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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

ý

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005, or

 

 

 

o

 

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 0-25366

 

Western Sizzlin Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

86-0723400

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

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

 

 

 

1338 Plantation Road Roanoke, Virginia

 

24012

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(540) 345-3195

(Registrant’s Telephone Number Including Area Code)

 

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 preceeding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ý  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý

 

As of May 16, 2005, there were 11,908,571 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 



 

Western Sizzlin Corporation

 

Form 10-Q

Three Months Ended March 31, 2005

Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

2

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

3

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity - Three Months Ended March 31, 2005

4

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

5

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6

 

 

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

12

 

 

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

16

 

 

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

16

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

17

 

 

Item 6.    Exhibits

17

 

 

Signatures

18

 

 

Exhibit Index

19

 



 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

 

 

 

March 31,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,243,488

 

$

2,105,751

 

Short-term investments

 

255,717

 

254,654

 

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $408,500 in 2005 and $388,500 in 2004

 

875,106

 

842,269

 

Current installments of notes receivable

 

228,374

 

229,818

 

Other receivables

 

743,789

 

107,896

 

Inventories

 

69,228

 

122,197

 

Prepaid expenses

 

413,272

 

308,087

 

Deferred income taxes

 

449,977

 

400,629

 

Total current assets

 

5,278,951

 

4,371,301

 

Notes receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $81,899 in 2005 and 2004, excluding current installments

 

1,001,806

 

1,035,485

 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,218,486 in 2005 and $5,061,285 in 2004

 

2,342,844

 

2,774,646

 

Franchise royalty contracts, net of accumulated amortization of $7,090,824 in 2005 and $6,933,249 in 2004

 

2,363,608

 

2,521,183

 

Goodwill

 

4,310,200

 

4,310,200

 

Financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $122,818 in 2005 and $118,273 in 2004

 

77,394

 

81,937

 

Deferred income taxes

 

936,284

 

933,226

 

Asset held for sale

 

300,000

 

300,000

 

Other assets

 

5,100

 

368,688

 

 

 

$

16,616,187

 

$

16,696,666

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current installments of long-term debt

 

$

819,755

 

$

839,987

 

Accounts payable

 

946,608

 

831,883

 

Accrued expenses and other

 

1,241,748

 

1,219,147

 

Total current liabilities

 

3,008,111

 

2,891,017

 

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

 

2,581,499

 

2,697,650

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

14,841

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 20,000,000 shares; 11,908,571 issued and outstanding shares in 2005 and 2004

 

119,086

 

119,086

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

8,589,578

 

8,589,578

 

Retained earnings

 

2,317,913

 

2,384,494

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

11,026,577

 

11,093,158

 

 

 

$

16,616,187

 

$

16,696,666

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

2



 

WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Company-operated restaurants

 

$

3,749,611

 

$

3,980,245

 

Franchise operations

 

1,081,822

 

1,137,397

 

Other

 

112,607

 

100,455

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

4,944,040

 

5,218,097

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of company-operated restaurants

 

2,551,623

 

2,722,127

 

Cost of franchise operations

 

494,879

 

483,726

 

Other cost of operations

 

88,474

 

77,753

 

Restaurant operating expenses

 

906,141

 

917,705

 

General and administrative

 

526,269

 

415,067

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

278,269

 

299,875

 

Closed store expenses

 

350,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

5,195,934

 

4,916,253

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

(251,894

)

301,844

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(88,996

)

(100,737

)

Interest income

 

15,797

 

19,754

 

Other

 

222,001

 

40,271

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,802

 

(40,712

)

(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense

 

(103,092

)

261,132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(36,511

)

99,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(66,581

)

$

161,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(.01

)

$

.01

 

Diluted

 

$

(.01

)

$

.01

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

3



 

WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2005

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Total

 

Common Stock

 

 

Shares

 

Dollars

 

 

Balances, December 31, 2004

 

11,908,571

 

$

119,086

 

$

8,589,578

 

$

2,384,494

 

$

11,093,158

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(66,581

)

(66,581

)

Balances, March 31, 2005

 

11,908,571

 

$

119,086

 

$

8,589,578

 

$

2,317,913

 

$

11,026,577

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(66,581

)

$

161,902

 

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

 

116,150

 

137,923

 

Amortization of franchise royalty contracts

 

157,575

 

157,574

 

Amortization of financing costs

 

4,543

 

4,378

 

Loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment

 

349,741

 

484

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

28,414

 

25,000

 

(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes

 

(52,406

)

99,120

 

(Increase) decrease in:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade accounts receivable

 

(61,251

)

5,301

 

Notes receivable

 

35,123

 

14,584

 

Other receivables

 

(635,893

)

(5,618

)

Inventories

 

52,969

 

(9,562

)

Prepaid expenses

 

(105,185

)

(125,231

)

Other assets

 

363,588

 

110,159

 

Increase (decrease) in:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

114,725

 

180,844

 

Accrued expenses

 

22,601

 

4,585

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

(14,841

)

57,500

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

309,272

 

818,943

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short term investments

 

(1,063

)

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(42,089

)

(41,583

)

Proceeds from sale of property

 

8,000

 

3,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(35,152

)

(38,283

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on long-term debt

 

(136,383

)

(130,601

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(136,383

)

(130,601

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

137,737

 

650,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

2,105,751

 

682,730

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

2,243,488

 

$

1,332,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash payments for interest

 

$

90,688

 

$

101,765

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

15,025

 

$

110

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5



 

WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

 

(Unaudited)

 

(1)                               General

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Western Sizzlin Corporation, (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial reporting information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all material reclassifications and adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for each period shown have been included.  Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year because, among other things, the dining habits of the Company’s customers cannot be certain.  The unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes.  For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

(2)                               Stock Options

 

The Company applies the intrinsic-value-based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations including FASB Interpretation No. 44, Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25, issued in March 2000, to account for its fixed-plan stock options. Under this method, compensation expense is recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price.  Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, established accounting and disclosure requirements using a fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation plans.  As allowed by Statement No. 123, the Company has elected to continue to apply the intrinsic-value-based method of accounting described above, and has adopted only the disclosure requirements of Statement No. 123.  Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of SFAS No. 123, amends the disclosure requirements of Statement No.123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based compensation and the effect of the method on reported results.   The following table illustrates the effect on net income if the fair-value-based method had been applied to all outstanding awards in each period:

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

(66,581

)

$

161,902

 

Deduct total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under
fair-value based method for all outstanding and unvested awards, net of tax

 

0

 

(4,007

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma

 

$

(66,581

)

$

157,895

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

(0.01

)

$

0.01

 

Pro forma

 

$

(0.01

)

$

0.01

 

 

6



 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (Statement 123(R)).  This Statement is a revision to Statement 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.  Statement 123(R) requires the measurement of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award.  The cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award.  No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render service.  The Company will adopt Statement 123(R) on January 1, 2006, requiring compensation cost to be recognized as expense for the portion of outstanding unvested awards, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model under Statement 123 for pro forma disclosures.  Although management is currently evaluating the impact of Statement 123(R), the Company does not expect that the adoption of Statement 123(R) will have a material impact on options outstanding at March 31, 2005.  However, Statement 123(R) will likely have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements to the extent options are issued in the future.

 

(3)                               Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The Company conforms to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”  Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment and written down and charged to results of operations when their carrying amount exceeds their estimated fair value. The Company is required to perform impairment tests each year, or between yearly tests in certain circumstances, for goodwill. There can be no assurance that future impairment tests will not result in a charge to earnings.

 

There were no changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2005 or the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Amortizing Intangible Assets

 

Franchise royalty contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over fifteen years, the estimated average life of the franchise agreements.  The Company assesses the recoverability of this intangible asset by determining whether the amortization of the franchise royalty contracts balance over their remaining life can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows of the acquired operation.  The amount of impairment, if any, is measured based on projected discounted future operating cash flows using a discount rate reflecting the Company’s average cost of funds.

 

 

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

Gross
carrying
amount

 

Weighted average
Amortization
Period

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Amortizing intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franchise Royalty Contracts

 

$

9,454,432

 

15.0 yrs.

 

$

7,090,824

 

 

Aggregate amortization expense for amortizing intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $157,575.  Estimated amortization expense is $630,300 per year through December 31, 2008.

 

(4)                               Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the Company.  Stock options for 175,000 and 75,000 shares of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and

 

7



 

2004, respectively, were not included in computing diluted earnings because the effect of these options are anti-dilutive.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

(Loss)
Income
(Numerator)

 

Weighted
Average
Shares
(Denominator)

 

(Loss)
Earnings
Per Share
Amount

 

Three months ended March 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss - basic and diluted

 

$

(66,581

)

11,908,571

 

$

(.01

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income – basic and diluted

 

$

161,902

 

11,908,571

 

$

.01

 

 

(5)                               Closed Store Expense

 

In the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recorded closed store expenses of $350,279, which included impairments of $128,471 associated with the end of a subleased property due to a buyout of the lease and impairments related to the closing of a Company-operated restaurant of $221,808.

 

(6)                               Reportable Segments

 

The Company has defined two reportable segments: Company-operated restaurants and franchising and other.  The Company-operated restaurant segment consists of the operations of all Company-operated restaurants and derives its revenues from restaurant operations.  The franchising and other segment consists primarily of franchise sales and support activities and derives its revenues from sales of franchise and development rights and collection of royalties from franchisees.

 

Generally, the Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on income from operations before income taxes. Capital costs are allocated to segments based upon predetermined rates or actual or estimated resource usage.  Corporate and franchise support expenses of $419,725 and $286,664 for three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, are allocated entirely to franchising and other and are not allocated to Company-operated restaurants.  The reason for the increase in 2005 over 2004 for the three months ended is attributable to 2005 spending in growth projects including consumer research, prototype plans, and consulting fees.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.

 

Reportable segments are business units that provide different products or services.  Separate management of each segment is required because each business unit is subject to different operational issues and strategies.  Through March 31, 2005, all revenues for each business segment were derived from business activities conducted with customers located in the United States.  No single external customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenues.

 

The following table summarizes reportable segment information:

 

8



 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from reportable segments:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

3,749,611

 

$

3,980,245

 

Franchising and other

 

1,194,429

 

1,237,852

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

4,944,040

 

$

5,218,097

 

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

106,093

 

$

126,372

 

Franchising and other

 

172,175

 

173,503

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

278,268

 

$

299,875

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

87,976

 

$

100,517

 

Franchising and other

 

1,020

 

220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest expense

 

$

88,996

 

$

100,737

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

11,613

 

$

18,714

 

Franchising and other

 

4,184

 

1,040

 

Total interest income

 

$

15,797

 

$

19,754

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income tax (benefit) expense:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

(127,061

)

$

57,039

 

Franchising and other

 

23,969

 

204,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total (loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense

 

$

(103,092

)

$

261,132

 

 

 

 

March 31,
2005

 

March 31,
2004

 

Total assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

8,646,411

 

$

8,305,661

 

Franchising and other

 

7,969,776

 

8,862,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

16,616,187

 

$

17,168,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditures for fixed assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants

 

$

37,748

 

$

41,583

 

Franchising and other

 

4,341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total expenditures for fixed assets

 

$

42,089

 

$

41,583

 

 

(7)                               Contingencies

 

As of March 31, 2005, the Company has accrued approximately $520,000 related to matters discussed below.  In the case of all known contingencies, the Company accrues for an obligation, including estimated legal costs, when a loss is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable.  As facts concerning contingencies become known to the Company, the Company reassesses its position with respect to accrued liabilities and other expenses.  These estimates are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the litigation process.

 

9



 

FFCA

 

In January 2001, the Company executed a series of Master Lease Agreements (“Agreements”) relating to certain franchised properties formerly operated by other parties as “Quincy’s” restaurants (“Former Quincy’s”).  Signed copies of these Agreements were required, pursuant to the terms of the document, to be executed by Franchise Financing Corporation of America, now known as General Electric Franchise Finance Corporation, (the “Lessor”), to be legally binding; however, no signed copies were ever returned to the Company.  At the end of January 2002, there remained only 25 Former Quincy’s operated by Company franchisees, the Lessor having taken back, in 2001 and 2002, other restaurants previously operated by Company franchisees.  The Agreements, incomplete for a lack of signature by the Lessor, provided for rental payments from the Company to the Lessor.  However, the cost of any rental payments was passed on to the franchisees operating the properties. During 2002 and 2003, nine of the remaining twenty-five properties were closed and the franchisees discontinued making payments to the Company. On May 15, 2003, the Company sent a letter to the Lessor, providing notice of the Company’s termination of any tenancies at-will on any remaining Former Quincy’s units effective May 31, 2003.  No response has ever been received from Lessor.

 

Following the May 15, 2003 termination of the tenancies at-will, the Company advised five franchisees who continued to operate former Quincy’s units at that time to make any rent payments directly to FFCA.  With regard to eleven other former Quincy’s units, the Company became aware, on or about May 15, 2003, that the franchisees had elected to make their payments directly to FFCA and it is the Company’s understanding that FFCA has accepted these payments.  There can be no assurances that the franchisees have made their payments and will continue to make their lease payments in the future or that they even continue to operate these restaurants.  The Company’s estimate of the total payments that were made directly to the lessor for these sixteen franchisees, or former franchisees, is approximately $2,507,000 through March 31, 2005.  In addition, total payments due by the sixteen franchisees for the period April 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 (the end of the lease term) would be approximately $1,387,000.

 

While the Company disputes any liability for any of the following amounts, to the Company’s knowledge, as of March 31, 2005 a total of approximately $1,810,000 of rental payments had not been made by either the franchisees or by the Company with regard to the above-referenced nine properties.  Rent for these nine properties, for the period of April 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 (the end of the lease term), according to the payment schedule set out in the agreements, would approximate $815,000.

 

The Company intends to vigorously contest any potential claims asserted by General Electric Franchise Finance Corporation.  While the Company has previously engaged in discussions with the Lessor of the properties to resolve any rental payments claimed by the Lessor under the Agreements, it is not possible at this time to determine the outcome of these discussions.

 

Lincoln, Nebraska Lease Claim

 

The Company was a guarantor of a lease agreement in Lincoln, Nebraska, with monthly rentals of approximately $8,200.  The lease agreement, which ran through February 2014, was assigned by the Company to a third party in March 1998 and subsequently by the third party to another party.  When the assignees failed to make recent monthly rental, property tax, and association payments on the premises,  the landlord took possession of the premises, and on or about May 12, 2004, sold the premises to a third party intending to use the premises for its own purposes.  The Company resolved the landlord’s lawsuit filed in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska and received a release from all claims in conjunction with this claim upon payment of $50,000 on April 18, 2005.

 

MBM Claim

 

During 2003, the Company was notified of a claim by MBM Distributors (MBM) involving amounts alleged to be owed by the Company to MBM for product delivered on open account and inventory arising our of a distribution agreement.   In December 2003, MBM filed suit in Federal

 

10



 

District Court in North Carolina seeking damages of an amount in excess of $800,000.  The claim was settled during mediation on April 19, 2005.  The Company agreed to pay MBM $365,000 to resolve this claim.

 

Dickson, Tennessee Claim

 

In 1994, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a restaurant premise located in Dickson, Tennessee.  The lease agreement has an original term of 15 years and requires monthly base rental payments of $6,500 for the final five years of the lease term.  The Company ceased operations of the premises as a restaurant in 1996 and subsequently subleased the property.  The location has been vacant since September 2001.  In June 2004, the Company advised the landlord that the Company was surrendering the property.  The landlord is obligated to, and has advised the Company that he is attempting to find a replacement tenant.

 

On several occasions, the landlord has filed Complaints in the General Sessions Court of Dickson, Tennessee alleging default under the lease agreement and seeking collection of unpaid rent, real estate taxes and attorney’s fees.  The Company has advised the landlord that it has surrendered the premises, and has put the landlord on notice of the landlord’s obligation to mitigate any damages. Following the landlord’s initiation of collection actions in the General Sessions Court of Dickson County, Tennessee, the Company paid rent and related costs for the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October 2004, but continued to assert that it surrendered the property. The landlord has recently filed separate collection actions, again in the General Sessions Court in Dickson County, Tennessee, to collect rent from November 2004 through April 2005, real estate taxes, and attorney’s fees.  The Company has appealed these claims to the court of general record in Dickson County, Tennessee, for trial de novo, and the Company will assert a defense of failure to mitigate damages.  The Company intends to vigorously contest all claims asserted by the landlord.

 

Lawrenceville, Georgia Casualty

 

On July 11, 2004, the building, improvements, and contents located on real property owned by the Company in Lawrenceville, Georgia were completely destroyed by fire.  As a result of this casualty, the Company terminated the lease of the tenant operating the restaurant on these premises.  Insurance proceeds of $591,000 were received in April 2005 and a gain on the casualty of $220,351 has been recorded in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005.  As of March 31, 2005, the insurance proceeds are recorded in other receivables on the consolidated balance sheet.  The land is currently for sale and management does not anticipate any impairment on this property based on current estimates of fair value.  In accordance with the note payable agreement related to the property, the insurance proceeds were remitted to the Company’s lender on April 8, 2005.  The proceeds from the sale of the land will also be remitted to the lender (along with any other necessary payments) to completely retire all outstanding obligations on this property.

 

Chubb Claim

 

In November 2004, Chubb Insurance filed suit in the Circuit Court for the City of Roanoke against Western Sizzlin Stores of Virginia, Inc., seeking recovery of allegedly unpaid premiums in the amount of $97,249.  Western Sizzlin Stores of Virginia, Inc. has filed a grounds of defense and served discovery.  To date, there has been no response.  If and when the requested discovery is answered, the Company will be able to better assess Chubb’s claim.  Western Sizzlin Stores of Virginia, Inc. has never been billed by Chubb and has never had any direct contractual relations with them.

 

Other

 

The Company is involved in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  In the opinion of the management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

11



 

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

The following discussion may include forward-looking statements including anticipated financial performance, business prospects, the future opening of Company-operated and franchised restaurants, anticipated capital expenditures, and other matters.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements.  Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended) provide safe harbors for forward-looking statements.  In order to comply with the terms of these safe harbors, the Company notes that a variety of factors, individually or in the aggregate, could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the following: the ability of the Company or its franchises to obtain suitable locations for restaurant development; consumer spending trends and habits; competition in the restaurant segment with respect to price, service, location, food quality and personnel resources; weather conditions in the Company’s operating regions; laws and government regulations; general business and economic conditions; availability of capital; success of operating initiatives and marketing and promotional efforts; and changes in accounting policies.  In addition, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update those forward-looking statements.

 

The Company operated and franchised a total of 152 restaurants located in 21 states, including 6 Company-owned and 146 franchise restaurants as of March 31, 2005.  The restaurants include a family steakhouse concept and a steak and buffet concept.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $(66,581) compared to net income of $161,902 for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

The following table sets forth for the periods presented the percentage relationship to total revenues of certain items included in the consolidated statements of income and certain restaurant data for the periods presented:

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Company-operated restaurants

 

75.8

%

76.3

%

Franchise royalties and fees

 

21.9

 

21.8

 

Other sales

 

2.3

 

1.9

 

Total revenues

 

100.0

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of company-operated restaurants

 

51.6

 

52.2

 

Cost of franchise operations

 

10.0

 

9.3

 

Other cost of operations

 

1.9

 

1.5

 

Restaurant operating expenses

 

18.3

 

17.6

 

General and administrative

 

10.6

 

8.0

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

5.6

 

5.6

 

Closed store expenses

 

7.1

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

105.1

 

94.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

(5.1

)

5.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

 

3.0

 

(0.8

)

Income (loss) before income tax expense

 

(2.1

)

5.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(.7

)

1.9

 

Net income (loss)

 

(1.4%

)

3.1

%

 

12



 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Restaurant Data

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Company-Operated Restaurants:

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period

 

7

 

7

 

Opened

 

 

 

Closed

 

1

 

 

Franchised

 

 

 

End of period

 

6

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of U.S. Franchised Restaurants:

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period

 

147

 

161

 

Opened

 

 

1

 

Closed

 

(1

)

(3

)

End of period

 

146

 

159

 

 

Revenues

 

Company-operated restaurant revenues decreased $230,600 (5.8%) to $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 as compared to $4.0 million for the comparable three months ended March 31, 2004.  The decrease was largely attributable to the closing of a Company-operated location in February, 2005, totaling approximately $180,000 in lost revenues over prior period.  The additional decrease over the prior year is due to weather-related closings in January and February of 2005.  March 2005 revenues for Company-operated restaurants were approximately 3% over the prior year.  Same store sales for the three months ended March 31, 2005, experienced an overall decrease of 1.3%.

 

Franchise and other revenues decreased 3.5% to $1.2 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2005 as compared to $1.2 million for the comparable three months ended March 31, 2004.  The decrease was attributable to fewer franchised units in the system at March 31, 2005 as compared to March 31, 2004.  System-wide sales for the franchise system for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were $54.0 million compared to $56.7 million for the same period in 2004.  Same store sales for the three months ended March 31, 2005 decreased 0.48% over 2004.

 

Costs and Expenses

 

Cost of Company-operated restaurants, consisting primarily of food, beverage, and employee costs decreased $170,500 (6.3%) to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.  These costs decreased as a percentage of total revenues from 52.2% in 2004 to 51.6% in 2005.   The decrease in the costs were largely attributable to the closing of a Company-operated location in February 2005 and decreases in labor costs by monitoring staffing requirements more effectively.

 

Cost of franchise operations and other cost of operations were $583,000 (11.8%) for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to $561,000 (10.8%) in 2004. The increase was attributable to increased spending in growth projects for 2005 including consumer research of $2,000, prototype plan development of $18,000 and franchise consulting costs of $6,000 associated with evaluation of the Company’s current systems.

 

13



 

Restaurant operating expenses, which include utilities, insurance, maintenance, rent and other such costs of the
Company-operated restaurants, decreased slightly by $12,000 (1.3%) for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the prior year’s comparable period. These expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased to 18.3% in 2005 compared to 17.6% in 2004 for the comparable period.  The decrease was attributable to closing a Company-operated location in February 2005.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, general and administrative expenses were $526,000 and $415,000, respectively and as a percentage of total revenue were 10.6% and 8.0%, respectively. The increase was primarily due to legal fees associated with litigation matters during the first quarter of 2005.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $21,600 (7.2%) less for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the three months ended March 31, 2004.  The decreases were attributable to certain property and equipment becoming fully depreciated.

 

Closed store expenses were $350,000 (7.1%) for the three months ended March 31, 2005.  These expenses included impairment of $128,000 associated with the end of a subleased property due to a buyout of the lease and impairments related to the closing of a Company-operated restaurant of $222,000 in February 2005.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Interest expense decreased $11,700 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the three months ended March 31, 2004 due to a lower average principal outstanding balance.  Interest income fluctuates according to the levels of available cash balances.  The Company employs a cash management system whereby available balances are invested on an overnight basis.

 

Other income increased $182,000 (3.7%) for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the three months ended March 31, 2004 due largely to a gain on the Lawrenceville, Georgia casualty of $220,000.

 

Income tax expense is directly affected by the levels of pretax income. The Company’s effective tax rate was 35.4% and 38.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As is customary in the restaurant industry, the Company has historically operated with negative working capital.  Historically, the Company has leased the majority of its restaurants and through a strategy of controlled growth has financed operations from operating cash flows, the utilization of the Company’s line of credit and long-term debt provided by various lenders.  The Company had a positive working capital of $2.3 million and $1.5 million at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $309,000 in 2005 compared to $819,000 in 2004. During 2004, cash flows provided by operating activities were primarily due to net income of $162,000 and depreciation and amortization of $300,000, decrease in other assets of $110,000 due to sale of an asset, a note payable of $115,000 issued as part of settlement of a litigation matter, increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $128,000 offset by increases in prepaid expenses of $125,000. During 2005, cash flows provided by operations were primarily due to net loss of $(66,581) and depreciation and amortization of $278,000, loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment $349,741, offset by increase in trade accounts receivable and other receivables of $697,000. Net cash used in investing activities of $35,000 in 2005 and $38,000 in 2004, was for capital expenditures related to property and equipment.  Net cash used in financing activities of $136,000 in 2005 and $131,000 in 2004 was for payments on long-term debt.

 

Management believes that the Company’s short-term cash requirements will include possible settlements of certain legal proceedings, a capital contribution related to a planned joint venture

 

14



 

for development of a buffet concept restaurant, and capital improvements to Company-operated restaurants.

 

The Company utilizes its existing line of credit to provide short-term funding in addition to cash from operations.  Management reviews available financing alternatives to provide cash for future expansion, restructure existing debt, and provide additional working capital; however, management believes existing financing will provide adequate funding for cash requirements.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Franchise Revenue

 

Initial franchise fees are recognized when all material services have been substantially performed by the Company and the restaurant has opened for business.  Franchise royalties, which are based on a percentage of monthly sales, are recognized as income on the accrual basis.  Costs associated with franchise operations are recognized on the accrual basis.

 

Accounts and Notes Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

In connection with franchise fees charged to our franchisees, we have accounts and notes receivable outstanding from our franchisees at any given time.  We review outstanding accounts and notes receivable monthly and record allowances for doubtful accounts as deemed appropriate for certain individual franchisees.  In determining the amount of allowance for doubtful accounts to be recorded, we consider the age of the receivable, the financial stability of the franchisee, discussions that may have been had with the franchisee and our judgement as to the overall collectibility of the receivable from that franchisee.

 

Franchise Royalty Contracts

 

Franchise royalty contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over fifteen years, the estimated average life of the franchise agreements.  The Company assesses the recoverability of this intangible asset by determining whether the amortization of the franchise royalty contracts balance over their remaining life can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows of the acquired operation.  The amount of impairment, if any, is measured based on projected discounted future operating cash flows using a discount rate reflecting the Company’s average cost of funds.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets of businesses acquired.  Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually.

 

OTHER

 

Impact of Inflation

 

The impact of inflation on the costs of food and beverage products, labor and real estate can affect the Company’s operations.  Over the past few years, inflation has had a lesser impact on the Company’s operations due to the lower rates of inflation in the nation’s economy and economic conditions in the Company’s market areas.

 

Management believes the Company has historically been able to pass on increased costs through certain selected menu price increases and has offset increased costs by increased productivity and purchasing efficiencies, but there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to do so in the future.  Management anticipates that the average cost of restaurant real estate leases and construction cost could increase in the future which could affect the Company’s ability to expand.  In addition, mandated health care or additional increases in the federal or state minimum wages could significantly increase the Company’s costs of doing business.

 

15



 

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (Statement 123(R)).  This Statement is a revision to Statement 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.  Statement 123(R) requires the measurement of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award.  The cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award.  No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render service.  The Company will adopt Statement 123(R) on January 1, 2006, requiring compensation cost to be recognized as expense for the portion of outstanding unvested awards, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model under Statement 123 for pro forma disclosures.  Although management is currently evaluating the impact of Statement 123(R), the Company does not expect that the adoption of Statement 123(R) will have a material impact on options outstanding at March 31, 2005.  However, Statement 123(R) will likely have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements to the extent options are issued in the future.

 

As of March 31, 2005, there were no other new accounting standards issued but not yet adopted by the Company, which are expected to be applicable to the Company’s consolidated financial position, operating results or financial statement disclosures.

 

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

 

The Company does not engage in derivative financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments.  As of March 31, 2005, the Company’s financial instruments were not exposed to significant market risk due to foreign currency exchange risk.  The Company is exposed to market risk related to interest rates, as well as increased prices in restaurant industry commodities such as beef.

 

The table below provides information about the Company’s debt obligations that are sensitive to changes in interest rates.  The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates.

 

Debt obligations held for other than trading purposes at March 31, 2005 (dollars in thousands):

 

EXPECTED MATURITY DATE

 

 

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Estimated
Fair Value

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Rate

 

$

820

 

$

450

 

$

333

 

$

285

 

$

315

 

$

1,198

 

$

3,401

 

$

3,671

 

Average Interest Rate

 

9.99

%

9.95

%

10.01

%

10.07

%

10.07

%

10.07

%

10.00

%

 

 

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

Senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2005.  Based on this evaluation process, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed and submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Additionally, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

16



 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

 

In addition to those proceedings discussed in the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 1, Part 1, the Company is involved in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  In the opinion of the management, the ultimate disposition of these other matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

See Exhibit Index on page 19.

 

17



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Western Sizzlin Corporation

 

By:

/s/ James C. Verney

 

 

James C. Verney

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robyn B. Mabe

 

 

Robyn B. Mabe

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Date:  May 16, 2005

 

18



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

31.1                           Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

 

31.2                           Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

 

32.1                           Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

32.2         Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

19