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Table of Contents

FORM 10-Q

 


 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

(Mark One)

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

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

Commission File Number 0-16626

 


 

7-Eleven, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Texas   75-1085131

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2711 North Haskell Ave., Dallas, Texas   75204-2906
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code, 214/828-7011

 


 

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 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  x    No  ¨

 

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

 

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

 

112,916,047 shares of common stock, $.0001 par value (the issuer’s only class of common stock), were outstanding as of September 30, 2004.

 



Table of Contents

7-ELEVEN, INC. / INDEX

 

     Page No.

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    

Item 1. Financial Statements:

    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004

   1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings - Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2004

   2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2004

   3

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   4

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   13

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

   14

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   26

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

   26

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

    

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

   27

Item 6. Exhibits

   28

SIGNATURES

   29

 

Exhibit 10(1) — Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2004, among 7-Eleven, Inc., as Borrower, the Financial Institutions Party Hereto as Lenders or Issuing Banks, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as Syndication Agent, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Sole Lead Arranger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 28, 2004)

Exhibit 15 — Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information

   Tab 1

Exhibit 31(1) — Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

   Tab 2

Exhibit 31(2) — Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

   Tab 3

Exhibit 32(1) — Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

   Tab 4

Exhibit 32(2) — Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

   Tab 5

 

(i)


Table of Contents

7-ELEVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

 

     December 31,
2003


    September 30,
2004


 
           (Unaudited)  

ASSETS

                

Current assets

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 190,513     $ 76,376  

Accounts receivable

     151,171       159,999  

Inventories

     279,130       283,805  

Other current assets

     162,847       194,473  
    


 


Total current assets

     783,661       714,653  

Property and equipment

     2,409,466       2,227,653  

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     140,412       174,936  

Other assets

     120,649       101,623  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 3,454,188     $ 3,218,865  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities

                

Trade accounts payable

   $ 270,747     $ 331,964  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     567,888       549,527  

Long-term debt due within one year

     39,828       37,556  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     878,463       919,047  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     418,185       454,526  

Senior Subordinated Notes due to SEJ

     400,000       400,000  

Other long-term debt

     1,035,490       589,634  

Minority interest

     82,028       100,215  

Convertible quarterly income debt securities

     300,000       300,000  

Commitments and contingencies

                

Shareholders’ equity

                

Preferred stock, $.01 par value

     —         —    

Common stock, $.0001 par value

     11       11  

Additional capital

     1,251,428       1,265,917  

Accumulated deficit

     (926,013 )     (828,634 )

Unearned compensation

     (796 )     (549 )

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings

     15,392       18,698  
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     340,022       455,443  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,454,188     $ 3,218,865  
    


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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7-ELEVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 

REVENUES

                                

Merchandise sales

   $ 2,021,146     $ 2,131,171     $ 5,542,647     $ 5,953,278  

Gasoline sales

     896,558       1,100,365       2,536,836       3,118,153  
    


 


 


 


Net sales

     2,917,704       3,231,536       8,079,483       9,071,431  

Other income

     26,153       29,380       71,103       93,448  
    


 


 


 


Total revenues

     2,943,857       3,260,916       8,150,586       9,164,879  

COSTS AND EXPENSES

                                

Merchandise cost of goods sold

     1,304,377       1,360,393       3,589,538       3,827,670  

Gasoline cost of goods sold

     806,390       1,017,591       2,287,283       2,872,307  
    


 


 


 


Total cost of goods sold

     2,110,767       2,377,984       5,876,821       6,699,977  

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses

     755,028       795,403       2,083,942       2,246,430  

Interest expense, net

     20,985       14,781       56,810       50,725  
    


 


 


 


Total costs and expenses

     2,886,780       3,188,168       8,017,573       8,997,132  
    


 


 


 


EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX AND CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

     57,077       72,748       133,013       167,747  

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     21,689       26,922       50,545       63,021  
    


 


 


 


EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

     35,388       45,826       82,468       104,726  

EARNINGS (LOSS) ON DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (net of tax (expense) benefit of ($476), $635, $1,264 and $1,413)

     776       (941 )     (2,063 )     (2,210 )

CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE (net of tax benefit of $6,550, $-, $6,550 and $3,284 )

     (10,244 )     —         (10,244 )     (5,137 )
    


 


 


 


NET EARNINGS

   $ 25,920     $ 44,885     $ 70,161     $ 97,379  
    


 


 


 


NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

                                

BASIC

                                

Earnings from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ .33     $ .41     $ .79     $ .94  

Earnings (loss) on discontinued operations

     .01       (.01 )     (.02 )     (.02 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     (.10 )     —         (.10 )     (.05 )
    


 


 


 


Net earnings

   $ .24     $ .40     $ .67     $ .87  
    


 


 


 


DILUTED

                                

Earnings from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ .29     $ .37     $ .72     $ .86  

Earnings (loss) on discontinued operations

     .01       (.01 )     (.02 )     (.02 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     (.08 )     —         (.08 )     (.04 )
    


 


 


 


Net earnings

   $ .22     $ .36     $ .62     $ .80  
    


 


 


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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7-ELEVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

     Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                

Net earnings

   $ 70,161     $ 97,379  

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

                

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     10,244       5,137  

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     226,616       244,242  

Other amortization

     189       1,179  

Deferred income tax expense

     6,731       14,747  

Noncash interest expense

     460       1,032  

Foreign currency net conversion loss (gain)

     6,156       (2,847 )

Other noncash expense

     3,413       2,151  

Gain on debt redemption

     (10,455 )     —    

Net loss (gain) on property and equipment

     297       (2,141 )

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

     24,437       (9,149 )

Decrease (increase) in inventories

     24,855       (4,675 )

Increase in other assets

     (13,517 )     (16,907 )

Increase in trade accounts payable and other liabilities

     68,536       78,741  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     418,123       408,889  
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                

Payments for purchase of property and equipment

     (190,026 )     (145,003 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     13,178       127,539  

Proceeds from sale of domestic securities

     1,488       2,250  

Restricted cash

     (12,170 )     414  

Acquisition of a business

     —         (44,743 )

Other

     82       30  
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (187,448 )     (59,513 )
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                

Proceeds from commercial paper and revolving credit facilities

     3,975,403       4,319,771  

Payments under commercial paper and revolving credit facilities

     (4,173,699 )     (4,548,030 )

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     400,000       —    

Principal payments under long-term debt agreements

     (394,332 )     (223,599 )

Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks in excess of cash in bank

     10,733       (25,827 )

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

     132       14,172  

Other

     (42 )     —    
    


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (181,805 )     (463,513 )
    


 


NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     48,870       (114,137 )

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR

     126,624       190,513  
    


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 175,494     $ 76,376  
    


 


RELATED DISCLOSURES FOR CASH FLOW REPORTING

                

Interest paid, excluding SFAS No.15 Interest

   $ (52,508 )   $ (53,500 )
    


 


Net income taxes paid

   $ (11,610 )   $ (46,763 )
    


 


Assets obtained by entering into capital leases

   $ 45,934     $ 6,802  
    


 


1998 Yen loan principal and interest payments from restricted cash

   $ (7,359 )   $ (8,825 )
    


 


 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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7-ELEVEN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004

 

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2004, and the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, have been prepared by 7-Eleven, Inc. (the “Company”) without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position at September 30, 2004, and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made. Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current-period presentation. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

 

The reported results of operations include the operations of approximately 5,800 convenience stores that are operated or franchised in the United States and Canada by the Company along with royalty income from worldwide 7-Eleven area licensees. Historically, sales and cost of goods sold of stores operated by franchisees have been included with the operations of Company-operated stores in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Gross profit from franchise stores is split between the Company and its franchisees pursuant to the terms of franchise agreements.

 

The Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – an Interpretation of ARB No. 51,” (“FIN 46”) as of July 1, 2003, and the subsequent revision to FIN 46 (“FIN 46R”) as of January 1, 2004. As defined by FIN 46R, the Company’s franchisees are independent contractors in whom the Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest. Accordingly, the assets, liabilities, equity and results of operations of these stores are consolidated into the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The prior-year presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows has been reclassified to conform to the current-year consolidation presentation (see Note 2). Prior to the issuance of FIN 46, the criteria for consolidation were prescribed by Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements,” and were principally based on control through ownership of voting interests.

 

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, is derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. The notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, include accounting policies and additional information pertinent to an understanding of both the December 31, 2003, balance sheet and the interim financial statements. The information has not changed except as a result of normal transactions in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, and as discussed in the notes herein.

 

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NOTE 2: STORES OPERATED BY FRANCHISEES

 

Approximately 3,400 of the Company’s convenience stores are operated by franchisees as of September 30, 2004. The gross profit of franchise stores is split between the Company and its franchisees. The Company’s share of the gross profit of franchise stores is its ongoing royalty, generally approximating 50% to 52% of the merchandise gross profit of the store. This is charged to the franchisee for the license to use the 7-Eleven operating system and trademarks, for the lease and use of the store premises and equipment, and for ongoing services provided by the Company. These services include financing, bookkeeping, advertising, contractual indemnification, business counseling and other services. The Company also provides financing of a franchisee’s merchandise inventory and other operating items, which is collateralized by the store inventory and the franchisee’s receipts from store operations. The receipts are deposited in a bank account belonging to the Company. The franchisee’s share of the gross profit generally approximates 48% to 50% of the merchandise gross profit of the store, which is used by the franchisee to pay operating expenses of the franchisee’s store. The Company includes the franchisee’s share of gross profit in operating, selling, general and administrative (“OSG&A”) expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Some franchisees pay an advertising fee of .5% to 1.5% of gross profit, depending on the total gross profit of the store.

 

With regard to gasoline sales, the franchise agreements in most instances require the Company to pay the franchisee one cent per gallon sold as compensation for measuring and reporting deliveries of gasoline, conducting pricing surveys of competitors, changing the price displays and cleaning the service areas. The Company has implemented a non-contractual policy under which it pays its franchisees the greater of (a) 1.5 cents per gallon or (b) up to 24% of the gasoline gross profit, depending on the term of the franchise agreement when the store was franchised. The Company can revise this policy at any time but has committed to franchisees who have signed the Company’s new franchise agreement to keep the existing policy in place for 2004. These amounts are also included in OSG&A in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

 

As a result of adopting the provisions of FIN 46 and FIN 46R, the Company changed the presentation of its franchise stores in its condensed consolidated financial statements as of January 1, 2004 (see Note 1). Consolidation of these stores resulted in an after-tax, one-time cumulative effect charge of $5.1 million (net of deferred tax benefit of $3.3 million). This resulted from a change in how the Company is required to recognize franchise fee income for franchise fees financed by the Company. Instead of recognizing these fees in income when the franchisee’s 90-day termination and refund period has passed, the Company recognizes the fees as payments are received from the franchisee (after the 90-day period). Franchise fees that the Company does not finance will continue to be fully recognized in income after the 90-day termination and refund period has expired.

 

The presentation of the condensed consolidated statements of earnings changed slightly as a result of the adoption of FIN 46R. The historically reported franchisee gross profit expense was eliminated and is now included in OSG&A expense. The primary components of OSG&A expense for franchised stores are payroll-related items, insurance and business taxes. The net earnings or loss of franchised stores is included in OSG&A because it represents owner compensation.

 

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Table of Contents

The components of OSG&A expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


   Nine Months Ended
September 30


     2003

   2004

   2003

   2004

Company OSG&A expense

   $  540,985    $  564,349    $ 1,509,419    $ 1,611,583

Franchisee OSG&A expense

     214,043      231,054      574,523      634,847
    

  

  

  

     $ 755,028    $ 795,403    $ 2,083,942    $  2,246,430
    

  

  

  

 

FIN 46 and FIN 46R require the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004, to include, among other things, franchisees’ merchandise inventory and minority interest, which represents the franchisees’ equity in the franchise stores. Merchandise inventory costs are determined by the FIFO method for franchisee-operated stores and for Company-operated stores in Canada and by the LIFO method for Company-operated stores in the United States. The prior-year presentation of franchisees’ merchandise inventory, minority interest, and other assets and liabilities has been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation.

 

NOTE 3: EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The fair value of each option grant under the Company’s 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (“Stock Incentive Plan”) is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following weighted-average assumptions were used for the options granted: expected life of five years, no dividend yield, risk-free interest rate of 2.65% and expected volatility of 64.98% for the options granted in 2003; expected life of three years, no dividend yield, risk-free interest rate of 2.28% and expected volatility of 46.30% for the options granted in 2004.

 

In 2003, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to its Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “Non-Employee Directors Plan”), which provides for the issuance of stock options and restricted stock to the Company’s independent directors. Under the amended Non-Employee Directors Plan, the Company granted stock options in May 2003 and May 2004 at exercise prices that were equal to the fair market values on the grant dates.

 

The Company has recognized no compensation expense for its stock options as it is accounting for both the Stock Incentive Plan and the Non-Employee Directors Plan under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” If compensation expense had been determined based on the fair value at the grant date for awards under this plan consistent with the method prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company’s net earnings and net earnings per common share for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated in the following table (in thousands, except per-share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 

Net earnings as reported

   $ 25,920     $ 44,885     $ 70,161     $ 97,379  

Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net earnings, net of tax

     442       1,147       1,280       2,547  

Less: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair-value-based method for all stock-based awards, net of tax

     (1,679 )     (2,380 )     (4,716 )     (6,603 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net earnings

   $ 24,683     $ 43,652     $ 66,725     $ 93,323  
    


 


 


 


Net earnings per common share as reported

                                

Basic

   $ .24     $ .40     $ .67     $ .87  

Diluted

     .22       .36       .62       .80  

Pro forma net earnings per common share

                                

Basic

   $ .23     $ .39     $ .63     $ .83  

Diluted

     .21       .35       .59       .77  

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 4: COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS

 

The components of comprehensive earnings of the Company for the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 

Net earnings

   $ 25,920     $ 44,885     $ 70,161     $ 97,379  

Other comprehensive earnings:

                                

Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities (net of $91, $24, ($192) and ($49) deferred taxes)

     143       38       (217 )     (76 )

Reclassification adjustments for gains included in net earnings (net of $196, $294, $603 and $881 deferred taxes)

     (306 )     (458 )     (892 )     (1,377 )

Unrealized gain related to interest rate swap (net of $1,201, $3,410 and $348 deferred taxes)

     1,524       —         4,297       386  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     375       8,430       18,206       4,373  
    


 


 


 


Other comprehensive earnings

     1,736       8,010       21,394       3,306  
    


 


 


 


Total comprehensive earnings

   $ 27,656     $ 52,895     $ 91,555     $ 100,685  
    


 


 


 


 

NOTE 5: BENEFIT PLANS

 

Postretirement Benefits – The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (revised December 2003),” (“SFAS No. 132R”) as of December 31, 2003. SFAS No. 132R revises employers’ disclosures about pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. It does not change the measurement or recognition of those plans required by SFAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits” and SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” SFAS No. 132R retains the disclosure requirements contained in the original SFAS No. 132, which it replaces, and also requires additional disclosures about the assets, obligations, cash flows and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans as well as certain interim disclosures.

 

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Information on the Company’s group insurance plan, which provides postretirement medical and dental benefits for all retirees that meet certain criteria, is provided below in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 132R (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                                

Service cost

   $ 221     $ 197     $ 663     $ 590  

Interest cost

     384       330       1,154       991  

Amortization of prior service cost

     97       97       290       290  

Amortization of actuarial gain

     (707 )     (38 )     (2,122 )     (113 )
    


 


 


 


Net periodic benefit (gain) cost

   $ (5 )   $ 586     $ (15 )   $ 1,758  
    


 


 


 


 

The total amount of the Company’s contributions paid, and expected to be paid, under its group insurance plan in 2004 has not changed materially from amounts previously reported.

 

Executive Protection Plan – The Company maintains the Executive Protection Plan (“EPP”), which is a supplementary benefit plan, for certain key employees of the Company. In addition to the disability and life insurance coverage available to all full-time employees of the Company, the EPP participants are eligible for supplemental disability benefits and life insurance coverage before they retire. After they retire, they are eligible for the postretirement income benefits of the EPP. No EPP assets have been accumulated as the Company funds its costs on a cash basis.

 

The following information on the Company’s EPP is provided (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


   Nine Months Ended
September 30


     2003

   2004

   2003

   2004

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                           

Service cost

   $ 200    $ 211    $ 599    $ 634

Interest cost

     313      322      939      966

Amortization of prior service cost

     116      116      349      349

Amortization of actuarial loss

     15      23      44      69
    

  

  

  

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 644    $ 672    $ 1,931    $ 2,018
    

  

  

  

 

NOTE 6: STORE CLOSINGS, ASSET IMPAIRMENT AND ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

The results of operations of certain owned and leased stores are presented as discontinued operations in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” The results of operations of owned stores are presented as discontinued operations beginning in the quarter in which management commits to a plan to close the related store and actively markets the store. The results of operations of a leased store are presented as discontinued operations beginning in the quarter in which the related store ceases operations. The results of operations include related writedowns of stores to estimated net realizable value and accruals for future estimated rent and other expenses in excess of estimated sublease rental income. The Company does not allocate interest expense

 

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to discontinued operations. Amounts related to discontinued operations of prior periods have been reclassified to conform to discontinued operations of the current period in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

 

The stores presented as discontinued operations had total revenues and pretax earnings (losses) as follows for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30


 
     2003

   2004

    2003

    2004

 

Total revenue

   $ 25,407    $ 1,520     $ 95,733     $ 10,106  

Pretax earnings (loss)

     1,252      (1,576 )     (3,327 )     (3,623 )

 

Losses on disposal, which are included in the loss on discontinued operations, were immaterial for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004. Assets held for sale, which are included in other current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, were $13.3 million as of December 31, 2003, and $9.0 million as of September 30, 2004.

 

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NOTE 7: EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Computations for basic and diluted earnings per common share are presented below (in thousands, except per-share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


    Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 

BASIC

                                

Earnings from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 35,388     $ 45,826     $ 82,468     $ 104,726  

Earnings (loss) on discontinued operations

     776       (941 )     (2,063 )     (2,210 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     (10,244 )     —         (10,244 )     (5,137 )
    


 


 


 


Net earnings

   $ 25,920     $ 44,885     $ 70,161     $ 97,379  
    


 


 


 


Weighted-average common shares outstanding

     105,837       112,472       105,201       112,113  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per common share from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ .33     $ .41     $ .79     $ .94  

Earnings (loss) per common share on discontinued operations

     .01       (.01 )     (.02 )     (.02 )

Loss per common share on cumulative effect of accounting change

     (.10 )     —         (.10 )     (.05 )
    


 


 


 


Net earnings per common share

   $ .24     $ .40     $ .67     $ .87  
    


 


 


 


DILUTED

                                

Earnings from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 35,388     $ 45,826     $ 82,468     $ 104,726  

Add interest on convertible quarterly income debt securities, net of tax

     2,594       2,049       7,983       6,283  
    


 


 


 


Earnings from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change plus assumed conversions

   $ 37,982     $ 47,875     $ 90,451     $ 111,009  

Earnings (loss) on discontinued operations

     776       (941 )     (2,063 )     (2,210 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     (10,244 )     —         (10,244 )     (5,137 )
    


 


 


 


Net earnings plus assumed conversions

   $ 28,514     $ 46,934     $ 78,144     $ 103,662  
    


 


 


 


Weighted-average common shares outstanding (Basic)

     105,837       112,472       105,201       112,113  

Add effects of assumed conversions:

                                

Stock options and restricted stock (1)

     1,728       3,122       997       2,887  

Convertible quarterly income debt securities

     20,005       14,422       20,615       14,423  
    


 


 


 


Weighted-average common shares outstanding plus shares from assumed conversions (Diluted)

     127,570       130,016       126,813       129,423  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per common share from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ .29     $ .37     $ .72     $ .86  

Earnings (loss) per common share on discontinued operations

     .01       (.01 )     (.02 )     (.02 )

Loss per common share on cumulative effect of accounting change

     (.08 )     —         (.08 )     (.04 )
    


 


 


 


Net earnings per common share

   $ .22     $ .36     $ .62     $ .80  
    


 


 


 



(1) Stock options for 3.1 million, 1.5 million, 3.9 million and 1.5 million shares of common stock for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively, have exercise prices that are greater than the average market price of the common shares for each respective period. Therefore, these shares have not been included in diluted earnings-per-share calculations.

 

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NOTE 8: VCOM AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Within the first six months of 2004, the Company and two of its Vcom partners mutually agreed to terminate their relationships. One of these partners has been replaced with another check-cashing partner. As a result of these terminations, the Company recognized $10.8 million as other income in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004. These funds were related to the Company’s Vcom agreements with its former partners and were being deferred and recognized as income when earned, as specified by the substance of the applicable agreement. The Company does not recognize proceeds it receives until the applicable revenue recognition criteria have been satisfied. Because the relationships were terminated, recognition of the income was accelerated.

 

On August 16, 2004, the Company entered into a new agreement with a major financial services company. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired the business that operates the ATM network currently deployed in its stores for a purchase price (including acquisition costs) of $44.7 million of cash consideration and the assumption of certain contractual lease commitments and other contracts related to the business.

 

The acquisition is being accounted for under the purchase method. The purchase price includes the acquisition of approximately 4,500 ATM machines (as well as approximately 1,000 warehoused units) and the right to receive all future ATM transaction revenue generated through both these machines and the approximate 1,000 Vcom machines currently owned by the Company. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company has recorded an intangible asset of $35.6 million, which will be amortized over the period expected to generate the future cash flows. Amortization expense of $1.1 million has been recognized in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004.

 

NOTE 9: OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

In May 2002, a financial-services subsidiary of SEJ made a personal loan of 227.5 million Japanese yen (approximately $1.75 million) to one of the Company’s non-employee directors. The term of the loan, which is secured by certain shares of stock owned by the director and bears interest at 2.6%, was extended from July 2004 to December 2004.

 

NOTE 10: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Effective October 8, 2004, the Company terminated certain lease facilities that had provided financing in 1999 and 2001. The financings had been used to construct new stores and acquire operating convenience stores from third parties not affiliated with the Company. After a store was constructed or acquired, the trusts leased the store to the Company for an amount equal to the interest expense on the applicable store’s construction costs or, in the case of operating convenience stores, the acquisition price of the land, building, motor fuels equipment and other fixtures, at LIBOR plus 2.1% for the 1999 facility and LIBOR plus 1.1% for the 2001 facility. The base lease terms under these facilities were set to expire in February 2005 and July 2006, respectively.

 

The assets, liabilities, non-controlling interests and results of activities of these trusts were consolidated into the Company’s financial statements effective July 1, 2003, as required by FIN 46 (see Note 1). Using available corporate funds, the Company paid $175.6 million to the trusts’ senior lenders to retire the loans and $12.7 million to the non-controlling interests of the trusts as a return on investment. The termination of the lease facilities is expected to result in a

 

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pretax charge of approximately $1.2 million to the consolidated statements of earnings in the fourth quarter of 2004. The charge represents the recognition of the remaining deferred loan costs as well as miscellaneous expenses associated with the closing. With the termination of the lease facilities, title to all assets previously owned by the trusts was transferred to the Company.

 

Effective October 26, 2004, the Company entered into a $200 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders. The entire facility may be used to support the issuance of letters of credit or may be drawn for general corporate purposes. This revolving credit facility expires in October 2009. The previously existing $200 million revolving credit facility was terminated concurrent with the execution of the new Credit Agreement, and there were no outstanding borrowings under that facility as of September 30, 2004. The margin applicable to borrowings and letters of credit has been reduced by 0.25% per annum under the new Credit Agreement.

 

NOTE 11: RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In January 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS No. 106-1 (“FSP 106-1”), “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” This was in response to a new law (the “Act”) regarding prescription drug benefits under Medicare (“Medicare Part D”) as well as a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. Currently, SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” requires that changes in relevant law be considered in the current measurement of postretirement benefit costs. Certain accounting issues related to the federal subsidy remain unclear and significant uncertainties may exist that impair a plan sponsor’s ability to evaluate the direct effects of the Act and the effects on plan participants’ behavior and healthcare costs. Due to these uncertainties, FSP 106-1 provided plan sponsors with an opportunity to elect to defer recognizing the effects of the Act in accounting for its retiree health care benefit plans under SFAS No. 106 until authoritative guidance from the FASB on the accounting for the federal subsidy is issued and clarification of other uncertainties is resolved. The Company elected to defer recognition while evaluating the Act and the pending issuance of authoritative guidance and their effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosure. Therefore, any measures of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation or the net periodic postretirement benefit cost do not reflect the effects of the Act, and pending authoritative guidance could require the Company to change previously reported information.

 

In May 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS No. 106-2 (“FSP 106-2”), which supersedes FSP 106-1. FSP 106-2 applies only to sponsors of defined benefit postretirement health care plans for which (a) the employer has concluded that prescription drug benefits available under the plan are actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D and thus qualify for the subsidy under the Act and (b) the expected subsidy will offset or reduce the employer’s share of the cost of postretirement prescription drug coverage provided by the plan. In general, FSP 106-2 concludes that plan sponsors should follow SFAS No. 106 (see Note 5) in accounting for the effects of the Act. Specifically, the effect of the subsidy on benefits attributable to past service cost should be accounted for as an actuarial experience gain and the effect of the subsidy on future costs should be accounted for as a reduction in service cost. The Company adopted the provisions of FSP 106-2 effective July 1, 2004, but is continuing to defer recognition pending issuance of authoritative guidance and its effect, if any, on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosure. Based on the current design of its postretirement health care plan, the Company believes that it is unlikely that the prescription drug benefits available under its plan will be actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D, and the Company will therefore not qualify for the subsidy under the Act.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and

        Shareholders of 7-Eleven, Inc.:

 

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of 7-Eleven, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2004, and the related condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2004. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated January 29, 2004, which included an explanatory paragraph for the adoption of newly issued accounting standards in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and an explanatory paragraph referencing Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements whereby the Company revised the accounting for prepaid phone card sales in its December 31, 2001 and 2002 consolidated financial statements, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

 

Dallas, Texas

October 28, 2004

 

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Item 2.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This report includes certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement in this report that is not a statement of historical fact may be deemed to be a forward-looking statement. We often use these types of statements when discussing our plans and strategies, our anticipation of revenues from designated markets and statements regarding the development of our businesses, the markets for our services and products, our anticipated capital expenditures, operations, support systems, changes in regulatory requirements and other statements contained in this report regarding matters that are not historical facts. When used in this report, the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate” and other similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that: (i) we have correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting us or the extent of their likely impact; (ii) the publicly available information with respect to these factors on which our analysis is based is complete or accurate; (iii) our analysis is correct; or (iv) our strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. We do not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

OVERVIEW

 

We are the world’s largest operator, franchisor and licensor of convenience stores with approximately 27,000 stores worldwide. We derive our revenues principally from retail sales of merchandise and gasoline from company- and franchisee-operated stores. We also receive income from monthly royalties based on sales at our licensed stores, which are predominantly international. Our primary expenses consist of cost of goods; operating, selling, general and administrative (“OSG&A”) expense; interest expense and income taxes.

 

We seek to meet the needs of convenience customers and maintain a leadership position in the convenience store industry through leveraging our scale, technology, people and widely recognized brand. In 2004, we are continuing to focus on the implementation of our key growth initiatives, including our model market process and fresh food sales, to improve our operating performance.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Franchisees

 

We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – an Interpretation of ARB No. 51,” (“FIN 46”) as of July 1, 2003, and the subsequent revision to FIN 46 (“FIN 46R”) as of January 1, 2004. Prior to the adoption of FIN 46R, we included merchandise sales and cost of goods sold from stores operated by franchisees with the results of stores we operate in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. As a result of adopting the provisions of FIN 46 and FIN 46R, we have included the assets, liabilities, equity and results of operations of stores operated by franchisees in our condensed consolidated financial statements. The franchisees are independent

 

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contractors in whom we are deemed to have a controlling financial interest, as defined by FIN 46R. Adoption of FIN 46R resulted in an after-tax, one-time cumulative effect charge of $5.1 million (net of deferred tax benefit of $3.3 million). This resulted from a change in how we are required to recognize franchise fee income when we finance the initial franchise fee. Instead of recognizing these fees in income when the franchisee’s 90-day termination and refund period has passed, we recognize the fees as payments are received from the franchisee (after the 90-day period). Franchise fees that we do not finance will continue to be fully recognized in income after the 90-day termination and refund period has expired.

 

As a result of adopting the provisions of FIN 46R, the presentation of the condensed consolidated statements of earnings has changed slightly. The historically reported franchisee gross profit expense has been eliminated and is now included in OSG&A expense. The primary components of OSG&A expense for franchised stores are payroll-related items, insurance and business taxes. The net earnings or loss of franchised stores is included in OSG&A because it represents owner compensation.

 

FIN 46 and FIN 46R require our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004, to include, among other things, franchisees’ merchandise inventory and minority interest, which represents the franchisees’ equity in the franchise stores. Merchandise inventory costs are determined by the FIFO method for franchisee-operated stores and for company-operated stores in Canada and by the LIFO method for company-operated stores in the United States. See Notes 1 and 2 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The prior-year presentation of franchisees’ merchandise inventory, minority interest, and other assets and liabilities has been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation.

 

COMPARISON OF THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 TO THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

 

We have reclassified certain prior-year amounts to conform to the current-year presentation for all years discussed. See Notes 1, 2 and 6 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Net Sales

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

 

Net Sales (in millions):

                

Merchandise sales

   $ 2,021.1     $ 2,131.2  

Gasoline sales

     896.6       1,100.3  
    


 


Total net sales

   $ 2,917.7     $ 3,231.5  

U.S. same-store merchandise sales growth

     3.0 %     4.2 %

Gasoline gallons sold (in millions)

     547.9       576.5  

Gasoline gallon sales growth per store

     3.3 %     4.0 %

Average retail price of gasoline per gallon

   $ 1.64     $ 1.91  

 

Merchandise sales for the three months ended September 30, 2004, increased $110.0 million, or 5.4%, over 2003. U.S. same-store merchandise sales increased 4.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2004, on top of a 3.0% increase for the third quarter of 2003. Key contributors to the merchandise sales growth in 2004 were increases in hot and cold beverages, fresh foods, beer and cigarettes.

 

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Gasoline sales for the three months ended September 30, 2004, increased $203.8 million, or 22.7%, over 2003. The increase in sales was due to a 27-cent increase in the average retail price of gasoline as well as a 4.0% increase in per-store gallons sold in the third quarter of 2004.

 

Gross Profit

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

 

Gross Profit (in millions):

                

Merchandise gross profit

   $ 716.8     $ 770.8  

Gasoline gross profit

     90.2       82.8  
    


 


Total gross profit

   $ 807.0     $ 853.6  

Merchandise gross profit margin

     35.46 %     36.17 %

Merchandise gross profit growth per store

     3.0 %     6.3 %

Gasoline gross profit margin cents per gallon

     16.5       14.4  

Gasoline gross profit growth per store

     33.7 %     (9.3 )%

 

Merchandise gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $770.8 million, an increase of $54.0 million, or 7.5%, over 2003. Gross profit margin in 2004 was 36.17% compared to 35.46% in 2003. This increase of 71 basis points was primarily due to an increase in commissions largely resulting from our August 2004 acquisition of the business that operates the ATM network currently deployed in our stores. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Gasoline gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $82.8 million, compared to $90.2 million in 2003. Expressed as cents-per-gallon, our gasoline margin was 14.4 cents for 2004 compared to 16.5 cents for 2003. This decrease in gasoline margin was the primary driver in our lower gasoline gross profit in 2004. In an environment of rising wholesale costs for most of the quarter, our gasoline margin was solid when compared to exceptionally strong results in the prior-year quarter.

 

Other Income

 

Other income consists primarily of area license royalties, Vcom fees and initial franchise fees. Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $29.4 million, an increase of $3.2 million, or 12.3%, from $26.2 million in 2003. Included in this increase was $2.2 million related to initial franchisee fees, which resulted from more franchised stores and higher average franchise fees during the quarter ended September 30, 2004.

 

OSG&A Expense

 

The components of OSG&A expense are as follows (in millions):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30


     2003

   2004

Company OSG&A expense

   $ 541.0    $ 564.3

Franchisee OSG&A expense

     214.0      231.1
    

  

     $ 755.0    $ 795.4
    

  

 

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The ratio of OSG&A to revenues was 24.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2004, compared to 25.6% for the third quarter of 2003.

 

Company OSG&A Expense. The primary components of Company OSG&A are store labor, occupancy (including depreciation) and corporate-related expenses. Company OSG&A for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $564.3 million, an increase of $23.3 million, or 4.3%, from $541.0 million for the third quarter of 2003. We attribute this increase primarily to costs associated with higher occupancy expenses, compensation expense, ATM incremental costs and credit card processing fees, which were partially offset by lower advertising expenses and environmental charges. The decrease in advertising expenses in 2004 was related to the provision in our new franchise agreement whereby some franchisees now pay an advertising fee based on a percentage of gross profit of their store. Included in Company OSG&A in the three months ended September 30, 2004, was a $1.7 million currency conversion gain. Company OSG&A in the same period for 2003 included a $9.9 million loss related to currency conversion. In addition, the three months ended September 30, 2003, included a gain of $10.5 million on debt extinguishment related to the retirement of the senior subordinated debentures. See “—Other Issues—Franchise Agreement Renewal,” “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Notes 2 and 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Franchisee OSG&A Expense. Franchisee OSG&A expense for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $231.1 million, an increase of $17.1 million, or 8.0%, from $214.0 million in 2003, due to compensation expense associated with higher earnings in franchised stores and an increase in the number of stores operated by franchisees.

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Net interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $14.8 million, a decrease of $6.2 million, or 29.6%, from $21.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The decrease is primarily due to the retirement of the Cityplace Term Loan in April 2004 and the expiration of our interest-rate swaps in February 2004.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2004, was $26.9 million, an increase of $5.2 million, or 24.0%, from $21.7 million in 2003 due to higher earnings in 2004 as well as an increase in the effective tax rate, which more than offset the tax benefit resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations related to the 2000 tax-year. Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2004, including the tax benefit, was 37.0% as compared to 38.0% in the prior-year quarter.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

Discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2004, resulted in a loss of $941,000 (net of $635,000 income tax benefit) compared to a gain of $776,000 (net of $476,000 income tax expense) for the same period in 2003. These stores had total revenues of $1.5 million and $25.4 million, a pretax operating loss of $1.6 million and a pretax operating gain of $1.3 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

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Net Earnings

 

Net earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2004, were $44.9 million or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to $25.9 million, or $0.22 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2003.

 

COMPARISON OF NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 TO NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

 

We have reclassified certain prior-year amounts to conform to the current-year presentation for all years discussed. See Notes 1, 2 and 6 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Net Sales

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

 

Net Sales (in millions):

                

Merchandise sales

   $ 5,542.7     $ 5,953.3  

Gasoline sales

     2,536.8       3,118.1  
    


 


Total net sales

   $ 8,079.5     $ 9,071.4  

U.S. same-store merchandise sales growth

     2.6 %     5.7 %

Gasoline gallons sold (in millions)

     1,575.9       1,681.8  

Gasoline gallon sales growth per store

     4.1 %     5.1 %

Average retail price of gasoline per gallon

   $ 1.61     $ 1.85  

 

Merchandise sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, increased $410.6 million, or 7.4%, over 2003. U.S. same-store merchandise sales increased 5.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, on top of a 2.6% increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Key contributors to the merchandise sales growth in 2004 were increases in hot and cold beverages, fresh foods, beer and cigarettes.

 

Gasoline sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, increased $581.3 million, or 22.9%, over 2003. The increased sales were due to a 24-cent increase in the average retail price of gasoline as well as an increase of 100 basis points in per-store gallons sold in 2004.

 

Total sales of merchandise and gasoline for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, benefited less than one-half of one percent from the extra day due to leap year. Both the same-store merchandise comparison and the average-gallons-sold-per-store comparison are calculated on an average-per-store-day basis and are unaffected by the extra day.

 

Gross Profit

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2004

 

Gross Profit (in millions):

                

Merchandise gross profit

   $ 1,953.1     $ 2,125.6  

Gasoline gross profit

     249.6       245.8  
    


 


Total gross profit

   $ 2,202.7     $ 2,371.4  

Merchandise gross profit margin

     35.24 %     35.70 %

Merchandise gross profit growth per store

     2.6 %     7.0 %

Gasoline gross profit margin cents per gallon

     15.8       14.6  

Gasoline gross profit growth per store

     32.6 %     (3.0 )%

 

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Merchandise gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $2,125.6 million, an increase of $172.5 million, or 8.8%, over 2003. Gross profit margin in 2004 was 35.70% compared to 35.24% in 2003. This increase of 46 basis points was primarily due to an increase in commissions largely resulting from our August 2004 acquisition of the business that operates the ATM network currently deployed in our stores and, to a lesser extent, changes in product mix. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Gasoline gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $245.8 million, compared to $249.6 million in 2003. Expressed as cents-per-gallon, our gasoline margin was 14.6 cents for 2004 compared to 15.8 cents for 2003. The decrease in gross profit primarily resulted from lower margins, which were largely offset by volume growth. In an environment of rising wholesale costs for most of the nine-month period, our gasoline margin was solid when compared to exceptionally strong results in the prior year.

 

Other Income

 

Other income consists primarily of area license royalties, Vcom fees and initial franchise fees. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $93.4 million, an increase of $22.3 million, or 31.4%, from $71.1 million in 2003. Included in this increase was $6.2 million related to the mutual termination of our Vcom check-cashing relationship with Certegy, $4.6 million related to the mutually agreed-upon termination of our Vcom e-shopping relationship with Cyphermint, $2.4 million of increased franchise fees, $1.9 million of increased Vcom fee income and $5.5 million in royalty income and fees from our area licenses (which included the $2.0 million licensing fee from Beijing). See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

OSG&A Expense

 

The components of OSG&A expense are as follows (in millions):

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30


     2003

   2004

Company OSG&A expense

   $ 1,509.4    $ 1,611.6

Franchisee OSG&A expense

     574.5      634.8
    

  

     $ 2,083.9    $ 2,246.4
    

  

 

The ratio of total OSG&A to revenues was 24.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to 25.6% for the same period in 2003.

 

Company OSG&A Expense. The primary components of Company OSG&A are store labor, occupancy (including depreciation) and corporate-related expenses. Company OSG&A for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $1,611.6 million, an increase of $102.2 million, or 6.8%, from $1,509.4 million for 2003. We attribute this increase primarily to costs associated with higher occupancy expenses, compensation expense, incremental ATM costs and credit card processing fees, which were partially offset by lower advertising expenses and environmental charges. The decrease in advertising expenses in 2004 was related to the provision in our new franchise agreement whereby some franchisees now pay an advertising fee based on a percentage of the gross profit of their store. Included in 2004 Company OSG&A

 

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was a $2.8 million currency-conversion gain. Company OSG&A for 2003 included a $3.6 million gain related to life insurance proceeds and a $6.2 million loss related to currency conversion. In addition, the three months ended September 30, 2003, included a gain of $10.5 million on debt extinguishment related to the retirement of the senior subordinated debentures. See “—Other Issues—Franchise Agreement Renewal,” “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Notes 2 and 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2004, we completed the sale of our headquarters tower, parking garages and related facilities (“Cityplace”) to an outside party for $124.0 million. We subsequently leased back the portion of the tower and parking garages that we currently occupy for a term of three years with an option to extend for an additional seven years. Concurrent with the Cityplace sale closing, we retired the loan associated with the construction of Cityplace (“Cityplace Term Loan”). We recorded a pretax gain from the sale of $17.5 million, which is being amortized over the three-year life of the lease. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we recognized $2.4 million of this gain in Company OSG&A. Also included in Company OSG&A in 2004 is a $7.5 million fee associated with the prepayment of the Cityplace Term Loan. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Franchisee OSG&A Expense. Franchisee OSG&A expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $634.8 million, an increase of $60.3 million, or 10.5%, from $574.5 million in 2003, due to compensation expense associated with higher earnings in franchised stores and an increase in the number of stores operated by franchisees.

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Net interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $50.7 million, a decrease of $6.1 million, or 10.7%, from the $56.8 million for the same period in 2003. Included in the change were decreases primarily resulting from the retirement of the Cityplace Term Loan in April 2004, the expiration of our interest-rate swaps in February 2004 and lower average borrowings under our commercial paper facility. These decreases were largely offset by the addition of debt related to real estate leases held by the trusts that we consolidated as a result of the adoption of FIN 46 in July 2003.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $63.0 million, an increase of $12.5 million, or 24.7%, from $50.5 million in 2003. The increase was due to higher earnings in 2004 as well as an increase in the effective tax rate, which more than offset the tax benefit resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations related to the 2000 tax-year. Our effective tax rate, including the tax benefit, was 37.6% and 38.0% for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

Discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, resulted in a loss of $2.2 million (net of $1.4 million income tax benefit) compared to a loss of $2.1 million (net of $1.3 million income tax benefit) for the same period in 2003. These stores had total revenues of $10.1 million and $95.7 million and pretax operating losses of $3.6 million and $3.3 million for 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

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Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

 

Effective January 1, 2004, we adopted FIN 46R, which resulted in a one-time charge of $5.1 million, net of deferred tax benefit, related to the cumulative effect of the accounting change resulting from the consolidation of our franchisees. See “—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Franchisees” and Note 2 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Net Earnings

 

Net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $97.4 million or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to $70.2 million, or $0.62 per diluted share in 2003.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

We obtain the majority of our working capital from these sources:

 

  Cash flows generated from our operating activities;

 

  A $650 million commercial paper facility, guaranteed by Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd. (“IY”);

 

  Borrowings of up to $200 million under our revolving credit facility.

 

We believe that operating activities and available working capital sources will provide sufficient liquidity in 2004 to fund our operating costs, capital expenditures and debt service. In addition, we intend to continue accessing the leasing market to finance our new stores and certain equipment.

 

Due to our purchase of an ATM business in August 2004, we anticipate that our capital expenditures for 2004, excluding lease commitments, will be within a range of $360 million to $390 million. Anticipated capital expenditures for 2004 are projected to include the areas of new stores, information technology and maintenance. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2004, we retired the Cityplace Term Loan using a combination of proceeds from the sale of Cityplace and available corporate funds. The total retirement of the Cityplace Term Loan was $214.1 million. This was comprised of the outstanding loan balance, accrued interest and fees associated with prepayment of the loan of $7.5 million. The carrying amount of the property and equipment (and associated net rental amounts) that was sold was $104.7 million at the time of closing.

 

Effective October 8, 2004, we terminated certain lease facilities that had provided financing in 1999 and 2001. We had used the financings to construct new stores and acquire operating convenience stores from third parties not affiliated with us. After a store was constructed or acquired, the trusts leased the store to us for an amount equal to the interest expense on the applicable store’s construction costs or, in the case of operating convenience stores, the acquisition price of the land, building, motor fuels equipment and other fixtures, at LIBOR plus 2.1% for the 1999 facility and LIBOR plus 1.1% for the 2001 facility. The base lease terms under these facilities were set to expire in February 2005 and July 2006, respectively.

 

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We consolidated the assets, liabilities, non-controlling interests and results of activities of these trusts into our financial statements effective July 1, 2003, as required by FIN 46. Using available corporate funds, we paid $175.6 million to the trusts’ senior lenders to retire the loans and $12.7 million to the non-controlling interests of the trusts as a return on investment. The termination of the lease facilities is expected to result in a pretax charge of approximately $1.2 million to our consolidated statements of earnings in the fourth quarter of 2004. The charge represents the recognition of the remaining deferred loan costs as well as miscellaneous expenses associated with the closing. With the termination of the lease facilities, title to all assets previously owned by the trusts was transferred to us. See Note 10 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Effective October 26, 2004, the Company entered into a $200 million unsecured revolving credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders. The entire facility may be used to support the issuance of letters of credit or may be drawn for general corporate purposes. This revolving credit facility expires in October 2009. The previously existing $200 million revolving credit facility was terminated concurrent with the execution of the new Credit Agreement, and there were no outstanding borrowings under that facility as of September 30, 2004. The margin applicable to borrowings and letters of credit has been reduced by 0.25% per annum under the new Credit Agreement.

 

Vcom® and Purchase of ATM Business

 

Vcom is our proprietary self-service kiosk solution to meet consumer demands for convenient and continuously available financial services. We believe that Vcom represents a significant market opportunity to offer financial and other services to a segment of our current and future customers. We believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity because of the demographics of our existing customer base and the large number of our conveniently located stores. Through exclusive agreements with third-party service providers, we offer traditional ATM services, money orders and money transfer services, check-cashing, prepaid phone cards, auto insurance, stored value cards and bill payment services.

 

As of September 30, 2004, we had approximately 1,000 Vcom kiosks in 7-Eleven stores. In exchange for our granting strategic partners exclusive rights to offer their services or products on our Vcom kiosks, the partners are generally required to pay us a percentage of the transaction fees and, in certain circumstances, placement fees and/or expense reimbursement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we received a total of $11.0 million in placement fees from two of our Vcom partners, of which $8.9 million is included in deferred income on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. We recognized in income $6.2 million that was previously classified as deferred income due to the mutual termination of the Vcom check-cashing relationship with Certegy. We entered into an agreement with CashWorks, Inc., a subsidiary of General Electric Company, to provide check-cashing services to Vcom and transitioned that business to them in early April 2004. In addition, we recognized $4.6 million that was also previously classified as deferred income related to the mutually agreed-upon termination of our e-shopping relationship with Cyphermint. At the end of the first quarter, we entered into an arrangement with a commercial bank that provides the cash in the Vcom kiosks. The fee charged to us by the commercial bank for our use of its cash is reflected in our Company OSG&A expense.

 

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On August 16, 2004, we entered into a new agreement with a major financial services company. Under the terms of the agreement, we acquired the business that operates the ATM network currently deployed in our stores for a purchase price (including acquisition costs) of $44.7 million of cash consideration and the assumption of certain contractual lease commitments and other contracts related to the business. In connection with this acquisition, we entered into an agreement with a commercial lender to provide cash in the ATM machines, similar to the Vcom agreement referred to above.

 

The acquisition is being accounted for under the purchase method. The purchase price includes the acquisition of approximately 4,500 ATM machines (as well as approximately 1,000 warehoused units) and the right to receive all future ATM transaction revenue generated through both these machines and the approximate 1,000 Vcom machines that we currently own. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, we have recorded an intangible asset of $35.6 million, which will be amortized over the period expected to generate the future cash flows. Amortization expense of $1.1 million has been recognized in the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004. See Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $408.9 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $418.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. We attribute this decrease of $9.2 million primarily to changes in working capital items, partially offset by increased earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Changes in working capital items were primarily due to the timing of the receipt of vendor allowances.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, was $59.5 million, a decrease of $127.9 million from net cash used in investing activities of $187.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The primary drivers of the decrease were net proceeds of $122.4 million related to the sale of Cityplace in April 2004 and a decrease of $45.0 million in capital expenditures for 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase of $44.7 million related to the August 2004 acquisition of the ATM business from a financial services company. “See—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Vcom and Purchase of ATM Business” and Note 8 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $463.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, an increase of $281.7 million from $181.8 million for the same period in 2003. Included in this change was $400 million of proceeds from issuance of long-term debt in the nine months ended September 30, 2003, which was from borrowings under the SEJ Notes. Net payments under commercial paper and revolving credit facilities totaled $228.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to net payments of $198.3 million for the same period in 2003, an increase of $30.0 million. Principal payments under long-term debt agreements were $223.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to $394.3 million for the same period in 2003, a decrease of $170.7 million.

 

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OTHER ISSUES

 

Expansion into China

 

During the first quarter of 2004, we finalized an area license agreement for Beijing and the surrounding area in the People’s Republic of China with an approved joint venture group. The joint venture is comprised of Seven-Eleven Japan, Co., Ltd., Beijing ShouLian (Capital Allied) Commercial Group Co., Ltd., and China National Sugar & Alcohol Group Corporation. The first 7-Eleven store opened in Beijing on April 15, 2004, with a total of seven stores opened during the second and third quarters of 2004. As part of this agreement, we recognized $2.0 million in other income during the second quarter of 2004.

 

Environmental

 

At September 30, 2004, our estimated undiscounted liability for our environmental costs related to remedial action at existing and previously operated gasoline storage sites and other operating and nonoperating properties where releases of regulated substances have been detected was $37.7 million. We anticipate that substantially all of the future remediation costs for detected releases of regulated substances at remediation sites of which we are aware, as of September 30, 2004, will primarily be incurred within the next five to six years. The estimated liability could change within the near future for several reasons, including (a) revisions to or the creation of governmental requirements, (b) existing remediation projects become fully defined, resulting in revised estimates of the cost to finish the projects and (c) unplanned future failures of underground gasoline storage tank systems.

 

Under state reimbursement programs, we are eligible to be reimbursed for a portion of future remediation costs, as well as a portion of remediation costs previously incurred. At September 30, 2004, we had recorded a net receivable of $50.4 million for the estimated state reimbursements, of which $30.4 million relates to remediation costs incurred in the State of California. In assessing the probability of state reimbursements, we take into consideration each state’s fund balance, revenue sources, existing claim backlog and claim ranking. As a result of these assessments, the recorded receivable amounts at September 30, 2004, are net of allowances of $11.7 million. The estimated future state reimbursement amounts could change within the near future as governmental requirements and state reimbursement programs continue to be revised or extended.

 

While we cannot be certain of the timing of our receipt of state reimbursement funds, based on our experience we expect to receive the majority of state reimbursement funds within one to three years after our payment of eligible remediation expenses. This time period assumes that the state administrative procedures for processing such reimbursements have not changed.

 

The exception to our assumption regarding the timing of when we will receive state reimbursement funds is in California. The California reimbursement program separates claims into four classes: A, B, C and D. Our claims are in class D. As a result of the growing backlog of class D claims and its impact on our estimate of when we will receive funds from the California reimbursement program, we review and periodically adjust the portion of the

 

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receivable to reflect our best estimate of the fair value of our California remediation receivable. We have recorded the portion of the receivable that relates to remediation activities that have already been completed at a discount rate of approximately 4.89%. Thus, in addition to the allowance discussed above, the recorded receivable amount is also net of a discount of $19.1 million.

 

Any revisions to our estimated future remediation expenditures and related state reimbursement amounts could have a material impact on our operations and financial position.

 

Franchise Agreement Renewal

 

We have approximately 3,400 franchised stores. We developed a new franchise agreement to replace agreements that expired beginning in December 2003. The new agreement includes a revision to the gross profit split between us and the franchisees and provides for an advertising fee to be paid by the franchisees to us. In addition, the new agreement includes a requirement for a minimum purchase percentage of franchisees’ total purchases from our recommended vendors. The agreement is designed to better align our franchisees and execute our business model with our business strategies involving fresh foods, combined distribution and differentiation and to provide an opportunity to increase profits for our franchisees and us.

 

A committee of our franchisees evaluated the economic impact of the new agreement on our franchisees according to a procedure set forth in a 1998 court-approved settlement agreement. On February 23, 2004, this committee advised us that the new agreement satisfied the economic impact standard contained in the settlement agreement. Therefore, all franchisees are being offered the chance to sign the new agreement during 2004. As of October 31, 2004, franchisees operating 3,187 stores had signed the new franchise agreement.

 

We do not anticipate that the terms of the new agreement will have a material adverse impact on either our franchisees or us.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In January 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 106-1 (“FSP 106-1”), “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” This was in response to a new law regarding prescription drug benefits under Medicare (“Medicare Part D”) as well as a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that provide a benefit that is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. Currently, SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” requires that changes in relevant law be considered in current measurement of postretirement benefit costs. Certain accounting issues related to the federal subsidy remain unclear and significant uncertainties may exist that impair a plan sponsor’s ability to evaluate the direct effects of the new law and the effects on plan participants’ behavior and healthcare costs. Due to these uncertainties, FSP 106-1 provides plan sponsors with an opportunity to elect to defer recognizing the effects of the new law in accounting for its retiree health care benefit plans under SFAS No. 106 and to provide related disclosures until authoritative guidance from the FASB on the accounting for the federal subsidy is issued and clarification of other uncertainties is resolved. We have elected to defer recognition while evaluating the new law and the pending issuance of authoritative guidance and their effect, if any, on our financial position, results of operations and financial statement

 

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disclosure. Therefore, any measures of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation or the net periodic postretirement benefit cost do not reflect the effects of the new law, and pending authoritative guidance could require us to change previously reported information.

 

In May 2004, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 106-2 (“FSP 106-2”), which supersedes FSP 106-1. FSP 106-2 applies only to sponsors of defined benefit postretirement health care plans for which (a) the employer has concluded that prescription drug benefits available under the plan are actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D and thus qualify for the subsidy under the Act and (b) the expected subsidy will offset or reduce the employer’s share of the cost of postretirement prescription drug coverage provided by the plan. In general, the FSP concludes that plan sponsors should follow SFAS No. 106 (see Note 5) in accounting for the effects of the Act. Specifically, the effect of the subsidy on benefits attributable to past service cost should be accounted for as an actuarial experience gain and the effect of the subsidy on future costs should be accounted for as a reduction in service cost. We adopted the provisions of FSP 106-2 effective July 1, 2004, but we are continuing to defer recognition pending issuance of authoritative guidance and its effect, if any, on our financial position, results of operations and financial statement disclosure. Based on the current design of our postretirement health care plan, we believe that it is unlikely that the prescription drug benefits available under our plan will be actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D, and we will therefore not qualify for the subsidy under the Act.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” above.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain a system of controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements and other disclosures included in this report, as well as to safeguard assets from unauthorized use or disposition. As of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures with the assistance and participation of other members of management. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective for gathering, analyzing and disclosing the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

As we have previously disclosed (see our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004), in June 2004 we were served with a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey for Warren County by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Administrator of the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund. The lawsuit relates to a former chemical manufacturing facility known as the Great Meadows Plant. We purchased the Great Meadows Plant in 1978 and closed the Plant in 1988, but we still own the site.

 

The lawsuit seeks (i) compensation for damages to New Jersey’s natural resources allegedly caused by conditions at the Great Meadows Plant; (ii) a declaratory judgment for all future cleanup and removal costs and damages; and (iii) reimbursement of the plaintiffs’ costs and fees. Based on a previous settlement agreement that we reached with a large chemical company that formerly owned the site, we expect that the former owner will pay the majority of the costs associated with the new lawsuit. During October 2004, we engaged in preliminary settlement discussions with representatives of the State of New Jersey, and we are continuing to pursue a settlement of this matter.

 

In addition, as we have previously disclosed (see our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004), we have reached an agreement to settle an environmental proceeding in the State of California. In general, the settlement will require us (i) to make certain payments to the State of California and entities designated by the state and (ii) to replace certain underground storage tanks and make related improvements over the next several years. We have fully accrued the amount of these payments. We are incorporating the costs associated with replacing the underground storage tanks and related improvements into our future capital spending plans. The settlement documents were filed with the court during October 2004, and we anticipate that the court will sign the final order dismissing the proceeding during November 2004.

 

In addition, we are a defendant in three separate lawsuits that allege contamination of drinking water by methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive. In each case, the plaintiffs are suing multiple manufacturers and promoters of MTBE, refiners and suppliers of gasoline, and multiple owners and operators of gas facilities for losses arising from the alleged contamination of public water supplies with MTBE. We are alleged to have contributed to the MTBE contamination as a result of unauthorized release(s) from one or more of our gasoline stores in each of the three lawsuits.

 

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has consolidated each of these cases with similar cases filed throughout the country into one multidistrict litigation court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. At this juncture, there has been little information developed about the plaintiffs’ legal theories or the facts that would be relevant to analyzing our potential exposure. We have no reason to believe, based on factual and legal circumstances currently known to us, that these lawsuits will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.

 

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There are no other reportable suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, other than as previously reported.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

1.

  Exhibit 10(1) - Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2004, among 7-Eleven, Inc., as Borrower, the Financial Institutions Party Hereto as Lenders or Issuing Banks, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as Syndication Agent, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Sole Lead Arranger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 28, 2004)
2.   Exhibit 15 — Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information. Letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
3.   Exhibit 31(1) — Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
4.   Exhibit 31(2) — Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
5.   Exhibit 32(1) — Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
6.   Exhibit 32(2) — Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.

 

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

    7-ELEVEN, INC.
            (Registrant)
Date: November 5, 2004  

/s/ James W. Keyes


    (Officer)
    James W. Keyes
    President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 5, 2004  

/s/ Edward W. Moneypenny


    (Principal Financial Officer)
    Edward W. Moneypenny
    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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