Note 4 - Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block]

NOTE 4 – LEASES

We lease certain distribution centers, warehouses, office space, land and equipment. Substantially all of these leases are classified as operating leases. We recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet.

Many of our facility leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one year to 15 years with a maximum lease term of 30 years, including renewals. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion; therefore, renewals to extend the terms of most leases are not included in our right of use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities as they are not reasonably certain of exercise. In the case of our regional distribution centers and certain corporate offices, where the renewal is reasonably certain of exercise, we include the renewal period in our lease term. Leases with escalation adjustments based on an index, such as the consumer price index, are expensed based on current rates. Leases with specified escalation steps are expensed based on the total lease obligation ratably over the life of the lease. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the expected lease term. Non-lease components, such as payment of real estate taxes, maintenance, insurance and other operating expenses, have been excluded from the determination of our lease liability.

As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments using a portfolio approach. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

Expense associated with our operating leases was $9 million and $28 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $10 million and $29 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, which we have classified in selling, general and administrative expenses. Cash paid for leases recognized as liabilities was $8 million and $27 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $10 million and $32 million for the three and nine months ended  September 30, 2020.  

The maturity of lease liabilities is as follows (in millions):

Maturity of Operating Lease Liabilities
Remainder of 2021	$	11
2022		37
2023		30
2024		26
2025		20
After 2025		203
Total lease payments		327
Less: Interest		(121	)
Present value of lease liabilities	$	206

Amounts maturing after 2025 include expected renewals for leases of regional distribution centers and certain corporate offices through dates up to 2049.

The term and discount rate associated with leases are as follows:

	September 30,
Operating Lease Term and Discount Rate	2021
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)		13
Weighted-average discount rate		6.8	%