Special project costs consist primarily of employee-related costs and other transition and termination costs related to certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring activities. Employee-related costs include severance, retention bonuses, and relocation costs. Severance costs are generally recognized when deemed probable and reasonably estimable, retention bonuses are recognized over the estimated future service period of the impacted employees, and relocation costs are expensed as incurred. Other transition and termination costs include fixed asset-related charges, contract and lease termination costs, professional fees, and other miscellaneous expenditures associated with divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring activities. With the exception of accelerated depreciation, these costs are expensed as incurred. These special project costs are reported in cost of products sold and other special project costs in the Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income and are not allocated to segment profit. The obligation related to employee separation costs is included in other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Divestiture Costs: Total divestiture costs related to the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses are anticipated to be approximately $6.0, consisting primarily of employee-related and lease termination costs, all of which are expected to be cash charges. The majority of these costs were recognized in 2024, and the remainder are expected to be recognized during the first half of 2025. We incurred divestiture costs of $0.3 during the three months ended July 31, 2024, primarily consisting of employee-related costs. Total divestiture costs incurred to date were $5.8, which included $4.2 and $1.6 of employee-related and other transition and termination costs, respectively. The obligation related to severance and retention bonuses was $0.8 and $2.5 at July 31, 2024 and April 30, 2024, respectively.

Furthermore, we identified opportunities to address certain distribution inefficiencies, as a result of the divestiture of certain pet food brands. We anticipate incurring approximately $12.0 of costs related to these efforts, consisting primarily of other transition and termination charges. The majority of these costs are expected to be cash charges and incurred by the end of 2026, with approximately half of the costs expected to be recognized in 2025. We incurred $0.1 of other transition and termination costs during the three months ended July 31, 2024. For additional information, see Note 4: Divestitures.

Integration Costs: Total integration costs related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands are anticipated to be approximately $210.0 and include transaction costs, employee-related costs, and other transition and termination charges, with the majority expected to be cash charges. We anticipate the remaining integration costs will be incurred by the end of 2026 and are expected to be split between employee-related and other transition and termination costs.

Cumulative noncash charges incurred through July 31, 2024, were $8.8 and included $5.6 incurred during the three months ended July 31, 2024, which primarily consisted of accelerated depreciation. Transaction costs primarily reflected equity compensation payouts, legal fees, and fees related to the Bridge Loan that provided committed financing for the acquisition of Hostess Brands. Other transition and termination costs primarily consisted of contract termination charges, accelerated depreciation, and consulting fees. The obligation related to severance and retention bonuses was $23.4 and $28.0 at July 31, 2024 and April 30, 2024, respectively. For additional information, see Note 3: Acquisition.