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Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-7323

 

 

FRISCH’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

OHIO    31-0523213

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2800 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio    45206
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code    513-961-2660

Not Applicable

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

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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  ¨    NO  ¨

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

 

Large Accelerated Filer  ¨

   Accelerated Filer  x

Non-accelerated Filer  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

   Smaller reporting company  ¨

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

There were 5,067,999 shares outstanding of the issuer’s no par common stock, as of September 20, 2010.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  
       Item 1.    Financial Statements:   
      Consolidated Statement of Earnings      3
      Consolidated Balance Sheet      4 - 5
      Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity      6
      Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows      7
      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements      8 - 26
       Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    27 - 35
       Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    36
       Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    36

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

  
       Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    37
       Item 1A.    Risk Factors    37 - 39
       Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    40
       Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities    40
       Item 4.    (Removed and Reserved)    40
       Item 5.    Other Information    40
       Item 6.    Exhibits    40 - 43

SIGNATURE

   44


Table of Contents

 

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Earnings

(unaudited)

 

     Sixteen Weeks Ended  
     September 21,
2010
    September 22,
2009
 

Sales

   $ 92,925,834      $ 88,982,102   

Cost of sales

    

Food and paper

     31,979,503        30,273,962   

Payroll and related

     30,765,103        29,704,600   

Other operating costs

     21,262,727        20,017,149   
                
     84,007,333        79,995,711   

Gross profit

     8,918,501        8,986,391   

Administrative and advertising

     4,812,330        4,454,390   

Franchise fees and other revenue

     (399,263     (392,259
                

Operating profit

     4,505,434        4,924,260   

Interest expense

     474,155        531,595   
                

Earnings before income taxes

     4,031,279        4,392,665   

Income taxes

     1,290,000        1,405,000   
                

Net Earnings

   $ 2,741,279      $ 2,987,665   
                

Earnings per share (EPS) of common stock:

    

Basic net earnings per share

   $ .54      $ .59   
                

Diluted net earnings per share

   $ .54      $ .57   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

 

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheet

ASSETS

 

     September 21,
2010
     June 1,
2010
 
     (unaudited)         

Current Assets

     

Cash and equivalents

   $ 1,024,885       $ 647,342   

Trade and other receivables

     1,599,143         1,533,799   

Inventories

     5,662,223         5,958,540   

Prepaid expenses and sundry deposits

     1,552,582         760,032   

Prepaid and deferred income taxes

     1,172,848         1,489,119   
                 

Total current assets

     11,011,681         10,388,832   

Property and Equipment

     

Land and improvements

     78,178,040         77,458,187   

Buildings

     103,329,390         101,478,173   

Equipment and fixtures

     97,803,241         96,531,395   

Leasehold improvements and buildings on leased land

     25,343,576         23,267,910   

Capitalized leases

     2,330,279         2,158,899   

Construction in progress

     5,269,433         5,855,478   
                 
     312,253,959         306,750,042   

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     141,596,122         138,051,284   
                 

Net property and equipment

     170,657,837         168,698,758   

Other Assets

     

Goodwill

     740,644         740,644   

Other intangible assets

     691,393         718,357   

Investments in land

     923,435         923,435   

Property held for sale

     2,846,051         2,758,998   

Deferred income taxes

     2,950,940         3,162,703   

Other

     1,755,403         1,860,919   
                 

Total other assets

     9,907,866         10,165,056   
                 

Total assets

   $ 191,577,384       $ 189,252,646   
                 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     September 21,
2010
    June 1,
2010
 
     (unaudited)        

Current Liabilities

    

Long-term obligations due within one year

    

Long-term debt

   $ 7,845,146      $ 7,517,765   

Obligations under capitalized leases

     251,541        240,893   

Self insurance

     618,302        528,220   

Accounts payable

     11,749,649        10,557,636   

Accrued expenses

     9,521,649        9,641,305   

Income taxes

     120,327        54,972   
                

Total current liabilities

     30,106,614        28,540,791   

Long-Term Obligations

    

Long-term debt

     22,444,074        23,795,046   

Obligations under capitalized leases

     1,096,550        994,151   

Self insurance

     1,089,278        1,040,778   

Underfunded pension obligation

     11,334,493        10,747,629   

Deferred compensation and other

     3,934,630        4,040,235   
                

Total long-term obligations

     39,899,025        40,617,839   

Commitments

    

Shareholders’ Equity

    

Capital stock

    

Preferred stock - authorized, 3,000,000 shares without par value; none issued

     —          —     

Common stock - authorized, 12,000,000 shares without par value; issued, 7,586,764 and 7,585,764 shares - stated value - $1

     7,586,764        7,585,764   

Additional contributed capital

     65,359,647        65,222,878   
                
     72,946,411        72,808,642   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (7,611,343     (7,856,427

Retained earnings

     91,025,017        89,701,652   
                
     83,413,674        81,845,225   

Less cost of treasury stock (2,518,765 and 2,525,174 shares)

     (34,788,340     (34,559,851
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     121,571,745        120,094,016   
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 191,577,384      $ 189,252,646   
                

 

5


Table of Contents

 

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity

Sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009

(unaudited)

 

     Common stock
at $1 per share -
Shares and
amount
     Additional
contributed
capital
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
    Retained
earnings
    Treasury
shares
    Total  

Balance at June 2, 2009

   $ 7,582,347       $ 64,721,328      $ (6,634,422   $ 82,306,488      $ (33,598,597   $ 114,377,144   

Net earnings for sixteen weeks

     —           —          —          2,987,665        —          2,987,665   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     —           —          176,859        —          —          176,859   

Stock options exercised - new shares issued

     3,417         80,449        —          —          —          83,866   

Stock options exercised - treasury shares re-issued

     —           (3,480     —          —          13,540        10,060   

Excess tax benefit from stock - based compensation

     —           6,144        —          —          —          6,144   

Other treasury shares re-issued

     —           40,557        —          —          34,216        74,773   

Stock-based compensation expense

     —           80,531        —          —          —          80,531   

Cash dividends - $.25 per share

     —           —          —          (1,275,932     —          (1,275,932
                                                 

Balance at September 22, 2009

     7,585,764         64,925,529        (6,457,563     84,018,221        (33,550,841     116,521,110   

Net earnings for thirty-six weeks

     —           —          —          7,011,266        —          7,011,266   

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     —           —          (1,398,864     —          —          (1,398,864

Stock-based compensation expense

     —           275,030        —          —          —          275,030   

Treasury shares acquired

     —           —          —          —          (1,009,010     (1,009,010

Employee stock purchase plan

     —           22,319        —          —          —          22,319   

Cash dividends - $.26 per share

     —           —          —          (1,327,835     —          (1,327,835
                                                 

Balance at June 1, 2010

     7,585,764         65,222,878        (7,856,427     89,701,652        (34,559,851     120,094,016   

Net earnings for sixteen weeks

     —           —          —          2,741,279        —          2,741,279   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     —           —          245,084        —          —          245,084   

Stock options exercised - new shares issued

     1,000         9,375        —          —          —          10,375   

Stock options exercised - treasury shares re-issued

     —           (191,865     —          —          855,444        663,579   

Excess tax benefit from stock - based compensation

     —           208,223        —          —          —          208,223   

Treasury shares acquired

     —           —          —          —          (1,118,171     (1,118,171

Other treasury shares re-issued

     —           16,308        —          —          34,238        50,546   

Stock based compensation expense

     —           94,728        —          —          —          94,728   

Cash dividends - $.28 per share

     —           —          —          (1,417,914     —          (1,417,914
                                                 

Balance at September 21, 2010

   $ 7,586,764       $ 65,359,647      ($ 7,611,343   $ 91,025,017      ($ 34,788,340   $ 121,571,745   
                                                 
                        Sixteen weeks
ended
September 21,
2010
    Thirty-six
weeks ended
June 1,

2010
    Sixteen weeks
ended
September 22,
2009
 
Comprehensive income:              

Net earnings for the period

          $ 2,741,279      $ 7,011,266      $ 2,987,665   

Change in defined benefit pension plans, net of tax

            245,084        (1,398,864     176,859   
                               

Comprehensive income

          $ 2,986,363      $ 5,612,402      $ 3,164,524   
                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

6


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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009

(unaudited)

 

     September 21,
2010
    September 22,
2009
 

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Net earnings

   $ 2,741,279      $ 2,987,665   

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     4,561,760        4,220,961   

Loss on disposition of assets, net of abandonments

     42,669        71,705   

Stock based compensation expense

     94,728        80,531   

Net periodic pension cost

     1,026,204        810,827   

Contributions to pension plans

     (50,000     (125,000
                
     8,416,640        8,046,689   

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (65,344     144,098   

Inventories

     296,317        1,005,885   

Prepaid expenses and sundry deposits

     (792,550     (813,074

Other assets

     29,274        25,580   

Prepaid, accrued and deferred income taxes

     675,355        (212,603

Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation

     (208,222     (6,144

Accounts payable

     431,976        1,917,915   

Accrued expenses

     (119,656     (3,009,232

Self insured obligations

     138,582        117,216   

Deferred compensation and other liabilities

     (123,605     300,928   
                
     262,127        (529,431
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     8,678,767        7,517,258   

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:

    

Additions to property and equipment

     (6,513,235     (7,508,829

Proceeds from disposition of property

     34,540        14,415   

Change in other assets

     102,720        (291,207
                

Net cash (used in) investing activities

     (6,375,975     (7,785,621

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:

    

Proceeds from borrowings

     1,000,000        4,000,000   

Payment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     (2,081,924     (2,228,597

Cash dividends paid

     (657,877     (612,014

Proceeds from stock options exercised—new shares issued

     10,375        83,866   

Proceeds from stock options exercised—treasury shares re-issued

     663,579        10,060   

Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation

     208,223        6,144   

Treasury shares acquired

     (1,118,171     —     

Treasury shares re-issued

     50,546        74,772   
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (1,925,249     1,334,231   
                

Net increase in cash and equivalents

     377,543        1,065,868   

Cash and equivalents at beginning of year

     647,342        898,779   
                

Cash and equivalents at end of quarter

   $ 1,024,885      $ 1,964,647   
                

Supplemental disclosures:

    

Interest paid

   $ 445,307      $ 479,741   

Income taxes paid

     614,645        1,674,803   

Income tax refunds received

     —          57,201   

Dividends declared but not paid

     760,037        663,918   

Lease transactions capitalized

     171,380        —     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

 

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows:

Description of the Business

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Company) is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name “Frisch’s Big Boy.” The Company also operates grill buffet style restaurants under the name “Golden Corral” pursuant to certain licensing agreements. All 93 Big Boy restaurants operated by the Company as of September 21, 2010 are located in various regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. All 35 Golden Corral restaurants operated by the Company as of September 21, 2010 are located primarily in the greater metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Company owns the trademark “Frisch’s” and has exclusive, irrevocable ownership of the rights to the “Big Boy” trademark, trade name and service marks in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in most of Ohio and Tennessee. All of the Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants also offer “drive-thru” service. The Company also licenses Big Boy restaurants to other operators, currently in certain parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In addition, the Company operates a commissary and food manufacturing plant near its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio that services all Big Boy restaurants operated by the Company, and is available to supply restaurants licensed to others.

Consolidation Practices

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all of the Company’s accounts, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (US GAAP). Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, these interim financial statements include all adjustments (all of which were normal and recurring) necessary for a fair presentation of all periods presented.

Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 week (364 days) or 53 week (371 days) period ending on the Tuesday nearest to the last day of May. The first quarter of each fiscal year contains sixteen weeks, while the last three quarters each normally contain twelve weeks. Every fifth or sixth year, the additional week needed to make a 53 week year is added to the fourth quarter, resulting in a thirteen week fourth quarter. The current fiscal year will end on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 (fiscal year 2011), a period of 52 weeks. The year ended June 1, 2010 (fiscal year 2010) was also a 52 week year.

Use of Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to use estimates and assumptions to measure certain items that affect the amounts reported. These judgments are based on knowledge and experience about past and current events, and assumptions about future events. Although management believes its estimates are reasonable and adequate, future events affecting them may differ markedly from current judgment. Significant estimates and assumptions are used to measure self-insurance liabilities, deferred executive compensation obligations, net periodic pension cost and future pension obligations, the carrying values of property held for sale and for long-lived assets including property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets.

 

8


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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

 

Management considers the following accounting policies to be critical accounting policies because the application of estimates to these policies requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments: self-insurance liabilities, net periodic pension cost and future pension obligations, and the carrying values of long-lived assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Funds in transit from credit card processors are classified as cash. Highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered as cash equivalents.

Receivables

Trade notes and accounts receivable are valued on the reserve method. The reserve balance was $30,000 as of September 21, 2010 and June 1, 2010. The reserve is monitored for adequacy based on historical collection patterns and write-offs, and current credit risks.

Inventories

Inventories, comprised principally of food items, are valued at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market.

Accounting for Rebates

Cash consideration received from certain food vendors is treated as a reduction of cost of sales and is recognized in the same periods in which the rebates are earned.

Leases

Minimum scheduled lease payments on operating leases, including escalating rental payments, are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Under certain circumstances, the lease term used to calculate straight-line rent expense includes option periods that have yet to be legally exercised. Contingent rentals, typically based on a percentage of restaurant sales in excess of a fixed amount, are expensed as incurred. Rent expense is also recognized during that part of the lease term when no rent is paid to the landlord, often referred to as a “rent holiday,” that generally occurs while a restaurant is being constructed on leased land. The Company does not typically receive leasehold incentives from landlords.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided principally on the straight-line method over the estimated service lives, which range from ten to 25 years for new buildings or components thereof and five to ten years for equipment. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the lease term. Property betterments are capitalized while the cost of maintenance and repairs is expensed as incurred.

The cost of land not yet in service is included in “Construction in progress” if construction has begun or if construction is likely within the next twelve months. As of September 21, 2010, two new Big Boy restaurant buildings were under construction on land owned by the Company, with estimated costs of approximately $1,197,000 (not already included in construction in progress) remaining to complete the projects. In addition, the cost of one other tract of land for Big Boy development is included in construction in progress as of September 21, 2010, as near term construction is expected. Other contracts that had been entered before September 21, 2010 to acquire sites for future development were cancellable at the Company’s sole discretion while due diligence is pursued under the inspection period provisions of the contracts.

Interest on borrowings is capitalized during active construction periods of new restaurants. Capitalized interest for the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009 was $44,000 and $35,000, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

 

The cost of land on which construction is not likely within the next twelve months is classified as “Investments in land” in the consolidated balance sheet. Surplus property that is no longer needed by the Company, including two former Big Boy restaurants (one that ceased operations near the end of fiscal year 2008 and the other near the end of fiscal year 2009), is classified as “Property held for sale” in the consolidated balance sheet. All of the surplus property is stated at net realizable value. Market values are generally determined by opinions of value provided by real estate brokers and/or management’s judgment.

Costs incurred during the application development stage of computer software that is developed or obtained for internal use is capitalized, while the costs of the preliminary project stage are expensed as incurred, along with certain other costs such as training. Capitalized computer software is amortized on the straight-line method over the estimated service lives, which range from three to ten years. Software assets are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable over the remaining service life.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Management considers a history of cash flow losses on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis to be its primary indicator of potential impairment of long-lived assets. Carrying values are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the property. When undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than carrying values, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the amount by which the carrying values exceed the greater of the net present value of the future cash flow stream or a floor value. Floor values are generally determined by opinions of value provided by real estate brokers and/or management’s judgment as developed through its experience in disposing of unprofitable restaurant properties.

No impairment losses were recognized during either of the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 or September 22, 2009.

Restaurant Closing Costs

Any liabilities associated with exit or disposal activities are recognized only when the liabilities are incurred, rather than upon the commitment to an exit or disposal plan. Conditional obligations that meet the definition of an asset retirement obligation are currently recognized if fair value is reasonably estimable.

The carrying values of closed restaurant properties that are held for sale are reduced to estimated net realizable value in accordance with the accounting policy for impairment of long-lived assets (see above). When leased restaurant properties are closed, a provision is made equal to the present value of remaining non-cancellable lease payments after the closing date, net of estimated subtenant income. The carrying values of leasehold improvements are also reduced in accordance with the accounting policy for impairment of long-lived assets.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Including Licensing Agreements

As of September 21, 2010 and June 1, 2010, the carrying amount of goodwill that was acquired in prior years amounted to $741,000. Acquired goodwill is tested annually for impairment and whenever an impairment indicator arises. Impairment losses are recorded if impairment is determined to have occurred.

Other intangible assets consist principally of initial franchise fees paid for each new Golden Corral restaurant the Company has opened (finite useful lives are subject to amortization) or has the right to open (yet to be determined useful lives are not subject to amortization). Amortization of the $40,000 initial fee begins when the restaurant opens and is computed using the straight-line method over the 15 year term of each individual restaurant’s franchise agreement. The fees are ratably amortized at $2,667 per year per restaurant, which equates to $85,000 per year in each of the next five years. Amortization was $26,000 in each of the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

 

Other intangible assets are tested annually for impairment and whenever an impairment indicator arises.

An analysis of other intangible assets follows:

 

     September 21,
2010
    June 1,
2010
 
     (in thousands)  

Golden Corral initial franchise fees subject to amortization

   $ 1,280      $ 1,280   

Less accumulated amortization

     (691     (665
                

Carrying amount of Golden Corral initial franchise fees subject to amortization

     589        615   

Current portion of Golden Corral initial franchise fees subject to amortization

     (85     (85

Golden Corral fees not yet subject to amortization

     135        135   
                

Golden Corral — total intangible assets

     639        665   

Other intangible assets subject to amortization — net

     18        19   

Other intangible assets not yet subject to amortization

     34        34   
                

Total other intangible assets

   $ 691      $ 718   
                

The franchise agreements with Golden Corral Franchising Systems, Inc. also require the Company to pay fees based on defined gross sales. These costs are charged as incurred to other operating costs.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from restaurant operations is recognized upon the sale of products as they are sold to customers. All sales revenue is recorded on a net basis, which excludes sales tax collected from being reported as sales revenue and sales tax remitted from being reported as a cost. Revenue from the sale of commissary products to Big Boy restaurants licensed to other operators is recognized upon shipment of product. Revenue from franchise fees, based on certain percentages of sales volumes generated in Big Boy restaurants licensed to other operators, is recorded on the accrual method as earned. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when the fees are deemed fully earned and non-refundable, which ordinarily occurs upon the execution of the license agreement, in consideration of the Company’s services to that time.

Revenue from the sale of gift cards is deferred for recognition until the gift card is redeemed by the cardholder, or when the probability is remote that the cardholder will demand full performance by the Company and there is no legal obligation to remit the value of the unredeemed card under applicable state escheatment statutes.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

 

New Store Opening Costs

New store opening costs consist of new employee training costs, the cost of a team to coordinate the opening and the cost of certain replaceable items such as uniforms and china. New store opening costs are charged as incurred to other operating costs:

 

     Sixteen weeks ended  
     September 21,
2010
     September 22,
2009
 
     (in thousands)  

Big Boy

   $ 548       $ 14   

Golden Corral

     —           —     
                 
   $ 548       $ 14   
                 

Benefit Plans

The Company maintains two qualified defined benefit pension plans: the Pension Plan for Operating Unit Hourly Employees (the Hourly Pension Plan) and the Pension Plan for Managers, Office and Commissary Employees (the Salaried Pension Plan). (See Note E — Pension Plans.) Both plans have been amended to comply with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) and the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (HEART Act), and have been further amended for technical corrections promulgated by the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (WRERA) and guidance on the HEART Act provided by the Internal Revenue Service.

Benefits under both plans are based on years-of-service and other factors. The Company’s funding policy is to contribute at least the minimum annual amount sufficient to satisfy legal funding requirements plus additional discretionary tax deductible amounts that may be deemed advisable, even when no minimum funding is required. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service-to-date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

The Hourly Pension Plan covers hourly restaurant employees. The Hourly Pension Plan was amended on July 1, 2009 to freeze all future accruals for credited service after August 31, 2009. The Hourly Pension Plan had previously been closed to all hourly paid restaurant employees that were hired after December 31, 1998. Hourly restaurant employees hired January 1, 1999 or after have been eligible to participate in the Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. Hourly Employees 401(k) Savings Plan (the Hourly Savings Plan), a defined contribution plan that provided a 40 percent match by the Company on the first ten percent of earnings deferred by the participants. The Company’s match had vested on a scale based on length of service that reached 100 percent after four years of service. The Hourly Savings Plan was amended effective September 1, 2009 to provide for immediate vesting along with a 100 percent match from the Company on the first three percent of earnings deferred by participants. All hourly restaurant employees are now eligible to participate in the Hourly Savings Plan, regardless of when hired.

The Salaried Pension Plan covers restaurant management, office and commissary employees (salaried employees). The Salaried Pension Plan was amended on July 1, 2009 to close entry into the plan to employees hired after June 30, 2009. Salaried employees hired before June 30, 2009 continue to participate in the Salaried Pension Plan and are credited with normal benefits for years of service. Salaried employees are automatically enrolled, unless otherwise elected, in the Frisch’s Employee 401(k) Savings Plan (the Salaried Savings Plan), a defined contribution plan. The Salaried Savings Plan provides immediate vesting under two different Company matching schedules. Employees who are participants in the Salaried Pension Plan (hired before June 30, 2009) may continue to defer up to 25 percent of their compensation under the Salaried Savings Plan, with the Company contributing a ten percent match on the first eighteen percent deferred. Beginning September 1, 2009, salaried employees hired after June 30, 2009 receive a 100 percent match from the Company on the first three percent of compensation deferred.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

The executive officers of the Company and certain other “highly compensated employees” (HCE’s) are disqualified from participation in the Salaried Savings Plan. A non-qualified savings plan — Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) — provides a means by which the HCE’s may continue to defer a portion of their compensation. FESP allows deferrals of up to 25 percent of a participant’s compensation into a choice of mutual funds or common stock of the Company. Matching contributions are added to the first ten percent of salary deferred at a rate of ten percent for deferrals into mutual funds, while a fifteen percent match is added to deferrals into the Company’s common stock. HCE’s hired after June 30, 2009 receive a 100 percent matching contribution from the Company on the first three percent of compensation deferred into either mutual funds or common stock.

Although the Company owns the mutual funds of the FESP until the retirement of the participants, the funds are invested at the direction of the participants. FESP assets are the principal component of “Other long-term assets” in the consolidated balance sheet. The common stock is a “phantom investment” that may be paid in actual shares or in cash upon retirement of the participant. The FESP liability to the participants is included in “Deferred compensation and other” long term obligations in the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company also maintains an unfunded non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) that was originally intended to provide a supplemental retirement benefit to the HCE’s whose benefits under the Salaried Pension Plan were reduced when their compensation exceeded Internal Revenue Code imposed limitations or when elective salary deferrals were made to FESP. The SERP was amended effective January 1, 2000 to exclude any benefit accruals after December 31, 1999 (interest continues to accrue) and to close entry into the plan by any HCE hired after December 31, 1999.

Effective January 1, 2000, a Nondeferred Cash Balance Plan was adopted to provide comparable retirement type benefits to the HCE’s in lieu of future accruals under the Salaried Pension Plan and the SERP. The comparable benefit amount is determined each year and converted to a lump sum (reported as W-2 compensation) from which taxes are withheld and the net amount is deposited into the HCE’s individual trust account (see Note E — Pension Plans).

Self-Insurance

The Company self-insures its Ohio workers’ compensation claims up to $300,000 per claim. Initial self-insurance liabilities are accrued based on prior claims history, including an amount developed for incurred but unreported claims. Management performs a comprehensive review each fiscal quarter and adjusts the self-insurance liabilities as deemed appropriate based on claims experience, which continues to benefit from active claims management and post accident drug testing. Self-insurance liabilities were increased $93,000 (charged to expense) and $209,000 respectively, in the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are provided on all items included in the consolidated statement of earnings regardless of when such items are reported for tax purposes, which gives rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes in all periods presented has been computed based on management’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the entire year.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently examining the Company’s tax return for the year ending June 2, 2009 (fiscal year 2009). The most recent examinations concluded by the IRS covered the tax years that ended May 30, 2004 and June 2, 2002, both of which were no-change audits.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accounts receivable, investments and long-term debt. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents together with accounts payable and accounts receivable approximate their fair value based on their short-term character. The fair value of long-term debt is disclosed in Note B — Long-Term Debt.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

The Company does not use the fair value option for reporting financial assets and financial liabilities and therefore does not report unrealized gains and losses in the consolidated statement of earnings. Fair value measurements for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are used primarily in the impairment analyses of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets

The Company does not use derivative financial instruments.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated all transactions that occurred after September 21, 2010 through the date the financial statements contained herein were issued. The evaluation determined that no material recognizable subsequent events had occurred.

New Accounting Pronouncements

The Company reviewed all significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the Company’s business or that no material effect is expected on the financial statements as a result of future adoption.

NOTE B — LONG-TERM DEBT

 

     September 21, 2010      June 1, 2010  
     Payable
within
one year
     Payable
after
one year
     Payable
within
one year
     Payable
after
one year
 
     (in thousands)  

Construction Loan —

           

Construction Phase

   $ —         $ 3,000       $ —         $ 6,000   

Term Loans

     6,866         17,291         6,550         15,312   

Revolving Loan

     —           —           —           —     

Stock Repurchase Loan —

           

Draw Phase

     —           —           

Term Loans

     —           —           

2009 Term Loan

     979         2,153         968         2,483   
                                   
   $ 7,845       $ 22,444       $ 7,518       $ 23,795   
                                   

The portion payable after one year matures as follows:

 

     September 21,
2010
     June 1,
2010
 
     (in thousands)  

Period ending in 2012

   $ 9,555       $ 12,254   

2013

     5,073         5,027   

2014

     3,483         3,400   

2015

     2,471         2,052   

2016

     1,228         1,034   

Subsequent to 2016

     634         28   
                 
   $ 22,444       $ 23,795   
                 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE B — LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)

 

The Company has four unsecured loans in place, all with the same lending institution. A single Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (2010 Loan Agreement), under which the Company may not assume or permit to exist any other indebtedness, governs the four loans. The 2010 Loan Agreement amended and restated two prior loan agreements that consisted of a construction draw facility (Construction Loan) and a revolving credit agreement (Revolving Loan), and added a Stock Repurchase Loan. Borrowing under these three credit lines is permitted through April 2012. The 2009 Term Loan was previously governed under the revolving credit agreement.

The Construction Loan is an unsecured draw credit line intended to finance construction and opening and/or the refurbishing of restaurant operations. The 2010 Loan Agreement increased the amount available to be borrowed from $1,000,000 to $15,000,000.

The Construction Loan is subject to an unused commitment fee equal to 0.25 percent of the amount available to be borrowed. Funds borrowed are initially governed as a Construction Phase loan on an interest-only basis. Interest is determined by a pricing matrix that uses changeable basis points, determined by certain of the Company’s financial ratios. Interest is payable at the end of each specific rate period selected by the Company, which may be monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. Prepayment of principal without penalty is permitted at the end of any rate period. Within six months of the completion and opening of each restaurant, the balance outstanding under each loan in the Construction Phase must be converted to a Term Loan, with an amortization period of not less than seven years nor more than twelve years as chosen by the Company. For funds borrowed since September 2007, any Term Loan converted with an initial amortization period of less than twelve years, a one-time option is available during the chosen term to extend the amortization period up to a total of twelve years. Upon conversion to an amortizing Term Loan, the Company may select a fixed interest rate over the chosen term or may choose among various adjustable rate options.

As of September 21, 2010, the aggregate outstanding balance under the Construction Loan was $27,157,000, which consisted of $24,157,000 in Term Loans and $3,000,000 in the Construction Phase awaiting conversion. Since the inception of the Construction Loan (including prior loan agreements), seventeen of the Term Loans ($39,500,000 out of $88,500,000 in original notes) had been retired as of September 21, 2010. All of the outstanding Term Loans are subject to fixed interest rates, the weighted average of which is 5.68 percent, all of which are being repaid in 84 equal monthly installments of principal and interest aggregating $712,000, expiring in various periods currently ranging from January 2011 through September 2017. Prepayments of Term Loans initiated prior to September 2009 are permissible upon payment of sizeable prepayment fees and other amounts. For Term Loans initiated after September 2009, the Company has the option at the time of conversion to include a small premium over the otherwise applicable fixed interest rate in exchange for the right to prepay in whole or in part at any time without incurring a prepayment fee.

The $3,000,000 balance in the Construction Phase as of September 21, 2010 was borrowed under two separate draws ($2,000,000 in May 2010 and $1,000,000 in September 2010), both of which are currently subject to variable interest rates of 1.9% or lower. If the 2010 Loan Agreement is not renewed by April 2012, any outstanding amount in the Construction Phase that has not been converted into a Term Loan shall mature and be payable in full at that time.

The Revolving Loan provides an unsecured credit line that allows for borrowing of up to $5,000,000 to fund temporary working capital needs. Amounts repaid may be re-borrowed so long as the amount outstanding does not at any time exceed $5,000,000. The Revolving Loan, none of which was outstanding as of September 21, 2010, will mature and be payable in full in April 2012, unless it is renewed sooner. It is subject to a 30 consecutive day out-of-debt period each fiscal year. Interest is determined by the same pricing matrix used for loans in the Construction Phase as described above under the Construction Loan. Interest is payable at the end of each specific rate period selected by the Company, which may be monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. The loan is subject to a 0.25 percent unused commitment fee.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE B — LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)

 

The Stock Repurchase Loan is an unsecured draw credit line intended to finance repurchases of the Company’s common stock, under which up to $10,000,000 may be borrowed. Amounts drawn are on an interest-only basis for six months (Draw Phase). Interest is determined by the same pricing matrix used for loans in the Construction Phase as described above under the Construction Loan. Interest is payable at the end of each specific rate period selected by the Company, which may be monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. Prepayment of principal without penalty is permitted at the end of any rate period during the Draw Phase. The balance outstanding must be converted semi-annually to a Term Loan amortized over seven years. The Stock Repurchase Loan is not subject to an unused commitment fee.

The 2009 Term Loan originated in September 2009 when $4,000,000 was borrowed to fund the acquisition of five Big Boy restaurants from the landlord of the facilities. The 2009 Term Loan requires 48 equal monthly installments of $89,000 including principal and interest at a fixed 3.47 percent rate. The final payment of the unsecured loan is due October 21, 2013.

The 2010 Loan Agreement contains covenants relating to cash flows, debt levels, lease expense, asset dispositions, investments and restrictions on pledging certain restaurant operating assets. The Company was in compliance with all loan covenants as of September 21, 2010. The 2010 Loan Agreement does not require compensating balances.

The fair values of the fixed rate Term Loans within the Construction Loan as shown in the following table are based on fixed rates that would have been available at September 21, 2010 if the loans could have been refinanced with terms similar to the remaining terms under the present Term Loans. The carrying value of substantially all other long-term debt approximates its fair value.

 

     Carrying Value      Fair Value  

Terms Loans within the Construction Loan

   $ 24,157,000       $ 25,440,000   

NOTE C — LEASED PROPERTY

Although the Company’s policy is to own the property on which it operates restaurants, the Company occupies certain of its restaurants pursuant to lease agreements. As of September 21, 2010, 22 restaurants were in operation on non-owned premises, of which 21 were classified as operating leases and one was a capital lease. Most of the operating leases are for fifteen or twenty years and contain multiple five year renewal options. Seven of the operating leases are for Golden Corral operations. Big Boy restaurants are operated under the terms of fourteen operating leases and one capital lease.

Office space is occupied under an operating lease that expires during fiscal year 2013, with renewal options available through fiscal year 2023. A purchase option is available in 2023 to acquire the office property in fee simple estate.

Rent expense under operating leases for the sixteen weeks ended:

 

     September 21,
2010
     September 22,
2009
 
     (in thousands)  

Minimum rentals

   $ 519       $ 685   

Contingent payments

     —           10   
                 
   $ 519       $ 695   

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE C — LEASED PROPERTY (CONTINUED)

 

The capital lease used in Big Boy operations is for land on which a Big Boy restaurant opened for business in July 2010. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to purchase the land in fee simple estate after the tenth year. Delivery and other equipment is held under capitalized leases expiring during various periods extending into fiscal year 2019.

An analysis of the capitalized leased property is shown in the following table. Amortization of capitalized delivery and other equipment is based on the straight-line method over the primary terms of the leases.

 

     Asset balances at  
     September 21,
2010
    June 1,
2010
 
     (in thousands)  

Restaurant property (land)

   $ 825      $ 825   

Delivery and other equipment

     1,505        1,334   

Less accumulated amortization

     (1,049     (995
                
   $ 1,281      $ 1,164   
                

Future minimum lease payments under capitalized leases and operating leases in the table below. The column for capitalized leases includes the requirement to acquire land, currently leased by the Company, in fee simple estate after the tenth year of the lease.

 

Period ending September 21,

   Capitalized
leases
    Operating
leases
 
     (in thousands)  

2011

   $ 344      $ 1,640   

2012

     200        1,577   

2013

     93        1,505   

2014

     93        1,517   

2015

     93        1,368   

2016 to 2027

     1,363        11,551   
                

Total

     2,186      $ 19,158   
          

Amount representing interest

     (837  
          

Present value of obligations

     1,349     

Portion due within one-year

     (252  
          

Long-term obligations

   $ 1,097     
          

NOTE D — CAPITAL STOCK

The Company has two equity compensation plans adopted respectively in 1993 and 2003.

2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

Shareholders approved the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan ((the 2003 Incentive Plan) or (Plan)) in October 2003. The 2003 Incentive Plan provides for several forms of awards including stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards including restricted and unrestricted awards of stock, and performance awards. The Plan is in full compliance with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE D — CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)

 

No award shall be granted under the Plan on or after October 6, 2013 or after such earlier date on which the Board of Directors may terminate the Plan. The maximum number of shares of common stock that the Plan may issue is 800,000, subject, however, to proportionate and equitable adjustments determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) as deemed necessary following the event of any equity restructuring that may occur.

The Plan provides that the total number of shares of common stock covered by options plus the number of stock appreciation rights granted to any one individual may not exceed 80,000 during any fiscal year. Additionally, no more than 80,000 shares of common stock may be issued in payment of performance awards denominated in shares, and no more than $1,000,000 in cash (or fair market value, if paid in shares) may be paid pursuant to performance awards denominated in dollars, granted to any one individual during any fiscal year if the awards are intended to qualify as performance based compensation. Employees of the Company and non-employee members of the Board of Directors are eligible to be selected to participate in the Plan. Participation is based on selection by the Committee. Although there is no limitation on the number of participants in the Plan, approximately 40 persons have historically participated. However, the Committee limited stock options granted in June 2010 to ten executive officers of the Company (not including the President and Chief Executive Officer).

Options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock permit the holder to purchase a fixed number of shares at a fixed price. When options are granted, the Committee determines the number of shares subject to the option, the term of the option, which may not exceed ten years, the time or times when the option will become exercisable and the price per share that a participant must pay to exercise the option. No option will be granted with an exercise price that is less than 100 percent of fair market value on the date of the grant. The option price and obligatory withholding taxes may be paid pursuant to a “cashless” exercise/sale procedure involving the simultaneous sale by a broker of shares that are covered by the option.

Stock appreciation rights (SAR’s) are rights to receive payment, in cash, shares of common stock or a combination of the two, equal to the excess of (1) the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise over (2) the price per share of common stock established in connection with the grant of the SAR (the reference price). The reference price must be at least 100 percent of the common stock’s fair market value on the date the SAR is granted. SAR’s may be granted by the Committee in its discretion to any participant, and may have terms no longer than ten years.

Stock awards are grants of shares of common stock that may be restricted (subject to a holding period or other conditions) or unrestricted. The Committee determines the amounts, vesting, if any, terms and conditions of the awards, including the price to be paid, if any, for restricted awards and any contingencies related to the attainment of specified performance goals or continued employment or service.

The Committee may also grant performance awards to participants. Performance awards are the right to receive cash, common stock or both, at the end of a specified performance period, subject to satisfaction of the performance criteria and any vesting conditions established for the award.

As of September 21, 2010, options to purchase 330,250 shares had been cumulatively granted under the Plan, including 23,000 that belong to the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The outstanding options belonging to the CEO that were granted before October 2009 (20,000) vested six months from the date of grant. Beginning in October 2009, options granted to the CEO pursuant to the terms of his employment (3,000) will vest one year from the date of the grant. Outstanding options granted to other key employees vest in three equal annual installments, while outstanding options granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors vest one year from the date of grant. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any awards held by a terminated participant, excluding, however, any participant who is terminated for cause.

As of September 21, 2010, 526,084 shares remain available to be optioned, including 56,334 shares granted that were subsequently forfeited, which are again available to be granted in accordance with the “Re-use of Shares” provision of the Plan. There were 259,504 options outstanding as of September 21, 2010.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE D — CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)

 

No other awards — stock appreciation rights, restricted stock award, unrestricted stock award or performance award—had been granted under the 2003 Incentive Plan as of September 21, 2010. On October 6, 2010, restricted stock awards, equivalent to $40,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock, were granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors. Each award will vest in full on October 6, 2011. Also on October 6, 2010, in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement, the CEO was granted options to purchase 3,000 shares of common stock.

1993 Stock Option Plan

The 1993 Stock Option Plan was not affected by the adoption of the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. The 1993 Stock Option Plan authorized the grant of stock options for up to 562,432 shares (as adjusted for subsequent changes in capitalization from the original authorization of 500,000 shares) of the common stock of the Company for a ten-year period that began May 9, 1994. Shareholders approved the Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan (Amended Plan) in October 1998, which extended the availability of options to be granted to October 4, 2008. The Amended Plan is in compliance with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

Options to purchase 556,228 shares were cumulatively granted under the 1993 Stock Option Plan and the Amended Plan before granting authority expired October 4, 2008. As of September 21, 2010, 205,336 shares granted remain outstanding, including 150,000 that belong to the CEO.

All outstanding options under the 1993 Stock Option Plan and the Amended Plan were granted at fair market value and expire ten years from the date of grant. Final expirations will occur in June 2014. Outstanding options to the CEO vested after six months, while options granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors vested after one year. Outstanding options granted to other key employees vested in three equal annual installments.

Outstanding and Exercisable Options

The changes in outstanding and exercisable options involving both the 1993 Stock Option Plan and the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan are shown below as of September 21, 2010:

 

     No. of
shares
    Weighted avg.
price per share
     Weighted avg.
Remaining
Contractual Term
    Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
 

Outstanding at beginning of year

     503,069      $ 21.64        

Granted

     40,000      $ 20.55        

Exercised

     (63,478   $ 10.62        

Forfeited or expired

     (14,751   $ 25.13        
               

Outstanding at end of quarter

     464,840      $ 22.94         5.16  years    $ 346   
                           

Exercisable at end of quarter

     366,007      $ 22.70         4.09  years    $ 346   
                           

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009 was $612,000 and $36,000, respectively. Options exercised during the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 included 61,478 by the CEO, the intrinsic value of which was $595,000.

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE D — CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)

 

 

Stock options outstanding and exercisable as of September 21, 2010 for the 1993 Stock Option Plan and the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan are shown below:

 

Range of Exercise Prices per Share

   No. of
shares
     Weighted average
price per share
     Weighted average
remaining life in years
 

Outstanding:

        

$13.43 to $18.00

     49,167       $ 13.80         0.81 years   

$18.01 to $24.20

     209,085       $ 20.60         5.11 years   

$24.21 to $31.40

     206,588       $ 27.49         6.26 years   
                          

$13.43 to $31.40

     464,840       $ 22.94         5.16 years   

Exercisable:

        

$13.43 to $18.00

     49,167       $ 13.80         0.81 years   

$18.01 to $24.20

     162,585       $ 20.49         3.86 years   

$24.21 to $31.40

     154,255       $ 27.88         5.38 years   
                          

$13.43 to $31.40

     366,007       $ 22.70         4.09 years   

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Shareholders approved the Employee Stock Option Plan (elsewhere referred to as Employee Stock Purchase Plan) in 1998. The Plan provides employees who have completed 90 days of continuous service with an opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock through payroll deduction. Immediately following the end of each semi-annual offering period, participant account balances are used to purchase shares of stock measured at 85 percent of the fair market value of shares at the beginning of the offering period or at the end of the offering period, whichever is lower. The Plan authorizes a maximum of 1,000,000 shares that may be purchased on the open market or from the Company’s treasury. As of April 30, 2010 (latest available data), 149,995 shares had been cumulatively purchased through the Plan. Shares purchased through the Plan are held by the Plan’s custodian until withdrawn or distributed. As of April 30, 2010, the custodian held 39,651 shares on behalf of employees.

Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan

Common shares totaling 58,492 (as adjusted for subsequent changes in capitalization from the original authorization of 50,000 shares) were reserved for issuance under the non-qualified Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) (see Benefit Plans in Note A — Accounting Policies) when it was established in 1993. As of September 21, 2010, 39,249 shares remained in the FESP reserve, including 10,436 shares allocated but not issued to participants.

There are no other outstanding options, warrants or rights.

Treasury Stock

As of September 21, 2010, the Company’s treasury held 2,518,765 shares of the Company’s common stock. Most of the shares were acquired through a modified “Dutch Auction” self-tender offer in 1997, and in a series of intermittent repurchase programs that began in 1998.

The current repurchase program was authorized by the Board of Directors on January 6, 2010, under which the Company may repurchase up to 500,000 shares of its common stock in the open market or through block trades over a two year period that will expire January 6, 2012. Since its inception, the Company has acquired 105,038 shares at a cost of $2,127,000, which includes 58,570 shares acquired during the quarter ended September 21, 2010 at a cost of $1,118,000.

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE D — CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)

 

 

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of outstanding common shares during the period presented. Diluted earnings per share includes the effect of common stock equivalents, which assumes the exercise and conversion of dilutive stock options.

 

Sixteen weeks ended

   Basic earnings per share      Stock
equivalents
     Diluted earnings per share  
   Weighted average
shares outstanding
     EPS         Weighted average
shares outstanding
     EPS  

September 21, 2010

     5,093,981       $ .54         28,295         5,122,276       $ .54   

September 22, 2009

     5,102,482         .59         121,497         5,223,979         .57   

Stock options to purchase 295,000 shares in the quarter ended September 21, 2010 and 90,000 in the quarter ended September 22, 2009 were excluded from the calculation because the effect was anti-dilutive.

Share-Based Payment (Compensation Cost)

The fair value of stock options granted is recognized as compensation cost in the consolidated statement of earnings on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award. Compensation costs arising from stock options granted are shown below:

 

     September 21,
2010
    September 22,
2009
 
     (in thousands)  

Charged to administrative and advertising expense

   $ 95      $ 81   

Tax benefit

     (32     (28
                

Total share-based compensation cost, net of tax

   $ 63      $ 53   
                

Effect on basic earnings per share

   $ .01      $ .01   
                

Effect on diluted earnings per share

   $ 01      $ .01   
                

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of the grant using the modified Black-Scholes option pricing model, developed with the following assumptions:

 

     September 21,
2010
     September 22,
2009
 

Weighted average fair value of options

   $ 5.49       $ 8.14   
                 

Dividend yield

     2.5%         1.9%   

Expected volatility

     32%         32%   

Risk free interest rate

     2.72%         3.31%   

Expected lives

     6.0 years         6.0 years   

Dividend yield is based on the Company’s current dividend yield, which is considered the best estimate of projected dividend yields within the contractual life of the options. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock using the month end closing price of the previous six years. Risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods within the expected life of the option. Expected life represents the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding.

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE D — CAPITAL STOCK (CONTINUED)

 

 

As of September 21, 2010, there was $416,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.17 years.

Compensation cost is also recognized in connection with the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (described elsewhere in Note D — Capital Stock). Compensation costs related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan are determined at the end of each semi-annual offering period — October 31 and April 30.

NOTE E — PENSION PLANS

As discussed more fully under Benefit Plans in Note A — Accounting Policies, the Company sponsors two qualified defined benefit plans (DB Plans) plus an unfunded non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for “highly compensated employees” (HCE’s). Net periodic pension cost for all three retirement plans is summarized below:

 

     Sixteen weeks ended  

Net periodic pension cost components

   September 21,
2010
    September 22,
2009
 
     (in thousands)  

Service cost

   $ 592      $ 466   

Interest cost

     582        561   

Expected return on plan assets

     (520     (484

Amortization of prior service cost

     3        3   

Recognized net actuarial loss

     274        165   

Settlement loss

     95        51   

Curtailment cost

     —          49   
                

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 1,026      $ 811   
                

Weighted average discount rate

     5.50     6.50

Weighted average rate of compensation increase

     4.00     4.00

Weighted average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

     7.50     8.00

Net periodic pension cost for fiscal year 2011 is currently expected in the range of $3,300,000 to 3,400,000. Net periodic pension cost in fiscal year 2010 was $2,818,000. Most of the expected increase is attributable to lowering the discount rate from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent, which has added approximately $500,000 to pension cost in fiscal year 2011. Another $100,000 is included in the increased pension costs in fiscal year 2011 because of lowering the long-term rate of return on plan assets from 8.0 percent to 7.5 percent.

Contributions to the DB Plans for fiscal year 2011 are currently anticipated at a level of $1,600,000, which includes $50,000 that had been contributed before September 21, 2010. Obligations to participants in the SERP are satisfied in the form of a lump sum distribution upon retirement of the participants.

Future funding of the DB Plans largely depends upon the performance of investments that are held in trusts that have been established for the plans. Equity securities comprise 70 percent of the target allocation of the plans’ assets. Although the market for equity securities made a significant rebound in fiscal year 2010, which has continued into the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, the market declines experienced in fiscal year 2009 continue to adversely affect funding, and will likely require the continued recognition of significantly higher net periodic pension costs than had been incurred prior to the market declines in fiscal year 2009.

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE E — PENSION PLANS (CONTINUED)

 

 

Underfunded pension obligations included in “Long-Term Obligations” in the consolidated balance sheet represent projected benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The change in underfunded status is re-measured at the end of each fiscal year, effected through an increase or decrease in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet. The projected benefit obligation, which includes a projection of future salary increases, was measured at June 1, 2010 using a weighted average discount rate of 5.5 percent. The projected benefit obligation will increase approximately $975,000 for each decrease of 25 basis points in the discount rate.

Compensation expense (not included in the net periodic pension cost described above) relating to the Non Deferred Cash Balance Plan (see Benefit Plans in Note A — Accounting Policies) was $157,000 and $76,000 respectively, during the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009. Although the contribution to the Non-Deferred Cash Balance Plan for fiscal year 2011 has yet to be determined, it is expected to be higher than fiscal year 2010. In addition, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has an employment agreement that calls for additional annual contributions to be made to the trust established for the benefit of the CEO under the Non Deferred Cash Balance Plan (see Benefit Plans in Note A — Accounting Policies) when certain levels of annual pretax earnings are achieved.

The Company also sponsors two 401(k) defined contribution plans and a non-qualified Executive Savings Plan (FESP) for certain HCE’s who have been disqualified from participation in the 401(k) plans (see Benefit Plans in Note A — Accounting Policies). In the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009, matching contributions to the 401(k) plans amounted to $68,000 and $50,000 respectively. Matching contributions to the Executive Savings Plan were $10,000 in each of the sixteen week periods ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009.

The Company does not sponsor post retirement health care benefits.

NOTE F — COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

     September 21,
2010
    September 22,
2009
 
     (in thousands)  

Net earnings

   $ 2,741      $ 2,988   

Amortization of amounts included in net periodic pension cost

     372        268   

Tax effect

     (127     (91
                

Comprehensive income

   $ 2,986      $ 3,165   
                

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

 

NOTE G — SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has two reportable segments within the food service industry: Big Boy restaurants and Golden Corral restaurants. Financial information by operating segment is as follows:

 

     Sixteen weeks ended  
     September 21,
2010
    September 22,
2009
 
     (in thousands)  
Sales     

Big Boy

   $ 60,006      $ 57,453   

Golden Corral

     32,920        31,529   
                
   $ 92,926      $ 88,982   
                
Earnings before income taxes     

Big Boy

   $ 5,939      $ 5,545   

Opening expense

     (548     (14
                

Total Big Boy

     5,391        5,531   

Golden Corral

     1,241        1,391   

Opening expense

     —          —     
                

Total Golden Corral

     1,241        1,391   

Total restaurant level profit

     6,632        6,922   

Administrative expense

     (2,526     (2,390

Franchise fees and other revenue

     399        392   
                

Operating profit

     4,505        4,924   

Interest expense

     (474     (531
                

Earnings before income taxes

   $ 4,031      $ 4,393   
                
Depreciation and amortization     

Big Boy

   $ 2,791      $ 2,519   

Golden Corral

     1,771        1,702   
                
   $ 4,562      $ 4,221   
                
Capital expenditures     

Big Boy

   $ 6,163      $ 6,884   

Golden Corral

     350        625   
                
   $ 6,513      $ 7,509   
                
     As of  
     September 21,
2010
    June 1, 2010  
Identifiable assets     

Big Boy

   $ 120,561      $ 116,486   

Golden Corral

     71,016        72,767   
                
   $ 191,577      $ 189,253   
                

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

 

NOTE H — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

In the ordinary course of business, purchase commitments are entered into with certain of the Company’s suppliers. Most of these agreements are typically for periods of one year or less in duration; however, longer term agreements are also in place. Future minimum payments under these arrangements are $8,392,000, $5,147,000, $3,382,000 and $56,000 respectively, for the periods ending September 21, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. These agreements are intended to secure favorable pricing while ensuring availability of desirable products. Management does not believe such agreements expose the Company to any significant risk.

Litigation

The Company is subject to various claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Management does not presently believe that the resolution of any claims currently outstanding will materially affect the Company’s earnings, cash flows or financial position. Exposure to loss contingencies from pending or threatened litigation is continually evaluated by management, which believes that adequate provisions for losses are already included in the consolidated financial statements.

Other Contingencies

The Company self-insures a significant portion of expected losses under its workers’ compensation program in the state of Ohio. Insurance coverage is purchased from an insurance company for individual claims that may exceed $300,000. (See Self Insurance in Note A – Accounting Policies.) Insurance coverage is maintained for various levels of casualty and general and product liability.

Outstanding letters of credit maintained by the Company totaled $126,500 as of September 21, 2010.

As of September 21, 2010, the Company operated 22 restaurants on non-owned properties. (See Note C – Leased Properties.) Certain of the leases provide for contingent rental payments, typically based on a percentage of the leased restaurant’s sales in excess of a fixed amount.

The Company is secondarily liable for the performance of a ground lease that has been assigned to a third party. The annual obligation of the lease approximates $48,000 through 2020. Since there is no reason to believe that the third party will default, no provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements for amounts that would be payable by the Company. In addition, the Company has the right to re-assign the lease in the event of the third party’s default.

NOTE I — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Chief Executive Officer of the Company (Craig F. Maier), who also serves as a director of the Company, owns a Big Boy restaurant licensed to him by the Company. Another officer and director of the Company (Karen F. Maier) is a part owner of a Big Boy restaurant that is licensed to her and her siblings (excluding Craig F. Maier). Until her death in September 2009, Blanche F. Maier (the mother of Craig F. Maier and Karen F. Maier) served as a director of the Company. Certain other family members of Mrs. Maier’s also own a licensed Big Boy restaurant.

These three restaurants are operated by the Company and they pay to the Company franchise and advertising fees, employee leasing and other fees, and make purchases from the Company’s commissary. The total paid to the Company by these three restaurants amounted to $1,491,000 and $1,477,000 respectively, during the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010 and September 22, 2009. The amount owed to the Company from these restaurants was $71,000 and $85,000 respectively, as of September 21, 2010 and June 1, 2010. Amounts due are generally settled within 28 days of billing.

All related party transactions described above were effected on substantially similar terms as transactions with persons having no relationship with the Company.

 

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Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

First Quarter Fiscal 2011, Ended September 21, 2010

 

NOTE I — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

 

 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1970 to 2005 (Jack C. Maier, deceased February 2005) had an employment agreement that contained a provision for deferred compensation. The agreement provided that upon its expiration or upon the Chairman’s retirement, disability, death or other termination of employment, the Company would become obligated to pay the Chairman or his survivors for each of the next ten years the amount of $214,050, adjusted annually to reflect 50 percent of the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Monthly payments of $17,838 to the Chairman’s widow (Blanche F. Maier), a director of the Company until her death in September 2009, commenced in March 2005. On March 1, 2010, the monthly payment was increased to $19,006 from $18,753 in accordance with the CPI provision of the agreement. The present value of the long-term portion of the obligation to Mrs. Maier’s Estate, approximating $727,000, is included in the consolidated balance sheet under the caption “Deferred compensation and other.” The present value of the current portion of the obligation, approximating $180,000, is included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION and ANALYSIS of FINANCIAL CONDITION and RESULTS of OPERATIONS

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT under the PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT of 1995

Forward-looking statements are included in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A). Such statements may generally express management’s expectations with respect to its plans, or its assumptions and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on the Company. There can be no assurances that such expectations will be met or that future developments will not conflict with management’s current beliefs and assumptions, which are inherently subject to risks and other uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from anticipated results that may be expressed or implied in forward-looking statements are included in, but not limited to, the discussion in this Form 10-Q under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

Sentences that contain words such as “should,” “would,” “could,” “may,” “plan(s),” “anticipate(s),” “project(s),” “believe(s),” “will,” “expect(s),” “estimate(s),” “intend(s),” “continue(s),” “assumption(s),” “goal(s),” “target” and similar words (or derivatives thereof) are generally used to distinguish “forward-looking statements” from historical or present facts.

All forward-looking information in this MD&A is provided by the Company pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of all risk factors. Except as may be required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any of the “forward-looking statements” that may be contained in this MD&A.

This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements. The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements other than operating leases that are entered from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not use special purpose entities.

CORPORATE OVERVIEW

The operations of Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Company) consist of two reportable segments within the restaurant industry: full service family-style “Big Boy” restaurants and grill buffet-style “Golden Corral” restaurants. As of September 21, 2010, 93 Big Boy restaurants and 35 Golden Corral restaurants were owned and operated by the Company, located in various regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, plus smaller regions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The Company’s First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 consists of the sixteen weeks ended September 21, 2010. It compares with the sixteen weeks ended September 22, 2009, which constituted the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010. The first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year normally accounts for a disproportionate share of annual revenue and earnings because it contains sixteen weeks, whereas the following three quarters normally contain only twelve weeks each. References to Fiscal 2011 refer to the 52 week year that will end on May 31, 2011. References to Fiscal 2010 refer to the 52 week year that ended June 1, 2010.

Net earnings for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 were $2,741,000, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $.54, compared with $2,988,000, or diluted EPS of $.57 in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

Significant factors accounting for the change:

 

   

Consolidated restaurant sales increased $3,994,000.

 

  -  

Total Big Boy sales increased $2,553,000, the result of more restaurants in operation

 

  -  

Big Boy same store sales decreased 0.8 percent

 

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  -  

Golden Corral same store sales increased 4.4 percent

 

   

Opening expenses (all for the Big Boy segment) were $534,000 higher.

 

   

As a percentage of sales, consolidated food cost was 34.4 percent in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, up from 34.0 percent in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

 

   

As a percentage of sales, consolidated payroll and related cost was 33.1 percent in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, down from 33.4 percent in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010. The decrease was largely achieved in the Golden Corral segment.

RESULTS of OPERATIONS

Sales

The Company’s sales are primarily generated through the operation of Big Boy restaurants and Golden Corral restaurants. Big Boy sales also include wholesale sales from the Company’s commissary to restaurants licensed to other Big Boy operators and the sale of Big Boy’s signature brand tartar sauce to grocery stores. Same store sales comparisons are a key metric that management uses in the operation of the business. Same store sales are affected by changes in customer counts and menu price increases. Changes in sales also occur as new restaurants are opened and older restaurants are closed. Below is the detail of consolidated restaurant sales:

 

     1st Quarter  
     2011      2010  
     (in thousands)  

Big Boy restaurants

   $ 57,001       $ 54,517   

Wholesale sales to licensees

     2,733         2,672   

Wholesale sales to grocery stores

     272         264   
                 

Total Big Boy sales

     60,006         57,453   

Golden Corral restaurants

     32,920         31,529   
                 

Consolidated restaurant sales

   $ 92,926       $ 88,982   
                 

The Company operated 93 Big Boy restaurants as of September 21, 2010. The count of 93 includes the following openings and closings since the beginning of Fiscal 2010 (June 2009), when 88 Big Boy restaurants were in operation:

September 2009 — closed original unit in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (Cincinnati market)

September 2009 — replacement unit opened in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (Cincinnati market) — no sales interruption

November 2009 — new unit opened near Hamilton, Ohio (Cincinnati market)

April 2010 — new unit opened in Independence, Kentucky (Cincinnati market)

May 2010 — new unit opened in Shepherdsville, Kentucky (Louisville market)

July 2010 — new unit opened in Louisville, Kentucky

August 2010 — new unit opened in Beavercreek, Ohio (Dayton market)

Two Big Boy restaurant buildings were under construction as of September 21, 2010. Openings are scheduled for October 2010 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky (Louisville market) and December 2010 in Heath, Ohio (Columbus market). Besides these two openings, no other new Big Boy restaurants are planned to open before the end of Fiscal 2011.

Big Boy same store sales decreased 0.8 percent during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. The same store decrease reflects a 2.5 percent decline in customer counts, which was offset by three menu price increases of 1.0 percent, implemented respectively in September 2009, February 2010 and September 2010. Another increase will likely be implemented in February 2011.

Golden Corral same store sales increased 4.4 percent in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. The same store sales increase reflects a 3.3 percent increase in customer counts. The Golden Corral same store sales comparisons include average menu price increases of 0.5 percent implemented in February 2010 and 1.3 percent that went into effect in

 

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September 2010. The Company currently operates 35 Golden Corral restaurants, all of which are included in the same store sales comparison. No new Golden Corral restaurants are currently being planned.

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council has a data security standard with which all organizations that process card payments must comply. The standard is intended to prevent credit card fraud by focusing on the internal controls of processing and storage of such data. While the Company has adhered to this standard for some time, a new requirement recently introduced by MasterCard requires an independent audit of these controls. This independent audit must certify compliance with Payment Card Industry Security Standards no later than July 2011. A finding of non-compliance could restrict the Company’s ability to accept credit cards as a form of payment. The Company has established an action plan to ensure that any issues that may arise as a result of the independent audit are foreseen and corrected in a timely fashion.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the Big Boy segment includes wholesale sales and cost of wholesale sales. Gross profit differs from restaurant level profit discussed in Note G (Segment Information) to the consolidated financial statements, as advertising expense is charged against restaurant level profit. Gross profit for both operating segments is shown below:

 

     1st Quarter  
     2011      2010  
     (in thousands)  

Big Boy gross profit

   $ 6,835       $ 6,912   

Golden Corral gross profit

     2,083         2,074   
                 

Total gross profit

   $ 8,918       $ 8,986   
                 

The operating percentages shown in the following table are percentages of total sales, including Big Boy wholesale sales. The table supplements the discussion that follows, which addresses cost of sales for both the Big Boy and Golden Corral reporting segments, including food cost, payroll and other operating costs.

 

     1st Quarter 2011      1st Quarter 2010  
     Total      Big
Boy
     GC      Total      Big
Boy
     GC  

Sales

     100.0         100.0         100.0         100.0         100.0         100.0   

Food and Paper

     34.4         32.5         37.9         34.0         32.3         37.2   

Payroll and Related

     33.1         35.8         28.2         33.4         35.8         28.9   

Other Operating Costs (including opening costs)

     22.9         20.3         27.5         22.5         19.8         27.3   

Gross Profit

     9.6         11.4         6.4         10.1         12.1         6.6   

Food cost began to rise in the last half of Fiscal 2010, and has continued to rise during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. Higher prices were experienced during the summer of 2010 for beef, pork, poultry and dairy products, driven by much higher costs for corn, the principal feed ingredient for cattle, hogs and poultry. These elevated prices are expected to continue well into 2011. Food and paper cost percentages for the Golden Corral segment are much higher than the Big Boy segment because of the all-you-can-eat nature of the Golden Corral concept, and because steak is featured daily on the buffet line. Although the Company does not use financial instruments as a hedge against changes in commodity pricing, purchase contracts for some commodities may contain contractual provisions that limit the price the Company will pay.

Food safety poses a major risk to the Company. Management rigorously emphasizes and enforces established food safety policies in all of the Company’s restaurants and in its commissary and food manufacturing plant. To ensure continued safety, management has initiated an assessment of its current food handling, processing and storage practices that are used at the commissary and food manufacturing plant. The assessment is being conducted near the end of October 2010.

 

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Despite the improvement in payroll and related costs as seen in the above table, the Company’s operating margins continue to be adversely affected by mandated increases in the minimum wage.

 

   

In Ohio, where more than two-thirds of the Company’s payroll costs are incurred, the minimum wage for non-tipped employees was increased 33 percent from $5.15 per hour to $6.85 per hour beginning January 1, 2007. It was increased to $7.00 per hour on January 1, 2008 and to $7.30 per hour on January 1, 2009. While there was no increase on January 1, 2010, non-tipped employees will begin receiving a minimum of $7.40 per hour on January 1, 2011.

 

   

The Ohio minimum wage for tipped employees increased 61 percent from $2.13 per hour to $3.43 per hour beginning January 1, 2007. It was increased to $3.50 per hour on January 1, 2008 and to $3.65 per hour on January 1, 2009. While there was no increase on January 1, 2010, tipped employees will begin receiving a minimum of $3.70 per hour on January 1, 2011.

 

   

Federal minimum wage statutes currently apply to substantially all other (non-Ohio) employees. The federal minimum wage for non-tipped employees increased from $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour in July 2007. It was increased to $6.55 per hour in July 2008 and to $7.25 per hour in July 2009. The rate for tipped employees (non-Ohio) was not affected by the federal legislation, remaining at $2.13 per hour.

The effects of paying the required higher hourly rates of pay have been effectively countered through the combination of higher menu prices charged to customers and reductions in the number of scheduled labor hours. Additional reductions in hours will be implemented if necessary to offset the effect of the scheduled increase in Ohio’s minimum wage on January 1, 2011. The reduction in the payroll and related cost percentage shown for the Golden Corral segment was achieved by holding steady the number of hours worked, despite higher customer counts that resulted in a 4.4 percent same store sales increase.

Despite the savings that come from reductions in hours worked and higher menu prices charged to customers, other factors add to payroll and related costs. These factors include higher costs associated with benefit programs offered by the Company, including significant increases in medical insurance premiums and pension related costs.

Medical insurance premiums escalated by almost 15 percent for the plan year that ran January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, with premiums rising to over $9,400,000. Premium cost for the plan year that runs January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 is expected to be 6.5 percent higher, with total premium payments likely to exceed $10,000,000. The Company typically absorbs 75 to 80 percent of the cost, with employees contributing the remainder. The medical insurance program for the 2011 plan year is currently being negotiated. Management continues to evaluate federal health care reform legislation that was enacted in March 2010 to determine the future short and long term effects on the Company.

Net periodic pension cost was $1,026,000 and $811,000 respectively, in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 and the First Quarter of 2010. Net periodic pension cost for Fiscal 2011 is currently expected to be in the range of $3,300,000 to $3,400,000. The final total in Fiscal 2010 was $2,818,000. The increase over Fiscal 2010 is primarily due to lowering actuarial rate assumptions used in Fiscal 2011. The discount rate was lowered from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent and the expected return on plan assets was lowered from 8.0 percent to 7.5 percent. Net periodic pension cost for both the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 and the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010 are much higher than historical levels. The higher costs continue to be driven by significant market losses in equity securities in Fiscal 2009, which greatly lowered the fair value of plan assets in the pension trusts. This loss is amortized through pension cost and it has created a lower credit for the expected return on plan assets that flows through pension cost.

Pension accounting standards require the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension plans to be recognized as an asset or liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s underfunded status as of September 21, 2010 — $11,352,000 — was measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and projected benefit obligations. Significant reductions in the Company’s equity, net of tax, were required over the last two fiscal years to establish the underfunded pension obligation shown on the consolidated balance sheet. The reductions in equity were effected through charges to “Accumulated other comprehensive loss.”

Payroll and related expenses are also affected by adjustments that result each quarter when management performs a comprehensive review of the Company’s self-insured Ohio workers’ compensation program and adjusts its reserves as deemed appropriate based on claims experience. Increases to the self-insured reserves result in charges to payroll and related expenses, while decreases to the reserves result in credits to payroll and related expenses. Charges of

 

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$93,000 and $208,000 respectively, were recorded in payroll and related expenses during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 and the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

Other operating costs include occupancy costs such as maintenance, rent, depreciation, property tax, insurance and utilities, plus costs relating to field supervision, accounting and payroll preparation costs, franchise fees for Golden Corral restaurants, new restaurant opening costs and many other restaurant operating expenses. Opening costs were $548,000 for Big Boy restaurants and zero for Golden Corral restaurants during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. During the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010, opening costs were $14,000 for Big Boy and zero for Golden Corral. As most of the other typical expenses charged to other operating costs tend to be more fixed in nature, the percentages shown in the above table can be greatly affected by changes in same store levels. The increase in Golden Corral from 27.3 percent to 27.5 percent is the result of higher depreciation charges and higher costs incurred for maintaining buildings and equipment. Other operating costs for the Golden Corral segment are a much higher percentage of sales than Big Boy because the physical facility of a Golden Corral restaurant is almost twice as large as a Big Boy restaurant and Golden Corral sales volumes have generally remained well below management’s original long-term expectations for the concept.

Operating Profit

To arrive at the measure of operating profit, administrative and advertising expense is subtracted from gross profit, while franchise fees and other revenue is added to it. Gains and losses from the sale of real property (if any) are then respectively added or subtracted. Charges for impairment of assets (if any) are also subtracted from gross profit to arrive at the measure of operating profit.

Administrative and advertising expense increased $358,000 during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, eight percent higher than the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010. Most of the increase is attributable to higher advertising expense associated with higher sales levels. Stock based compensation expense included in administrative and advertising expense was $95,000 during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, and was $81,000 in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

Revenue from franchise fees is based on sales volumes generated by Big Boy restaurants that are licensed to other operators. The fees are based principally on percentages of sales and are recorded on the accrual method as earned. As of September 21, 2010, 25 Big Boy restaurants were licensed to other operators and paying franchise fees to the Company, a reduction of one restaurant from a year ago. Other revenue also includes certain other fees from restaurants licensed to others along with minor amounts of rent and investment income.

There were no sales of real property during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 or the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010. No charges for impairment of assets were recorded during either the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 or the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

Interest Expense

Interest expense in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 was $57,000 lower than the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010, a reduction of 10.8 percent. The reduction is the result of lower debt levels than a year ago, a lower weighted average interest rate on fixed rate financing, and lower variable rates on debt awaiting conversion to a fixed rate term loan.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax earnings was estimated at 32 percent in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 and in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010. These rates have been kept consistently low through the Company’s use of tax credits, especially the federal credit allowed for Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid on Certain Employee Tips. These tax credits are generally less favorable to the effective tax rate when pretax income increases.

LIQUIDITY and CAPITAL RESOURCES

Sources of Funds

Food sales to restaurant customers provide the Company’s principal source of cash. The funds from sales are immediately available for the Company’s use, as substantially all sales to restaurant customers are received in currency or are settled by debit or credit cards. The primary source of cash provided by operating activities is net earnings plus depreciation and impairment of assets, if any. Other sources of cash may include borrowing against credit lines, proceeds received when stock options are exercised and occasional sales of real estate. In addition to servicing debt, these cash flows are utilized for discretionary objectives, including capital projects (principally restaurant expansion) and dividends.

 

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Working Capital Practices

The Company has historically maintained a strategic negative working capital position, which is a common practice in the restaurant industry. As significant cash flows are consistently provided by operations, and credit lines remain readily available, the use of this practice should not hinder the Company’s ability to satisfactorily retire any of its obligations when due, including the aggregated contractual obligations and commercial commitments shown in the following table.

Aggregated Information about Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

September 21, 2010

 

         Payments due by period (in thousands)  
         Total      year 1      year 2      year 3      year 4      year 5      more
than 5
years
 
 

Long-Term Debt

   $ 30,289       $ 7,845       $ 9,555       $ 5,073       $ 3,483       $ 2,471       $ 1,862   
 

Interest on Long-Term Debt (estimated)

     3,851         1,405         1,027         666         408         217         128   
 

Rent Due under Capital Lease Obligations

     2,186         344         200         93         93         93         1,363   
1  

Rent Due under Operating Leases

     19,158         1,640         1,577         1,505         1,517         1,368         11,551   
2  

Unconditional Purchase Obligations

     16,977         8,392         5,147         3,382         56         —           —     
3  

Other Long-Term Obligations

     1,036         230         233         235         238         100         —     
 

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

   $ 73,497       $ 19,856       $ 17,739       $ 10,954       $ 5,795       $ 4,249       $ 14,904   
                                                                

 

1 Operating leases may include option periods yet to be exercised, when exercise is determined to be reasonably assured.

 

2 Primarily consists of commitments for certain food and beverage items, plus capital projects including commitments to purchase real property, if any. Does not include agreements that are cancellable without penalty.

 

3 Deferred compensation liability (undiscounted).

The working capital deficit was $19,095,000 as of September 21, 2010. The deficit was $18,152,000 as of June 1, 2010.

A financing package of unsecured credit facilities has been in place for many years with the same lending institution, which was amended and restated in October 2010 (2010 Loan Agreement). The 2010 Loan Agreement increased the amount available to be borrowed to finance construction to $15,000,000, up $14,000,000 from the $1,000,000 that had been remaining available from the previous renewal cycle. The 2010 Loan Agreement also renewed the $5,000,000 Revolving Loan, which provides financing to fund temporary working capital if needed (unused as of September 21, 2010). In addition, the 2010 Loan Agreement provides a new $10,000,000 Stock Repurchase Loan. All funds provided by these credit facilities are readily available to be borrowed through April 2012. The Company is in full compliance with the covenants contained in the 2010 Loan Agreement.

Operating Activities

Operating cash flows were $8,678,000 in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, which compares with $7,517,000 in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010. The increase is primarily attributable to normal changes in assets and liabilities such as prepaid expenses, inventories, accounts payable and prepaid, accrued and deferred income taxes, all of which can and do often fluctuate widely from quarter to quarter. The Small Business Jobs Act, federal tax legislation that was signed into law in September 2010, extended bonus depreciation through December 31, 2010, which had previously expired December 31, 2009. For tax purposes, bonus depreciation allows the Company to immediately write-off 50 percent of the cost of capital expenditures. The legislation allowed the Company to reduce its first quarter tax deposit by over $1,000,000, when compared to last year’s first quarter tax deposit.

Management measures cash flows from the operation of the business by simply adding to net earnings certain non-cash expenses such as depreciation, losses (net of any gains) on dispositions of assets, charges for impairment of assets (if any), stock based compensation cost and pension costs in excess of plan contributions. The result of this

 

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approach is reflected as a sub-total in the consolidated statement of cash flows: $8,417,000 in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 and $8,047,000 in the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

Contributions to the two defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the Company are currently anticipated at a level of $1,600,000 in Fiscal 2011, including $50,000 that was contributed during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011.

Investing Activities

Capital spending is the principal component of investing activities. Capital spending was $6,513,000 during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, which consisted of $6,163,000 for Big Boy restaurants and $350,000 for Golden Corral restaurants. These capital expenditures consisted of new restaurant construction, plus on-going reinvestments in existing restaurants, which included remodelings, routine equipment replacements and other maintenance capital outlays.

There were no proceeds from the disposition of real property during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 or the First Quarter of Fiscal 2010.

Financing Activities

Borrowing against credit lines amounted to $1,000,000 during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. Scheduled and other payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations amounted to $2,082,000 during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. Borrowing is expected to exceed scheduled payments over the remainder of Fiscal 2011. Regular quarterly cash dividends paid to shareholders during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 totaled $658,000. In addition, the Board of Directors declared a $.15 per share dividend (two cents per share or 15 percent higher than the previous $.13 per share dividend) on September 8, 2010 that totaled $760,000 when it was paid on October 8, 2010. The Company expects to continue its 50 year practice of paying regular quarterly cash dividends.

During the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011, 63,478 shares of the Company’s common stock were re-issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options, yielding proceeds to the Company of approximately $674,000. The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) acquired 61,478 of the shares that were re-issued from the Company’s treasury. As of September 21, 2010, 464,840 shares granted under the Company’s two stock option plans remain outstanding, including 366,007 fully vested shares at a weighted average exercise price per share of $22.70. The closing price of the Company’s stock on September 21, 2010 was $19.74. As of September 21, 2010, approximately 526,000 shares remained available to be granted under the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which is net of 40,000 options that were granted to executive officers (excluding the CEO) in June 2010. On October 6, 2010, 12,036 shares of restricted stock were granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors and an option to acquire 3,000 shares was granted to the CEO pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement.

The current stock repurchase program was authorized by the Board of Directors on January 6, 2010, which authorized the Company to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of its common stock in the open market or through block trades over a two year period that will expire January 6, 2012. Since its inception, the Company has acquired 105,038 shares at a cost of $2,127,000, which includes 58,570 shares acquired during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 at a cost of $1,118,000.

Other Information

Two new Big Boy restaurants opened for business during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011. Two Big Boy restaurant buildings were under construction as of September 21, 2010. The first one opened for business on October 11, 2010 and the second one is currently on schedule to open in December 2010. Construction of one other new Big Boy restaurant is currently scheduled to begin in March 2011, which will open in the following fiscal year. Four of these five restaurants are on land acquired in fee simple estate in Fiscal 2010. One of the restaurants that opened during the First Quarter of Fiscal 2011 was built on land that the Company leases. As of September 21, 2010, any contracts that existed to acquire sites for future development were cancellable at the Company’s sole discretion while due diligence is being pursued under the inspection period provisions of the contracts.

Including land and land improvements, the cash required to build and equip each new Big Boy restaurant currently ranges from $2,500,000 to $3,400,000. The actual cost depends greatly on the price paid for the land and the cost of land improvements, which can vary widely from location to location, and whether the land is purchased or leased. Costs also depend on whether the new restaurant is constructed using plans for the original 2001 building prototype (5,700 square feet with seating for 172 guests) or its smaller adaptation, the 2010 building prototype (5,000 square feet with seating for 146 guests), which is used in smaller trade areas. The smaller 2010 building prototype was used to design all five new Big Boy restaurants discussed in the preceding paragraph.

 

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Approximately one-fifth of the Big Boy restaurants are routinely renovated or decoratively updated each year. The renovations not only refresh and upgrade interior finishes, but are also designed to synchronize the interiors and exteriors of older restaurants with newly constructed restaurants. The current average cost to renovate a typical older restaurant ranges from $140,000 to $160,000. Restaurants opened with the 2001 building prototype also receive updates when they reach five years of age, the cost of which currently approximates $120,000. The Fiscal 2011 remodeling budget for Big Boy restaurants is $2,100,000. In addition, certain high-volume Big Boy restaurants are regularly evaluated to determine whether their kitchens should be redesigned for increased efficiencies and whether an expansion of the dining room is warranted. A typical kitchen redesign costs approximately $125,000 while a dining room expansion can cost up to $750,000. One Big Boy restaurant is scheduled to receive a dining room expansion in Fiscal 2011.

Although the Company possesses development rights to open up to twelve more Golden Corrals through December 31, 2011, no further development is currently planned and there is no active search for sites on which to build. Three Golden Corral restaurant locations that were determined to have an impairment of long-lived assets at the end of Fiscal 2008 remained in operation as of September 21, 2010. Nine Golden Corral restaurants are scheduled to be renovated in Fiscal 2011. In addition, carpeting is typically replaced in each restaurant every two and a half years on average. The Fiscal 2011 remodeling budget, including carpeting costs, is approximately $1,675,000.

Although part of the Company’s strategic plan entails owning the land on which it builds new restaurants, it is sometimes necessary to enter ground leases to obtain desirable land on which to build. Seven of the 35 Golden Corral restaurants now in operation and four Big Boy restaurants opened since 2003 were built on leased land. As of September 21, 2010, 22 restaurants were in operation on non-owned premises, 21 of which are being accounted for as operating leases with one treated as a capital lease.

APPLICATION of CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use estimates and assumptions to measure certain items that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying footnotes. These judgments are based on knowledge and experience about past and current events, and assumptions about future events. Accounting estimates can and do change as new events occur and additional information becomes available. Actual results may differ markedly from current judgment.

Two factors are required for an accounting policy to be deemed critical. The policy must be significant to the fair presentation of a company’s financial condition and its results of operations, and the policy must require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. The Company believes the following to be its critical accounting policies.

Self Insurance

The Company self-insures a significant portion of expected losses from its workers’ compensation program in the state of Ohio. The Company purchases coverage from an insurance company for individual claims in excess of $300,000. Reserves for claims expense include a provision for incurred but not reported claims. Each quarter, management reviews claims valued by its third party administrator (TPA) and then applies experience and judgment to determine the most probable future value of incurred claims. As the TPA submits additional new information, management reviews it in light of historical claims for similar injuries, probability of settlement, and any other facts that might provide guidance in determining ultimate value of individual claims. Unexpected changes in any of these or other factors could result in actual costs differing materially from initial projections or values currently carried in the self-insurance reserves.

Pension Plans

Pension plan accounting requires rate assumptions for future compensation increases and the long-term investment return on plan assets. A discount rate is also applied to the calculations of net periodic pension cost and projected benefit obligations. An informal committee consisting of executives from the Company’s Finance Department and the Human Resources Department, with guidance provided by an actuarial consulting firm, develops these assumptions each year. The consulting firm also provides services in calculating estimated future obligations and net periodic pension cost.

To determine the long-term rate of return on plan assets, the committee reviews the target asset allocation of plan assets and determines the expected return on each asset class. The expected returns for each asset class are

 

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combined and rounded to the nearest 25 basis points to determine the overall expected rate of return on assets. The committee determines the discount rate by looking at the projected future benefit payments and matching them to spot rates based on yields of high-grade corporate bonds. A single discount rate is selected and rounded to the nearest 25 basis points, which produces the same present value as the various spot rates.

Assets of the pension plans are targeted to be invested 70 percent in equity securities, as these investments have historically provided the greatest long-term returns. Poor performance in equity securities markets can significantly lower the market values of the plans’ investment portfolios, which, in turn, can result in a) material increases in future funding requirements, b) much higher net periodic pension costs to be recognized in future years, and c) the plans reaching underfunded status requiring the Company’s equity to be reduced.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. Property and equipment typically approximates 85 to 90 percent of the Company’s total assets. Judgments and estimates are used to determine the carrying value of long-lived assets. This includes the assignment of appropriate useful lives, which affect depreciation and amortization expense. Capitalization policies are continually monitored to assure they remain appropriate.

Management considers a history of cash flow losses on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis to be the primary indicator of potential impairment. Carrying values of property and equipment are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. When undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than carrying values, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which carrying values exceed the greater of the net present value of the future cash flow stream or a floor value. Future cash flows can be difficult to predict. Changing neighborhood demographics and economic conditions, and many other factors may influence operating performance, which affect cash flows. Floor values are generally determined by opinions of value provided by real estate brokers and/or management’s judgment as developed through its experience in disposing of property.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to cease operating a certain restaurant due to poor operating performance. The ultimate loss can be significantly different from the original impairment charge, particularly if the eventual market price received from the disposition of the property differs materially from initial estimates of floor values.

Acquired goodwill and other intangible assets are tested for impairment annually or whenever an impairment indicator arises.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE and QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES about MARKET RISKS

The Company has no significant market risk exposure to interest rate changes as substantially all of its debt is currently financed with fixed interest rates, or will be converted to fixed rate term loans in the near term. The Company does not currently use derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates. Any cash equivalents maintained by the Company have original maturities of three months or less. The Company does not use foreign currency.

Operations in the Big Boy segment are vertically integrated, utilizing centralized purchasing and food preparation, provided through the Company’s commissary and food manufacturing plant. Management believes the commissary operation ensures uniform product quality and safety, timeliness of distribution to restaurants and creates efficiencies that ultimately result in lower food and supply costs. The commissary operation does not supply Golden Corral restaurants.

Commodity pricing affects the cost of many of the Company’s food products. Commodity pricing can be extremely volatile, affected by many factors outside the Company’s control, including import and export restrictions, the influence of currency markets relative to the U.S. dollar, supply versus demand, production levels and the impact that adverse weather conditions may have on crop yields. Certain commodities purchased by the commissary, principally beef, chicken, pork, dairy products, fish, french fries and coffee, are generally purchased based upon market prices established with vendors. Purchase contracts for some of these items may contain contractual provisions that limit the price to be paid. These contracts are normally for periods of one year or less but may have longer terms if favorable long-term pricing becomes available. Food supplies are generally plentiful and may be obtained from any number of suppliers, which mitigates the Company’s overall commodity cost risk. Quality, timeliness of deliveries and price are the principal determinants of source. The Company does not use financial instruments as a hedge against changes in commodity pricing.

Except for items such as bread, fresh produce and dairy products that are purchased from any number of reliable local suppliers, the Golden Corral segment of the business currently purchases substantially all food, beverage and other menu items from the same approved vendor that Golden Corral Franchising Systems, Inc. (the Franchisor) uses in its operations. Deliveries are received twice per week. Other vendors are available to provide products that meet the Franchisor’s specifications at comparable prices should the Company wish or need to make a change.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS and PROCEDURES

a) Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 240.13a-15(e) and 240.15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 21, 2010, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and (ii) would be accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act rules 240.13a-15 or 240.15d-15) during the fiscal quarter ended September 21, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is subject to various claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Management does not presently believe that the resolution of any claims currently outstanding will result in a material effect on the Company’s earnings, cash flows or financial position. Exposure to loss contingencies from pending or threatened litigation is continually evaluated by management, which believes that adequate provisions for losses have been included in the consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The Company continually takes reasonable preventive measures to reduce its risks and uncertainties. However, the nature of some risks and uncertainties provides little, if any, control to the Company. The materialization of any of the operational and other risks and uncertainties identified herein, together with those risks not specifically listed or those that are presently unforeseen, could result in significant adverse effects on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, which could include the permanent closure of any affected restaurant(s) with an impairment of assets charge taken against earnings, and could adversely affect the price at which shares of the Company’s common stock trade.

In addition to operating results, other factors can influence the volatility and price at which the Company’s common stock trades. The Company’s stock is thinly traded on the NYSE Amex market. Thinly traded stocks can be susceptible to sudden, rapid declines in price, especially when holders of large blocks of shares seek exit positions. Rebalancing of stock indices in which the Company’s shares may be placed can also influence the price of the Company’s stock.

Food Safety

Food safety is the most significant risk to any company that operates in the restaurant industry. It is the focus of increased government regulatory initiatives at the local, state and federal levels. To limit the Company’s exposure to the risk of food contamination, management rigorously emphasizes and enforces the Company’s food safety policies in all of the Company’s restaurants, and at the commissary and food manufacturing plant that the Company operates for Big Boy restaurants. These policies are designed to work cooperatively with programs established by health agencies at all levels of government authority, including the federal Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) program. In addition, the Company makes use of ServSafe Training, a nationally recognized program developed by the National Restaurant Association. The ServSafe program provides accurate, up-to-date science-based information to all levels of restaurant workers on all aspects of food handling, from receiving and storing to preparing and serving. All restaurant managers are required to be certified in ServSafe Training and are required to be re-certified every five years.

Failure to protect the Company’s food supplies could result in food borne illnesses and/or injuries to customers. Publicity of such events in the past has caused irreparable damages to the reputations of certain operators in the restaurant industry. If any of the Company’s customers become ill from consuming the Company’s products, the affected restaurants may be forced to close. An instance of food contamination originating at the commissary operation could have far-reaching effects, as the contamination would affect substantially all Big Boy restaurants.

Economic Factors

Economic recessions can negatively influence discretionary consumer spending in restaurants and result in lower customer counts, as consumers become more price conscious, tending to conserve their cash as unemployment and economic uncertainty mount. The effects of higher gasoline prices can also negatively affect discretionary consumer spending in restaurants. Increasing costs for energy affect profit margins in many other ways. Petroleum based material is often used to package certain products for distribution. In addition, suppliers may add surcharges for fuel to their invoices. The cost to transport products from the commissary to restaurant operations will rise with each increase in fuel prices. Higher costs for electricity and natural gas result in much higher costs to heat and cool restaurant facilities and to refrigerate and cook food.

Inflationary pressure, particularly on food costs, labor costs (especially associated with increases in the minimum wage) and health care benefits, can negatively affect the operation of the business. Shortages of qualified labor are

 

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sometimes experienced in certain local economies. In addition, the loss of a key executive could pose a significant adverse effect on the Company.

Future funding requirements of the two qualified defined benefit pension plans that are sponsored by the Company largely depend upon the performance of investments that are held in trusts that have been established for the plans. Equity securities comprise 70 percent of the target allocation of the plans’ assets. Poor performance in equity securities markets can significantly lower the market values of the plans’ investment portfolios, which, in turn, can result in a) material increases in future funding requirements, b) much higher net periodic pension costs to be recognized in future years, and c) the plans reaching underfunded status, requiring reductions in the Company’s equity to be recognized.

Competition

The restaurant industry is highly competitive and many of the Company’s competitors are substantially larger and possess greater financial resources than does the Company. Both the Big Boy and Golden Corral operating segments have numerous competitors, including national chains, regional and local chains, as well as independent operators. None of these competitors, in the opinion of the Company’s management, presently dominates the family-style sector of the restaurant industry in any of the Company’s operating markets. That could change at any time due to:

 

 

changes in economic conditions

 

 

changes in demographics in neighborhoods where the Company operates restaurants

 

 

changes in consumer perceptions of value, food and service quality

 

 

changes in consumer preferences, particularly based on concerns with nutritional content of food on the Company’s menus

 

 

new competitors that enter the Company’s markets from time to time

 

 

increased competition from supermarkets and other non-traditional competitors

 

 

increased competition for quality sites on which to build restaurants

Development Plans and Financing Arrangements

The Company’s business strategy and development plans also face risks and uncertainties. These include the inherent risk of poor quality decisions in the selection of sites on which to build restaurants, the ever rising cost and availability of desirable sites and increasingly rigorous requirements on the part of local governments to obtain various permits and licenses. Other factors that could impede plans to increase the number of restaurants operated by the Company include saturation in existing markets and limitations on borrowing capacity and the effects of higher interest rates.

In addition, the Company’s loan agreements include financial and other covenants with which compliance must be met or exceeded each quarter. Failure to meet these or other restrictions could result in an event of default under which the lender may accelerate the outstanding loan balances and declare them immediately due and payable.

The Supply and Cost of Food

Food purchases can be subject to significant price fluctuations that can considerably affect results of operations from quarter to quarter and year to year. Price fluctuations can be due to seasonality or any number of factors. The market for beef, in particular, continues to be highly volatile due in part to import and export restrictions. Beef costs can also be affected by bio-fuel initiatives and other factors that influence the cost to feed cattle. The Company depends on timely deliveries of perishable food and supplies. Any interruption in the continuing supply would harm the Company’s operations.

Litigation and Negative Publicity

Employees, customers and other parties bring various claims against the Company from time to time. Defending such claims can distract the attention of senior level management away from the operation of the business. Legal proceedings can result in significant adverse effects to the Company’s financial condition, especially if other potentially responsible parties lack the financial wherewithal to satisfy a judgment against them or the Company’s insurance coverage proves to be inadequate. Also, see “Legal proceedings” elsewhere in Part II, Item 1of this Form 10-Q.

In addition, negative publicity associated with legal claims against the Company, whether or not such complaints are valid, could harm the Company’s reputation, which, in turn, could adversely affect operating results. The Company’s reputation and brand can also be harmed by operational problems experienced by other operators of Big Boy and Golden Corral restaurants, especially from issues relating to food safety. Other negative publicity such as

 

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that arising from rumor and innuendo spread though social internet media and other sources can create adverse effects on the Company’s results of operations.

Governmental and Other Rules and Regulations

Governmental and other rules and regulations can pose significant risks to the Company. Examples include:

 

 

General exposure to penalties or other costs associated with the potential for violations of numerous government regulations, including:

 

  ¡  

immigration (I-9) and labor regulations regarding the employment of minors

 

  ¡  

minimum wage and overtime requirements

 

  ¡  

employment discrimination and sexual harassment

 

  ¡  

health, sanitation and safety regulations

 

  ¡  

facility issues, such as meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or liabilities to remediate unknown environmental conditions

 

 

changes in existing environmental regulations that would significantly add to the Company’s costs

 

 

any future imposition by OSHA of costly ergonomics regulations on workplace safety

 

 

climate change legislation that adversely affects the cost of energy

 

 

legislative changes affecting labor law, especially increases in the federal or state minimum wage requirements

 

 

compliance with recently enacted legislation to reform the U.S. health care system could adversely affect the Company’s health care costs

 

 

nutritional labeling on menus — compliance with recently enacted legislation requiring nutritional labeling on menus and the Company’s reliance on the accuracy on information obtained from third party suppliers

 

 

nutritional labeling on menus — potential effect on sales and profitability if customers’ buying habits change

 

 

legislation or court rulings that result in changes to tax codes that are adverse to the Company

 

 

changes in accounting standards imposed by governmental regulators or private governing bodies could adversely affect the Company’s financial position

 

 

estimates used in preparing financial statements and the inherent risk that future events affecting them may cause actual results to differ markedly

Catastrophic Events

Unforeseen catastrophic events could disrupt the Company’s operations, the operations of the Company’s suppliers and the lives of the Company’s customers. The Big Boy segment’s dependency on the commissary operation in particular could present an extensive disruption of products to restaurants should a catastrophe impair its ability to operate. Examples of catastrophic events include but are not limited to:

 

 

adverse winter weather conditions

 

 

natural disasters such as earthquakes or tornadoes

 

 

fires or explosions

 

 

widespread power outages

 

 

criminal acts, including bomb threats, robberies, hostage taking, kidnapping and other violent crimes

 

 

acts of terrorists or acts of war

 

 

civil disturbances and boycotts

 

 

disease transmitted across borders that may enter the food supply chain

Technology and Information Systems

The strategic nature of technology and information systems is of vital importance to the operations of the Company. Events that could pose threats to the operation of the business include:

 

 

catastrophic failure of certain information systems

 

 

difficulties that may arise in maintaining existing systems

 

 

difficulties that may occur in the implementation of and transition to new systems

 

 

financial stability of technology vendors to support software over the long-term

In addition, security violations such as unauthorized access to information systems, including breaches on third party servers, could result in the loss of proprietary data. Should consumer privacy be compromised, consumer confidence may be lost, which could adversely affect sales and profitability.

 

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES of EQUITY SECURITIES and USE of PROCEEDS

(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

In January 2010, the Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market or through block trades over a two year time frame that expires January 6, 2012. The following table shows information pertaining to the Company’s repurchases of its common stock during the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, which ended September 21, 2010:

 

Period

   Total
Number
Of Shares
Purchased
     Average Price
Paid per Share
     Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
     Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the

Plans or Programs
 

June 2, 2010 to June 29, 2010

     —         $ —           —           —     

June 30, 2010 to July 27, 2010

     —         $ —           —           —     

July 28, 2010 to Aug. 24, 2010

     3,001       $ 19.04         3,001         450,531   

Aug. 25, 2010 to Sep. 21, 2010

     55,569       $ 19.09         55,569         394,962   
                                   

Total

     58,570       $ 19.09         58,570         394,962   

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS upon SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. (Removed and Reserved)

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

3.1 Third Amended Articles of Incorporation, which was filed as Exhibit (3) (a) to the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 1993, is incorporated herein by reference.

3.2 Amended and Restated Code of Regulations effective October 2, 2006, which was filed as Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated September 1, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Material Contracts

10.1 Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between the Registrant and US Bank NA dated October 21, 2010, is filed herewith.

10.2 Agreement to Purchase Stock between the Registrant and Frisch West Chester, Inc. dated June 1, 1988, which was filed as Exhibit 10 (f) to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 19, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.3 Agreement to Purchase Stock between the Registrant and Frisch Hamilton West, Inc. dated February 19, 1988, which was filed as Exhibit 10 (g) to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 19, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

Material Contracts — Compensatory Plans or Agreements

10.50 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Craig F. Maier effective June 3, 2009, dated April 10, 2009, which was filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for March 10, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.51 Frisch’s Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) effective June 1, 1994, which was filed as Exhibit (10) (b) to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 17, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.52 Amendment No. 1 to Frisch’s Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) (see Exhibit 10.51 above) effective January 1, 2000, which was filed as Exhibit 10 (k) to the Registrant’s form 10-K Annual Report for 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.53 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which was filed as Appendix A to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement dated August 28, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.54 Amendment # 1 to the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (see Exhibit 10.53 above) effective September 26, 2006, which was filed as Exhibit 10 (q) to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 19, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.55 Amendments to the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (see Exhibits 10.53 and 10.54 above) effective December 19, 2006, which was filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report dated December 19, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.56 Amendments to the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (see Exhibits 10.53, 10.54 and 10.55 above) adopted October 7, 2008, which was filed as Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 23, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.57 Forms of Agreement to be used for stock options granted to employees and to non-employee directors under the Registrant’s 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (see Exhibits 10.53, 10.54, 10.55 and 10.56 above), which was filed as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated October 1, 2004, are incorporated herein by reference.

10.58 Restricted Stock Agreement to be used for restricted stock granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors under the Registrant’s 2003 Stock option and Incentive Plan (see Exhibits 10.53, 10.54, 10.55 and 10.56 above), is filed herewith.

 

10.59 Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan, which was filed as Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement dated September 9, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.60 Amendments to the Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan (see Exhibit 10.59 above) effective December 19, 2006, which was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report dated December 19, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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10.61 Employee Stock Option Plan, which was filed as Exhibit B to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement dated September 9, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.62 Change of Control Agreement between the Registrant and Craig F. Maier dated November 21, 1989, which was filed as Exhibit (10) (g) to the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 1990, is incorporated herein by reference. It was also filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report dated March 17, 2006, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

10.63 First Amendment to Change of Control Agreement (see Exhibit 10.62 above) between the Registrant and Craig F. Maier dated March 17, 2006, which was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report dated March 17, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.64 Second Amendment to Change of Control Agreement (see Exhibits 10.62 and 10.63 above) between the Registrant and Craig F. Maier dated October 7, 2008, which was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report dated October 7, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.65 Frisch’s Nondeferred Cash Balance Plan effective January 1, 2000, which was filed as Exhibit (10) (r) to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for December 10, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference, together with the Trust Agreement established by the Registrant between the Plan’s Trustee and Donald H. Walker (Grantor). There are identical Trust Agreements between the Plan’s Trustee and Craig F. Maier, Rinzy J. Nocero, Karen F. Maier, Michael E. Conner, Louie Sharalaya, Lindon C. Kelley, Michael R. Everett, James I. Horwitz, William L. Harvey and certain other “highly compensated employees” (Grantors).

10.66 First Amendment (to be effective June 6, 2006) to the Frisch’s Nondeferred Cash Balance Plan that went into effect January 1, 2000 (see Exhibit 10.65 above), which was filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report dated June 7, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.67 Senior Executive Bonus Plan effective June 2, 2003, which was filed as Exhibit (10) (s) to the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.68 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, Basic Plan Document to Restate Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) effective December 31, 2008, (also see Exhibits 10.69, 10.70 and 10.71), which was filed as Exhibit 10.32 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 23, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.69 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, Adoption Agreement (Stock) to Restate Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) effective December 31, 2008, (also see Exhibits 10.68, 10.70 and 10.71), which was filed as Exhibit 10.33 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 23, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.70 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, Adoption Agreement (Mutual Funds) to Restate Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) effective December 31, 2008, (also see Exhibits 10.68, 10.69 and 10.71), which was filed as Exhibit 10.34 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for September 23, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

10.71 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, Adoption Agreement to Restate Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) effective July 1, 2009 (also see Exhibits 10.68, 10.69 and 10.70), which was filed as Exhibit 10.36 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 2009, is incorporated herein by reference.

Other Exhibits

14 Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Financial Professionals, which was filed as Exhibit 14 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.

15 Letter re: unaudited interim financial statements, is filed herewith.

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to rule 13a -14(a)/15d – 14(a), is filed herewith.

 

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31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to rule 13a - 14(a)/15d – 14(a), is filed herewith.

 

32.1 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer is filed herewith.

32.2 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer is filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURE

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.

 

 

 

FRISCH’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Registrant)

DATE October 15, 2010  
 

BY     /s/ Donald H. Walker    

Donald H. Walker

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,

Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer

 

 

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