DEBT OBLIGATIONS

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2023

DEBT OBLIGATIONS

DEBT OBLIGATIONS

5. DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Long-term debt consists of:

	January 28,		January 29,
	2023		2022
1.70% to 8.00% Senior Notes due through 2049	$	10,215	$	10,607
Other		1,077		1,138
Total debt, excluding obligations under finance leases		11,292		11,745
Less current portion		(1,153)		(451)
Total long-term debt, excluding obligations under finance leases	$	10,139	$	11,294

In 2022, the Company repaid $400 of senior notes bearing an interest rate of 2.80% using cash on hand.

In 2021, the Company repaid $300 of senior notes bearing an interest rate of 2.60%, $500 of senior notes bearing an interest rate of 2.95%, and $500 of senior notes bearing an interest rate of 3.40%, all using cash on hand.

Additionally in 2021, the Company acquired 28, previously leased, properties for a purchase price of $455. Separately, the Company also entered into a transaction to sell those properties to a third party for total proceeds of $621. Total cash proceeds received as a result of the transactions was $166. The sale transaction did not qualify for sale-leaseback accounting treatment. As a result, the Company recorded property, plant and equipment for the $455 price paid and recorded a $621 financing obligation. The leases have a base term of 25 years and twelve option periods of five years each. The Company has the option to purchase the individual properties for fair market value at the end of the base term or at the end of any option period. The Company is obligated to repurchase the properties at the end of the base term for $300 if the lessor exercises its put option.

On July 6, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, which credit agreement was further amended on November 9, 2022 (as so amended, the “Credit Agreement”) providing for a $2,750 unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), with a termination date of July 6, 2026, unless extended as permitted under the Credit Agreement. The Company has the ability to increase the size of the Revolving Credit Facility by up to an additional $1,250, subject to certain conditions.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (i) adjusted Term SOFR plus a market spread, based on the Company’s Public Debt Rating or (ii) the base rate, defined as the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, (b) Bank of America’s prime rate, and (c) one-month Term SOFR plus 1.0%, plus a market rate spread based on the Company’s Public Debt Rating. The Company will also pay a Commitment Fee based on its Public Debt Rating and Letter of Credit fees equal to a market rate spread based on the Company’s Public Debt Rating. “Public Debt Rating” means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Company.

The Credit Agreement contains a covenant, which, among other things, requires the maintenance of a Leverage Ratio of not greater than (i) 3.50:1.00 or (ii) upon the consummation of the proposed merger with Albertsons, 4.50 to 1.00, with step downs to 4.25:1.00, 4.00:1.00, 3.75:1.00 and 3.50:1.00 effective at the end of the third, fifth, seventh and ninth, full fiscal quarters after the consummation of the proposed merger, respectively. The Company may repay the Credit Agreement in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty. The Credit Agreement is not guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries.

On October 13, 2022, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Albertsons Companies, Inc. (“Albertsons”). For additional information about the Company’s unsecured bridge term loan facility and term loan credit agreement associated with the merger agreement, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

As of January 28, 2023, and January 29, 2022, the Company had no commercial paper borrowings and no borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

As of January 28, 2023, the Company had outstanding letters of credit in the amount of $310, of which $2 reduces funds available under the Credit Agreement. As of January 29, 2022, the Company had outstanding letters of credit in the amount of $363, of which $2 reduces funds available under the Credit Agreement. The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company.

Most of the Company’s outstanding public debt is subject to early redemption at varying times and premiums, at the option of the Company.  In addition, subject to certain conditions, some of the Company’s publicly issued debt will be subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder upon the occurrence of a redemption event, upon not less than five days’ notice prior to the date of redemption, at a redemption price equal to the default amount, plus a specified premium.  “Redemption Event” is defined in the indentures as the occurrence of (i) any person or group, together with any affiliate thereof, beneficially owning 50% or more of the voting power of the Company, (ii) any one person or group, or affiliate thereof, succeeding in having a majority of its nominees elected to the Company’s Board of Directors, in each case, without the consent of a majority of the continuing directors of the Company or (iii) both a change of control and a below investment grade rating.

The aggregate annual maturities and scheduled payments of long-term debt, as of year-end 2022, and for the years subsequent to 2022 are:

2023	$	1,153
2024		25
2025		84
2026		1,386
2027		607
Thereafter		8,037
Total debt	$	11,292