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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

   

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended November 21, 2020, or

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from _______ to ________.

Commission file number 1-10714

Graphic

AUTOZONE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada

62-1482048

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

123 South Front Street, Memphis, Tennessee

38103

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(901) 495-6500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

   

Trading Symbol(s)

   

Name of Each Exchange on which Registered

Common Stock ($0.01 par value)

AZO

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value – 22,759,106 shares outstanding as of December 11, 2020.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

6

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

17

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

18

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

26

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

27

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

27

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

27

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

27

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

27

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

27

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

28

Item 5.

Other Information

28

Item 6.

Exhibits

29

SIGNATURES

30

2

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.Financial Statements.

AUTOZONE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

November 21,

August 29,

(in thousands)

2020

2020

Assets

 

  

Current assets:

 

  

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,664,005

$

1,750,815

Accounts receivable

 

350,915

 

364,774

Merchandise inventories

 

4,628,334

 

4,473,282

Other current assets

 

193,541

 

223,001

Total current assets

 

6,836,795

 

6,811,872

Property and equipment:

Property and equipment

 

8,283,676

 

8,136,542

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(3,697,674)

 

(3,627,321)

 

4,586,002

 

4,509,221

Operating lease right-of-use assets

2,607,019

2,581,677

Goodwill

 

302,645

 

302,645

Deferred income taxes

 

29,887

 

27,843

Other long-term assets

 

206,226

 

190,614

 

3,145,777

 

3,102,779

$

14,568,574

$

14,423,872

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

5,282,313

$

5,156,324

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

246,332

223,846

Accrued expenses and other

 

771,360

 

827,668

Income taxes payable

 

156,698

 

75,253

Total current liabilities

 

6,456,703

 

6,283,091

Long-term debt

 

5,514,874

 

5,513,371

Operating lease liabilities, less current portion

2,524,008

2,501,560

Deferred income taxes

 

370,076

 

354,186

Other long-term liabilities

 

729,893

 

649,641

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ deficit:

Preferred stock, authorized 1,000 shares; no shares issued

 

 

Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 200,000 shares; 23,761 shares issued and 22,855 shares outstanding as of November 21, 2020; 23,697 shares issued and 23,376 shares outstanding as of August 29, 2020

 

238

 

237

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,323,037

 

1,283,495

Retained deficit

 

(1,008,537)

 

(1,450,970)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(306,907)

 

(354,252)

Treasury stock, at cost

 

(1,034,811)

 

(356,487)

Total stockholders’ deficit

 

(1,026,980)

 

(877,977)

$

14,568,574

$

14,423,872

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

Table of Contents

AUTOZONE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

Twelve Weeks Ended

November 21,

November 23,

(in thousands, except per share data)

2020

2019

Net sales

    

$

3,154,261

    

$

2,793,038

    

Cost of sales, including warehouse and delivery expenses

1,478,644

1,291,970

Gross profit

1,675,617

 

1,501,068

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses

1,060,392

1,001,045

Operating profit

615,225

500,023

Interest expense, net

46,179

43,743

Income before income taxes

569,046

 

456,280

Income tax expense

126,613

105,942

Net income

$

442,433

$

350,338

Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share

 

23,223

 

23,875

Effect of dilutive stock equivalents

555

618

Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share

 

23,778

 

24,493

Basic earnings per share

$

19.05

$

14.67

Diluted earnings per share

$

18.61

$

14.30

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

AUTOZONE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

Twelve Weeks Ended

    

November 21,

    

November 23,

    

(in thousands)

2020

2019

Net income

$

442,433

$

350,338

Other comprehensive income:

 

  

 

  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

46,995

 

19,040

Unrealized losses on marketable debt securities, net of taxes

 

(309)

 

(188)

Net derivative activities, net of taxes

 

659

 

389

Total other comprehensive income

 

47,345

 

19,241

Comprehensive income

$

489,778

$

369,579

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

Table of Contents

AUTOZONE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

Twelve Weeks Ended

    

November 21,

November 23,

(in thousands)

2020

2019

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

  

 

  

Net income

$

442,433

$

350,338

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

  

 

  

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangibles

 

89,551

 

89,750

Amortization of debt origination fees

 

3,150

 

2,195

Deferred income taxes

 

10,295

 

1,940

Share-based compensation expense

 

10,508

 

9,996

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

  

 

  

Accounts receivable

 

17,491

 

(23,246)

Merchandise inventories

 

(124,746)

 

(133,206)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

56,273

 

48,270

Income taxes payable

 

79,558

 

69,390

Other, net

 

98,978

 

31,675

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

683,491

 

447,102

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

  

 

  

Capital expenditures

 

(113,036)

 

(101,407)

Purchase of marketable debt securities

 

(45,985)

 

(35,448)

Proceeds from sale of marketable debt securities

 

51,210

 

45,765

(Payments) proceeds from disposal of capital assets and other, net

 

(2,368)

 

379

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(110,179)

 

(90,711)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

  

 

  

Net proceeds of commercial paper

 

 

79,700

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

 

28,666

 

8,822

Purchase of treasury stock

(678,324)

(449,999)

Repayment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities

 

(13,786)

(14,331)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(663,444)

 

(375,808)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

3,322

 

1,206

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(86,810)

 

(18,211)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

1,750,815

 

176,300

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

1,664,005

$

158,089

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

Table of Contents

AUTOZONE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(Unaudited)

Twelve Weeks Ended November 21, 2020

Accumulated

Common

Additional

Other

    

Shares

    

Common

    

Paid-in

    

Retained

    

Comprehensive

    

Treasury

    

(in thousands)

Issued

Stock

Capital

Deficit

Loss

Stock

Total

Balance at August 29, 2020

 

23,697

$

237

$

1,283,495

$

(1,450,970)

$

(354,252)

$

(356,487)

$

(877,977)

Net income

 

 

 

 

442,433

 

 

 

442,433

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

47,345

 

 

47,345

Purchase of 584 shares of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

(678,324)

 

(678,324)

Issuance of common stock under stock options and stock purchase plans

 

64

 

1

 

28,665

 

28,666

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

 

10,877

 

 

 

 

10,877

Balance at November 21, 2020

 

23,761

$

238

$

1,323,037

$

(1,008,537)

$

(306,907)

$

(1,034,811)

$

(1,026,980)

Twelve Weeks Ended November 23, 2019

Accumulated

Common

Additional

Other

    

Shares

    

Common

    

Paid-in

    

Retained

    

Comprehensive

    

Treasury

    

(in thousands)

Issued

Stock

Capital

Deficit

Loss

Stock

Total

Balance at August 31, 2019

 

25,445

$

254

$

1,264,448

$

(1,305,347)

$

(269,322)

$

(1,403,884)

$

(1,713,851)

Net income

 

 

 

 

350,338

 

 

 

350,338

Total other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

19,241

 

 

19,241

Purchase of 403 shares of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

(449,999)

 

(449,999)

Issuance of common stock under stock options and stock purchase plans

 

20

 

 

8,822

 

8,822

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

 

9,359

 

 

 

 

9,359

Balance at November 23, 2019

 

25,465

$

254

$

1,282,629

$

(955,009)

$

(250,081)

$

(1,853,883)

$

(1,776,090)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

Table of Contents

AUTOZONE, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note A – General

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules and regulations. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the AutoZone, Inc. (“AutoZone” or the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 29, 2020.

Operating results for the twelve weeks ended November 21, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 28, 2021. Each of the first three quarters of AutoZone’s fiscal year consists of 12 weeks, and the fourth quarter consists of 16 or 17 weeks. The fourth quarters of fiscal 2021 and 2020 each have 16 weeks.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The amendments in this update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which was subsequently amended in November 2018 through ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments Credit Losses. ASU 2016-13 requires entities to estimate all expected credit losses for financial assets measured at amortized cost basis, including trade receivables, held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company adopted this guidance using the modified retrospective adoption method beginning with its first quarter ended November 21, 2020. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures. The balance for allowance for uncollectable accounts was $9.8 million at November 21, 2020 and $10.0 million at August 29, 2020.

Note B – Share-Based Payments

AutoZone maintains several equity incentive plans, which provide equity-based compensation to non-employee directors and eligible employees for their service to AutoZone, its subsidiaries or affiliates. The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. Share-based payments include stock option grants, restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit grants, stock appreciation rights, discounts on shares sold to employees under share purchase plans and other awards. Additionally, directors’ fees are paid in restricted stock units with value equivalent to the value of shares of common stock as of the grant date. The change in fair value of liability-based stock awards is also recognized in share-based compensation expense.

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Stock Options:

The Company made stock option grants of 194,511 shares during the twelve week period ended November 21, 2020 and granted options to purchase 188,324 shares during the comparable prior year period. The Company grants options to purchase common stock to certain of its employees under its plan at prices equal to the market value of the stock on the date of grant. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date.

The weighted average fair value of the stock option awards granted during the twelve week periods ended November 21, 2020 and November 23, 2019, using the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model, was $299.48 and $252.39 per share, respectively, using the following weighted average key assumptions:

Twelve Weeks Ended

    

November 21,

    

November 23,

    

    

2020

2019

Expected price volatility

 

28

%  

22

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

0.4

%  

1.4

%

Weighted average expected lives (in years)

 

5.6

 

5.5

 

Forfeiture rate

 

10

%  

10

%

Dividend yield

 

0

%  

0

%

During the twelve week period ended November 21, 2020, 59,990 stock options were exercised at a weighted average exercise price of $496.58. In the comparable prior year period, 18,407 stock options were exercised at a weighted average exercise price of $568.16.

Restricted Stock Units:

Restricted stock unit awards are valued at the market price of a share of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Grants of employee restricted stock units vest ratably on an annual basis over a four-year service period and are payable in shares of common stock on the vesting date. Compensation expense for grants of employee restricted stock units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the four-year service period, less estimated forfeitures, which are consistent with stock option forfeiture assumptions. Grants of non-employee director restricted stock units are made and expensed on January 1 of each year, as they vest immediately.

As of November 21, 2020, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested restricted stock unit awards, net of estimated forfeitures, was approximately $14.5 million, before income taxes, which we expect to recognize over an estimated weighted average period of 3.1 years.

Transactions related to restricted stock units for the twelve weeks ended November 21, 2020 were as follows:

Weighted-

    

Number

    

Average Grant

of Shares

Date Fair Value

Nonvested at August 29, 2020

 

14,160

$

910.63

Granted

 

6,328

1,139.99

Vested

 

(4,069)

 

888.78

Canceled or forfeited

 

(20)

 

962.49

Nonvested at November 21, 2020

 

16,399

$

1,004.49

Total share-based compensation expense (a component of Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses) was $10.5 million for the twelve week period ended November 21, 2020, and $10.0 million for the comparable prior year period.

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For the twelve week period ended November 21, 2020, 293,280 stock options were excluded from the diluted earnings per share computation because they would have been anti-dilutive. For the comparable prior year period, 107,511 anti-dilutive shares were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share computation.

See AutoZone’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 29, 2020, for a discussion regarding the methodology used in developing AutoZone’s assumptions to determine the fair value of the option awards and a description of AutoZone’s Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Award Plan and the 2020 Director Compensation Program.

Note C – Fair Value Measurements

The Company defines fair value as the price received to transfer an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the Company uses the fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy, as defined below, gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are set forth below:

Level 1 inputs—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company can access at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs—inputs other than quoted market prices included within Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for the asset or liability.

Level 3 inputs—unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are based on the Company’s own assumptions as there is little, if any, observable activity in identical assets or liabilities.

Marketable Debt Securities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The Company’s marketable debt securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

November 21, 2020

(in thousands)

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Fair Value

Other current assets

$

41,085

$

194

$

$

41,279

Other long-term assets

 

83,666

 

16,678

 

 

100,344

$

124,751

$

16,872

$

$

141,623

August 29, 2020

(in thousands)

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Fair Value

Other current assets

$

75,651

$

467

$

$

76,118

Other long-term assets

 

58,792

 

12,329

 

 

71,121

$

134,443

$

12,796

$

$

147,239

At November 21, 2020, the fair value measurement amounts for assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of short-term marketable debt securities, which are included within Other current assets, and long-term marketable debt securities, which are included in Other long-term assets. The Company’s marketable debt securities are typically valued at the closing price in the principal active market as of the last business day of the quarter or through the use of other market inputs relating to the securities, including benchmark yields and reported trades. The fair values of the marketable debt securities, by asset class, are described in “Note D – Marketable Debt Securities.”

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Financial Instruments not Recognized at Fair Value

The Company has financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets and accounts payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate fair value because of their short maturities. A discussion of the carrying values and fair values of the Company’s debt is included in “Note G – Financing.”

Note D – Marketable Debt Securities

Marketable debt securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss until realized, and any credit risk related losses are recognized in net income in the period incurred. The Company’s basis for determining the cost of a security sold is the “Specific Identification Model.” The Company’s available-for-sale marketable debt securities consisted of the following:

November 21, 2020

    

Amortized

    

Gross

    

Gross

    

Cost

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

(in thousands)

Basis

Gains

Losses

Value

Corporate debt securities

$

42,192

$

816

$

$

43,008

Government bonds

 

75,235

 

968

 

(18)

 

76,185

Mortgage-backed securities

 

6,590

 

68

 

(1)

 

6,657

Asset-backed securities and other

 

15,644

 

131

 

(2)

 

15,773

$

139,661

$

1,983

$

(21)

$

141,623

August 29, 2020

    

Amortized

    

Gross

    

Gross

    

Cost

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

(in thousands)

Basis

Gains

Losses

Value

Corporate debt securities

$

46,652

$

970

$

(4)

$

47,618

Government bonds

 

44,594

 

1,172

 

 

45,766

Mortgage-backed securities

 

4,842

 

75

 

 

4,917

Asset-backed securities and other

 

48,798

 

143

 

(3)

 

48,938

$

144,886

$

2,360

$

(7)

$

147,239

The debt securities held at November 21, 2020, had effective maturities ranging from less than one year to approximately three years. At November 21, 2020, the Company held eight securities that are in an unrealized loss position. In evaluating whether the securities are deemed to be impaired on an other than temporary basis, the Company considers factors such as the duration and severity of the loss position, the credit worthiness of the investee, the term to maturity and the intent and ability to hold the investments until maturity or until recovery of fair value. An allowance for credit losses was deemed unnecessary given consideration of the factors above.

Included above in total available-for-sale marketable debt securities are $62.3 million of marketable debt securities transferred by the Company’s insurance captive to a trust account to secure its obligations to an insurance company related to future workers’ compensation and casualty losses.

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Note E – Derivative Financial Instruments

At November 21, 2020, the Company had $30.4 million recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to realized losses associated with terminated interest rate swap and treasury rate lock derivatives, which were designated as hedging instruments. Net losses are amortized into Interest expense over the remaining life of the associated debt. During the twelve week periods ended November 21, 2020 and November 23, 2019, the Company reclassified $863 thousand and $509 thousand of net losses from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Interest expense, respectively. The Company expects to reclassify $3.7 million of net losses from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Interest expense over the next 12 months.

Note F – Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise inventories include related purchasing, storage and handling costs. Inventory cost has been determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value for domestic inventories and the weighted average cost method stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value for Mexico and Brazil inventories. Due to historical price deflation on the Company’s merchandise purchases, the Company has exhausted its LIFO reserve balance. The Company’s policy is not to write up inventory in excess of replacement cost. The difference between LIFO cost and replacement cost, which will be reduced upon experiencing price inflation on the Company’s merchandise purchases, was $362.5 million at November 21, 2020 and $357.0 million at August 29, 2020.

Note G – Financing

The Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following:

    

November 21,

    

August 29,

(in thousands)

2020

2020

2.500% Senior Notes due April 2021, effective interest rate of 2.62%

$

250,000

$

250,000

3.700% Senior Notes due April 2022, effective interest rate of 3.85%

 

500,000

 

500,000

2.875% Senior Notes due January 2023, effective interest rate of 3.21%

 

300,000

 

300,000

3.125% Senior Notes due July 2023, effective interest rate of 3.26%

 

500,000

 

500,000

3.125% Senior Notes due April 2024, effective interest rate 3.32%

 

300,000

 

300,000

3.250% Senior Notes due April 2025, effective interest rate 3.36%

 

400,000

 

400,000

3.625% Senior Notes due April 2025, effective interest rate 3.78%

500,000

500,000

3.125% Senior Notes due April 2026, effective interest rate of 3.28%

 

400,000

 

400,000

3.750% Senior Notes due June 2027, effective interest rate of 3.83%

 

600,000

 

600,000

3.750% Senior Notes due April 2029, effective interest rate of 3.86%

 

450,000

 

450,000

4.000% Senior Notes due April 2030, effective interest rate 4.09%

750,000

750,000

1.650% Senior Notes due January 2031, effective interest rate of 2.19%

600,000

600,000

Total debt before discounts and debt issuance costs

 

5,550,000

 

5,550,000

Less: Discounts and debt issuance costs

 

35,126

 

36,629

Long-term debt

$

5,514,874

$

5,513,371

As of November 21, 2020, the $250 million 2.500% Senior Notes due April 2021 are classified as long-term in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company has the ability and intent to refinance them on a long-term basis through available capacity in its revolving credit agreements. As of November 21, 2020, the Company had $2.748 billion of availability under its $2.750 billion revolving credit agreements, which would allow the Company to replace these short-term obligations with long-term financing facilities.

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The Company entered into a Master Extension, New Commitment and Amendment Agreement dated as of November 18, 2017 (the “Extension Amendment”) to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 18, 2016, as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). Under the Extension Amendment: (i) the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Agreement was increased from $1.6 billion to $2.0 billion; (ii) the maximum borrowing under the Revolving Credit Agreement may, at the Company’s option, subject to lenders approval, be increased from $2.0 billion to $2.4 billion; (iii) the termination date of the Revolving Credit Agreement was extended from November 18, 2021 until November 18, 2022; and (iv) the Company has the option to make one additional written request of the lenders to extend the termination date then in effect for an additional year. Under the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow funds consisting of Eurodollar loans, base rate loans or a combination of both. Interest accrues on Eurodollar loans at a defined Eurodollar rate, defined as LIBOR plus the applicable percentage, as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement, depending upon the Company’s senior, unsecured, (non-credit enhanced) long-term debt ratings. Interest accrues on base rate loans as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

On April 3, 2020, the Company entered into a 364-Day Credit Agreement (the “364-Day Credit Agreement”) to augment the Company’s access to liquidity due to current macroeconomic conditions, specifically the pandemic, and to supplement the Company’s existing Revolving Credit Agreement. The 364-Day Credit Agreement provides for loans in the aggregate principal amount of up to $750 million. The 364-Day Credit Agreement will terminate, and all amounts borrowed under the 364-Day Credit Agreement will be due and payable, on April 2, 2021. Revolving loans under the 364-Day Credit Agreement may be base rate loans, Eurodollar loans, or a combination of both, at the Company’s election.

As of November 21, 2020, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under either of the revolving credit agreements and $1.7 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Under the Company’s revolving credit agreements, covenants include restrictions on liens, a maximum debt to earnings ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a change of control provision that may require acceleration of the repayment obligations under certain circumstances.

The fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $6.055 billion as of November 21, 2020, and $6.081 billion as of August 29, 2020, based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates available to the Company for debt of the same terms (Level 2). Such fair value is greater than the carrying value of debt by $540.1 million and $567.5 million at November 21, 2020 and August 29, 2020, respectively, which reflects their face amount, adjusted for any unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts.

All Senior Notes are subject to an interest rate adjustment if the debt ratings assigned are downgraded (as defined in the agreements). Further, the Senior Notes contain a provision that repayment may be accelerated if the Company experiences a change in control (as defined in the agreements). The Company’s borrowings under its Senior Notes contain minimal covenants, primarily restrictions on liens, sale and leaseback transactions and consolidations, mergers and the sale of assets. All of the repayment obligations under its borrowing arrangements may be accelerated and come due prior to the scheduled payment date if covenants are breached or an event of default occurs.

As of November 21, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and expects to remain in compliance with all covenants under its borrowing arrangements.

Note H – Stock Repurchase Program

From January 1, 1998 to November 21, 2020, the Company has repurchased a total of 148.3 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $23.032 billion, including 584,379 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $678.3 million during the twelve week period ended November 21, 2020. Considering the cumulative repurchases as of November 21, 2020, the Company had $117.6 million remaining under the Board’s authorization to repurchase its common stock.

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On December 15, 2020, the Board voted to increase the authorization by $1.5 billion to raise the cumulative share repurchase authorization from $23.15 billion to $24.65 billion. Subsequent to November 21, 2020, the Company has repurchased 97,140 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $110.0 million. Considering the cumulative repurchases and the increase in authorization subsequent to November 21, 2020, the Company has $1.508 billion remaining under the Board’s authorization to repurchase its stock.

Note I – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss includes foreign currency translation adjustments, activity for interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks that qualify as cash flow hedges and unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities. Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss for the twelve week periods ended November 21, 2020 and November 23, 2019 consisted of the following:

Net

Foreign

Unrealized

Currency and

Gain (Loss)

(in thousands)

   

Other(2)

   

on Securities

Derivatives

Total

Balance at August 29, 2020

$

(332,321)

$

1,845

$

(23,776)

$

(354,252)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications(1)

 

46,995

 

(322)

(3) 

 

 

46,673

Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

13

(3) 

 

659

(3) 

 

672

Balance at November 21, 2020

$

(285,326)

$

1,536

$

(23,117)

$

(306,907)

Net

Foreign

Unrealized

Currency and

Gain (Loss)

(in thousands)

   

Other(2)

   

on Securities

Derivatives

Total

Balance at August 31, 2019

$

(265,598)

$

591

$

(4,315)

$

(269,322)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications(1)

 

19,040

 

(233)

(3) 

 

 

18,807

Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

45

(3) 

 

389

(3) 

 

434

Balance at November 23, 2019

$

(246,558)

$

403

$

(3,926)

$

(250,081)

(1)Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to Accumulated other comprehensive loss.
(2)Foreign currency is shown net of U.S. tax to account for foreign currency impacts of certain undistributed non-U.S. subsidiaries earnings. Other foreign currency is not shown net of additional U.S. tax as other basis differences of non-U.S. subsidiaries are intended to be permanently reinvested.
(3)Amounts shown are net of taxes/tax benefits.

Note J – Litigation

The Company is involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business, including, but not limited to, several lawsuits containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs are current and former hourly and salaried employees who allege various wage and hour violations and unlawful termination practices. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not currently believe that, either individually or in the aggregate, these matters will result in liabilities material to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Note K – Leases

The Company’s leases primarily relate to its retail stores, distribution centers and vehicles under various non-callable leases. Retail leases typically have initial terms of between one and 20 years, with one to six optional renewal periods of one to five years each. Finance leases for vehicles typically have original terms between one and five years, and finance leases for real estate leases typically have terms of 20 or more years. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

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Lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet are as follows:

    

    

November 21,

    

August 29,

(in thousands)

    

Classification

    

2020

2020

Assets:

 

  

 

  

Operating

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

2,607,019

$

2,581,677

Finance

 

Property and equipment

 

328,153

 

327,006

Total lease assets

 

  

$

2,935,172

$

2,908,683

Liabilities:

 

  

 

  

 

Current:

Operating

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

$

246,332

$

223,846

Finance

 

Accrued expenses and other

 

63,408

 

67,498

Noncurrent:

 

  

 

  

 

Operating

 

Operating lease liabilities, less current portion

 

2,524,008

 

2,501,560

Finance

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

169,513

 

155,855

Total lease liabilities

 

  

$

3,003,261

$

2,948,759

Accumulated amortization related to finance lease assets was $95.0 million as of November 21, 2020 and $107.3 million as of August 29, 2020.

Lease costs for finance and operating leases for the twelve week period ended November 21, 2020 are as follows:

    

    

Twelve Weeks Ended

November 21,

November 23,

(in thousands)

Statement of Income Location

2020

 

2019

Finance lease cost:

 

  

 

  

  

Amortization of lease assets

 

Depreciation and amortization

$

9,319

$

12,656

Interest on lease liabilities

 

Interest expense, net

 

703

 

1,385

Operating lease cost(1)

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

84,103

 

81,799

Total lease cost

$

94,125

$

95,840

(1)Includes short-term leases, variable lease costs and sublease income, which are immaterial.

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The following table summarizes the Company’s lease term and discount rate assumptions:

    

November 21,

 

2020

Weighted-average remaining lease term in years, inclusive of renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised:

 

  

Finance leases – real estate

 

27

Finance leases – vehicles

 

4

Operating leases

 

15

Weighted-average discount rate:

 

  

Finance leases – real estate

 

3.48

%

Finance leases – vehicles

 

2.04

%

Operating leases

 

3.46

%

The following table summarizes the other information related to the Company’s lease liabilities: