Albertsons 2015 Annual Report Download - page 44

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as compared with the cost of fiscal 2014 and 2013 purchases. As a result, Cost of sales decreased by $14 and $6 in fiscal 2014
and 2013, respectively. If the FIFO method had been used to determine cost of inventories for which the LIFO method is used,
the Company’s inventories would have been higher by approximately $211 and $202 as of February 28, 2015 and February 22,
2014, respectively.
Long-Lived Assets
The Company monitors the recoverability of its long-lived assets and tests them for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable. If impairment is identified for
long-lived assets to be held and used, the fair value is compared to the carrying value of the group of assets and an impairment
charge is recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value. Refer to Note 1—Summary of Significant
Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K for further information regarding the Company's monitoring, testing and impairment calculations for its long-lived
assets.
Significant management judgments and estimates are used in accounting for long-lived assets, including, but not limited to, the
determination of useful lives estimates, dependency of identifiable cash flows, projected undiscounted cash flows and fair
values based on current market values or discounted cash flows using Level 3 inputs.
Determinations of geographic markets utilized in grouping assets and the interdependency of cash flows rely on significant
judgments by management. The Company believes that revenue and cash flow dependencies exist among stores within its
markets and operates its stores on that basis. The Company reviews its long-lived asset groupings at least annually or as facts
and circumstances arise during interim periods that indicate a review should occur. The Company conducted reviews during the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 and 2014, and no changes to geographic market asset groupings were made as a result of these
reviews. Due to the highly competitive environment and ongoing business transformation, the Company continues to evaluate
its long-lived asset policy and current asset groups to determine if additional modifications to the estimation approach of the
Company’s long-lived asset groups are necessary. Future changes to the Company’s assessment of its long-lived asset policy
and changes in circumstances, operating results or other events may result in additional asset impairment testing and charges.
The Company estimates fair value based on the Company’s experience and knowledge of the market in which the property is
located and, when necessary, utilizes local real estate brokers. The Company’s estimate of undiscounted cash flows attributable
to the asset groups includes only future cash flows that are directly associated with and that are expected to arise as a direct
result of the use and eventual disposition of the asset group.
To calculate projected future cash flows, the Company utilizes business plans that take into account operational changes,
competitive factors and inflation, among other factors. Using different assumptions or estimates could result in a change in
estimated cash flows and fair values that could produce different results. The composition of cash flows for identifiable cash
flows that are grouped include additional projected cash outflows of operating that asset group as a whole, whereas the
composition of cash flows evaluated at the retail store-level and at the distribution center level include only the cash flows
required to operate those individual long-lived assets.
The Company recognized Property, plant and equipment-related impairment charges of $3, $24 and $251 in fiscal 2015, 2014
and 2013, respectively. During fiscal 2015, no impairment charges were recorded as a result of the Company’s annual
impairment review. Refer to Note 4—Reserves for Closed Properties and Property, Plant and Equipment-related Impairment
Charges in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for
additional information on reserves for closed properties and Property, plant and equipment-related impairment charges.
Reserves for Closed Properties
The Company maintains reserves for costs associated with closures of retail stores, distribution centers and other properties that
are no longer being utilized in current operations. The Company provides for closed property operating lease liabilities using a
discount rate to calculate the present value of the remaining noncancellable lease payments after the closing date, reduced by
estimated subtenant rentals that could be reasonably obtained for the property. The closed property lease liabilities usually are
paid over the remaining lease terms, which generally range from one to 20 years. The Company estimates subtenant rentals and
future cash flows based on the Company’s experience and knowledge of the market in which the closed property is located, the
Company’s previous efforts to dispose of similar assets and existing economic conditions. Adjustments to closed property
reserves primarily relate to changes in subtenant income or actual exit costs differing from original estimates. Adjustments are
made for changes in estimates in the period in which the changes become known.
Owned properties, capital lease properties and the related equipment and leasehold improvements at operating leased properties
that are closed are reduced to their estimated fair value. The Company estimates fair value based on its experience and