COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business related to the Company’s operations and property ownership. The Company evaluates such matters on a case by case basis, and vigorously contests any such legal proceedings or claims which the Company believes are without merit. The Company believes that the final disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that the Company's results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to such matters.

The Company establishes an accrual for legal proceedings if and when those matters reach a stage where they present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. In such cases, there may be a possible exposure to loss in excess of any amounts accrued. The Company monitors those matters for developments that would affect the likelihood of a loss and the accrued amount, if any, thereof, and adjusts the amount as appropriate. If the loss contingency at issue is not both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company does not establish an accrual, but will continue to monitor the matter for developments that will make the loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable. If it is at least a reasonable possibility that a material loss will occur, the Company will provide disclosure regarding the contingency.

Income Taxes

For interim reporting, we estimate an annual effective tax rate (AETR) to calculate income tax expense. Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management’s best estimate of current and future taxes to be paid.

We are required to file federal and state income tax returns in the United States and income tax and various other tax returns in multiple foreign jurisdictions, each with changing tax laws, regulations and administrative positions. This requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. We record the benefits of uncertain tax positions in our financial statements only after determining it is more likely than not the uncertain tax positions would sustain challenge by taxing authorities, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. We develop our assessment of an uncertain tax position based on the specific facts and legal arguments of each case and the associated probability of our reporting position being upheld, using internal expertise and the advice of third-party experts. However, our tax returns are subject to routine reviews by the various taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which we file our tax returns. As part of these reviews, taxing authorities may challenge, and in some cases presently are challenging, the interpretations we have used to calculate our tax liability. In addition, any settlement with the tax authority or the outcome of any appeal or litigation process might result, and in some cases has resulted, in an outcome that is materially different from our estimated liability. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the consolidated financial statements as appropriate. Variations in the actual outcome of these cases could materially impact our consolidated financial statements.

Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, which will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets in the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. In projecting future taxable income, we begin with historical results and incorporate assumptions about the amount of future state, federal, and foreign pretax operating income adjusted for items that do not have tax consequences. The assumptions about future taxable income require the use of significant judgment and are consistent with the plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying businesses. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, we consider three years of cumulative operating income.

In evaluating the exposure associated with various non-income tax filing positions, the Company accrues for probable and estimable exposures for non-income tax related tax contingencies. As of February 29, 2024 and August 31, 2023, the Company has recorded within other accrued expenses and other current liabilities a total of $1.4 million and $9.6 million, respectively, for various non-income tax related tax contingencies.

While the Company believes the recorded liabilities are adequate, there are inherent limitations in projecting the outcome of litigation, in estimating probable additional income tax liability taking into account uncertain tax positions and in evaluating the probable additional tax associated with various non-income tax filing positions. As such, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of the sensitivity to change of estimates affecting its recorded liabilities. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability and revises its estimates as appropriate.

Minimum tax rules, applicable in some of the countries where the Company operates, require the payment of taxes based on a percentage of sales, when the resulting tax is greater than the tax payable based on a percentage of income (Alternative Minimum Tax or "AMT"). This can result in AMT payments substantially in excess of those the Company would expect to pay based on taxable income. As the Company believes that, in one country where it operates, it should only be ultimately liable for an income-based tax, it has accumulated income tax receivables of $10.9 million and $10.7 million and deferred tax assets of $3.7 million and $3.2 million as of February 29, 2024 and August 31, 2023, respectively, in this country.

Other Commitments

The Company is committed to non-cancelable construction service obligations for various warehouse club developments and expansions. As of February 29, 2024 and August 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $10.3 million and $11.3 million, respectively, in contractual obligations for construction services not yet rendered.

As of February 29, 2024, the Company has signed a lease agreement for a facility to be built by the lessor related to the relocation of its warehouse club in Miraflores, Guatemala. As part of the agreement, the landlord has agreed to build a shell building which is estimated to be delivered in the first half of calendar year 2025. Once this building is ready, the Company expects to use approximately $12.1 million in cash to outfit this club. The lease will have a term of approximately 20 years, with a 5-year renewal option, and will commence upon delivery of the shell building to the Company. Per the lease agreement, the Company will pay monthly fixed base rent payments which increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The Company will also pay variable rent payments if the yearly warehouse sales for the location are in excess of a certain threshold. A collateralized incremental borrowing rate was used to determine the present value of estimated future minimum lease commitments. The present value of estimated future minimum lease commitments for this lease are as follows (in thousands):


Twelve Months Ended February 28 (except in case of leap year February 29),	Amount

2026	$	1,132
2027	1,655
2028	1,616
2029	1,577
2030	1,540
Thereafter	19,808
Total future lease payments	$	27,328

From time to time, the Company has entered into general land purchase and land purchase option agreements. The Company’s land purchase agreements are typically subject to various conditions, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain necessary governmental permits or approvals. A deposit under an agreement is typically returned to the Company if all permits or approvals are not obtained. Generally, the Company has the right to cancel any of its agreements to purchase land without cause by forfeiture of some or all of the deposits it has made pursuant to the agreement. As of February 29, 2024 the Company had entered into four land purchase agreements that, if completed, would result in the use of approximately $14.0 million in cash. Additionally, the Company has one lease agreement for the Miraflores warehouse club relocation, as mentioned above.

The table below summarizes the Company’s interest in real estate joint ventures, commitments to additional future investments and the Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement in these joint venture as of February 29, 2024 (in thousands):


Entity	% Ownership		Initial Investment		Additional Investments		Net Income (Loss) Inception to Date		Company’s Variable Interest in Entity		Commitment to Future Additional Investments(1)		Company's Maximum Exposure to Loss in Entity(2)
GolfPark Plaza, S.A.	50	%	$	4,616	$	2,402	$	(118)	$	6,900	$	99	$	6,999
Price Plaza Alajuela PPA, S.A.	50	%	2,193		1,236		229		3,658		785		4,443
Total			$	6,809	$	3,638	$	111	$	10,558	$	884	$	11,442

(1)The parties intend to seek alternate financing for the projects, which could reduce the amount of investments each party would be required to provide. The parties may mutually agree on changes to the projects, which could increase or decrease the amount of contributions each party is required to provide.

(2)The maximum exposure is determined by adding the Company’s variable interest in the entity and any explicit or implicit arrangements that could require the Company to provide additional financial support.