was immaterial in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022. The Company records a contract liability when it sells its own proprietary gift cards. The Company records a sale when the customer redeems the gift card. The Company's gift cards do not expire. The Company reduces the contract liability and records revenue for the unused portion of gift cards in proportion to its customers' pattern of redemption, which the Company determined to be the historical redemption rate. The Company's contract liability related to gift cards was $111.4 million and $115.0 million as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively. Disaggregated Revenues The following table represents Net sales and other revenue by product type (dollars in millions): Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Amount % of Total Amount % of Total Amount % of Total Non-perishables (2) $ 39,977.3 50.5 % $ 39,142.4 50.4 % $ 36,486.7 50.8 % Fresh (3) 25,442.7 32.1 % 25,585.4 32.9 % 24,636.8 34.3 % Pharmacy 8,240.0 10.4 % 6,769.3 8.7 % 5,823.3 8.1 % Fuel 4,396.7 5.5 % 4,857.6 6.3 % 3,747.5 5.2 % Other (4) 1,181.0 1.5 % 1,295.0 1.7 % 1,192.7 1.6 % Total $ 79,237.7 100.0 % $ 77,649.7 100.0 % $ 71,887.0 100.0 % (1) Digital related sales are included in the categories to which the revenue pertains. (2) Consists primarily of general merchandise, grocery, dairy and frozen foods. (3) Consists primarily of produce, meat, deli and prepared foods, bakery, floral and seafood. (4) Consists primarily of wholesale sales to third parties, commissions, rental income and other miscellaneous revenue. Cost of sales and vendor allowances: Cost of sales includes, among other things, purchasing and sourcing costs, inbound freight costs, product quality testing costs, warehousing and distribution costs, Own Brands program costs and digital-related delivery and handling costs. The Company receives vendor allowances or rebates ("Vendor Allowances") for a variety of merchandising initiatives and buying activities. The terms of the Company's Vendor Allowances arrangements vary in length but are primarily expected to be completed within a quarter. The Company records Vendor Allowances as a reduction of Cost of sales when the associated products are sold. Vendor Allowances that have been earned as a result of completing the required performance under terms of the underlying agreements but for which the product has not yet been sold are recognized as reductions of inventory. The reduction of inventory for these Vendor Allowances was $66.6 million and $55.7 million as of February 24, 2024 and February 25, 2023, respectively. Advertising costs are included in Cost of sales and are expensed in the period the advertising occurs. Cooperative advertising funds are recorded as a reduction of Cost of sales when the advertising occurs. Advertising costs were $535.7 million, $498.2 million and $440.5 million, net of cooperative advertising allowances of $67.0 million, $63.9 million and $72.9 million for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. Selling and administrative expenses: Selling and administrative expenses consist primarily of store and corporate employee-related costs such as salaries and wages, health and welfare, workers' compensation and pension benefits, as well as marketing and merchandising, rent, occupancy and operating costs, amortization of intangibles and other administrative costs. Income taxes: The Company's income before taxes is primarily from domestic operations. Deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established where management determines that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company reviews tax positions taken or expected to be taken on tax returns to determine whether and to what extent a tax benefit can be recognized. The Company evaluates its positions taken and establishes liabilities in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for uncertain tax positions. The Company reviews these liabilities as facts and circumstances change and adjusts accordingly. The Company recognizes any interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as a component of Income tax expense. U.S. shareholders of a controlled foreign corporation are required to provide U.S. taxes on its share of global intangible low-taxed income ("GILTI"). The current and deferred tax impact of GILTI is not material to the Company. Accordingly, the Company will report the tax impact of GILTI as a period cost and not provide deferred taxes for the basis difference that would be expected to reverse as GILTI. Segments : The Company and its subsidiaries offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel and other items and services in its stores or through digital channels. The Company's retail operating divisions are geographically based, have similar economic characteristics and similar expected long-term financial performance. The Company's operating segments and reporting units are its 12 divisions, which are reported in one reportable segment. Each reporting unit constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and for which management regularly reviews the operating results. Across all operating segments, the Company operates primarily one store format. Each division offers, through its stores and digital channels, the same general mix of products with similar pricing to similar categories of customers, has similar distribution methods, operates in similar regulatory environments and purchases merchandise from similar or the same vendors. Recently issued accounting standards: In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, " Segment Reporting Topic (280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure." The ASU improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, " Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." The ASU enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures. |
