ALEXANDERS J CORP - FORM 10-Q

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________________________

FORM 10-Q

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

		For quarterly period ended July 1, 2012

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

		For the transition period from _________________ to _________________________.

Commission file number: 1-8766

J. ALEXANDER’S CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Tennessee		62-0854056
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

3401 West End Avenue, Suite 260
P.O. Box 24300
Nashville, Tennessee		37202
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (615) 269-1900

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 þ No o

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

Large accelerated filer o		Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company þ
(Do not check if a 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 o No þ

As of August 14, 2012, 5,999,735 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.05 par value, were outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements			2
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations			10
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			18
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			18
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			19
Item 6. Exhibits			19
Signatures			20
Index to Exhibits			21

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

J. Alexander’s Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	July 1		January 1
	2012		2012
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	12,810	$	7,917
Accounts and notes receivable		5,989		6,933
Inventories		1,476		1,564
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,456		996
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		21,731		17,410

OTHER ASSETS		1,891		1,797

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $68,696 and $66,272 as of July 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively		71,006		71,955

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES		152		152

DEFERRED CHARGES, less accumulated amortization of $945 and $986 as of July 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively		368		416
	$	95,148	$	91,730

	July 1		January 1
	2012		2012
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	4,208	$	3,868
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		7,321		6,133
Unearned revenue		1,310		1,944
Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under capital leases		1,175		1,123
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		14,014		13,068

LONG-TERM DEBT AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES, net of portion classified as current		16,755		17,356

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES		11,759		11,521

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock, par value $.05 per share: Authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,999,735 and 5,993,453 shares as of July 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively		300		300
Preferred Stock, no par value: Authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued		-		-
Additional paid-in capital		34,774		34,581
Retained earnings		17,546		14,904
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		52,620		49,785
Commitments and Contingencies
	$	95,148	$	91,730

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

J. Alexander’s Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	July 1			July 3			July 1			July 3
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Net sales	$	40,186		$	38,564		$	82,897		$	79,313
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		12,687			12,801			26,154			26,253
Restaurant labor and related costs		13,529			13,007			27,274			26,211
Depreciation and amortization of restaurant property and equipment		1,456			1,477			2,908			2,943
Other operating expenses		8,279			8,430			16,503			16,837
Total restaurant operating expenses		35,951			35,715			72,839			72,244
General and administrative expenses		3,621			2,391			6,306			4,835
Operating income		614			458			3,752			2,234
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(393	)		(419	)		(796	)		(843	)
Other, net		92			8			114			28
Total other expense		(301	)		(411	)		(682	)		(815	)
Income before income taxes		313			47			3,070			1,419
Income tax (provision) benefit		(92	)		10			(428	)		(300	)
Net income	$	221		$	57		$	2,642		$	1,119

Basic earnings per share	$	0.04		$	0.01		$	0.44		$	0.19
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.04		$	0.01		$	0.42		$	0.18

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

J. Alexander’s Corporation and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited in thousands)

	Six Months Ended
	July 1			July 3
	2012			2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	2,642		$	1,119
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment		2,931			2,972
Share-based compensation expense		159			195
Other		182			78
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable		944			479
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(460	)		(22	)
Accounts payable		(288	)		(980	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		1,188			(438	)
Other, net		(328	)		(393	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		6,970			3,010

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment		(1,487	)		(1,510	)
Other investing activities		(73	)		(16	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,560	)		(1,526	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on debt and obligations under capital leases		(550	)		(596	)
Other financing activities		33			55
Net cash used in financing activities		(517	)		(541	)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents		4,893			943

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		7,917			8,602

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	12,810		$	9,545


Supplemental disclosures of non-cash items:
Property and equipment obligations accrued at beginning of period	$	226		$	549
Property and equipment obligations accrued at end of period	$	854		$	531

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

J. Alexander’s Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note A – Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the quarter and six months ended July 1, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending December 30, 2012. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto included in the J. Alexander’s Corporation (the “Company” or “J. Alexander’s”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2012.

Net income and comprehensive income are the same for all periods presented.

Note B – Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Quarter Ended				Six Months Ended
	July 1		July 3		July 1		July 3
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Numerator:
Net income (numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share)	$	221	$	57	$	2,642	$	1,119
Denominator:
Weighted average shares (denominator for basic earnings per share)		5,997		5,991		5,996		5,984
Effect of dilutive securities		278		97		232		89
Adjusted weighted average shares (denominator for diluted earnings per share)		6,275		6,088		6,228		6,073

Basic earnings per share	$	0.04	$	0.01	$	0.44	$	0.19
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.04	$	0.01	$	0.42	$	0.18

The calculations of diluted earnings per share exclude options for the purchase of 158,500 shares of the Company’s common stock for the quarter and six-month period ended July 1, 2012, and 483,500 shares of the Company's common stock for the quarter and six-month periods ended July 3, 2011, respectively, because the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

Note C – Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the first half of 2012 has been provided for based on an estimated 13.3% effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full 2012 fiscal year, compared to an effective tax rate of 21.1% that was used for the same period of the prior year.

The Company’s effective annual tax rate has historically been reduced by its ability to utilize FICA tip credits to offset a significant amount of the current portion of its federal tax liability. The Company will continue to have FICA tip credit carryforwards available to reduce its federal income tax liability in 2012. In addition, because the Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance for substantially all of its net deferred tax assets, its income tax provision consists of income taxes currently payable which include the effect of differences between book and taxable income. The effect of certain tax deductions the Company expects to receive in 2012 as well as changes in certain state income tax regulations are factors which contribute to the reduction of the Company’s estimated effective tax rate for the current year compared to the rate used in the first half of 2011.

Note D – Commitments and Contingencies

As a result of the disposition of its Wendy’s operations in 1996, the Company remains secondarily liable for certain real property leases with remaining terms of one to four years. The total estimated maximum amount of lease payments remaining on these eight leases as of July 1, 2012, was approximately $1,000,000. Also, in connection with the sale of its Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuit restaurant operations in 1989 and certain previous dispositions, the Company remains secondarily liable for certain real property leases with remaining terms of one to three years. The total estimated maximum amount of lease payments remaining on these 11 leases as of July 1, 2012, was approximately $500,000. Additionally, in connection with the previous disposition of certain other Wendy’s restaurant operations, primarily the southern California restaurants in 1982, the Company remains secondarily liable for real property leases with remaining terms of one to four years. The total estimated maximum amount of lease payments remaining on these five leases as of July 1, 2012, was approximately $500,000.

In February 2012, the Company agreed to a settlement of a previously disclosed lawsuit, Dionne Michelle Williams-Green v. J. Alexander’s Restaurants, Inc., pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The parties filed the terms of settlement with the court and received preliminary approval in June 2012. The settlement is subject to final court approval. The case was filed by a former hourly employee of the Company in Illinois and was later certified as a class action on a claim that the Company’s tip share pool in two restaurants was invalid. During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company accrued an estimate of the amount it believes will be necessary to settle this claim.

The Company is currently undergoing a federal employment tax audit for 2009 and 2010. The potential financial impact of this audit is not determinable at this time.

On August 10, 2012, Advanced Advisors, a purported shareholder of the Company, filed a putative class action lawsuit in the Tennessee Chancery Court for Davidson County, 20th Judicial District (the “Advanced Advisors Complaint”), against the members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), the Company, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (“Fidelity”) and New Athena Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”). The Advanced Advisors Complaint alleges that the members of the Board breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with the Company’s entry into an agreement pursuant to which Merger Sub will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $13.00 per share (the “Offer”). It also alleges that the Board and the Company breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by making materially inadequate disclosures or omissions in the Recommendation Statement filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the Offer (“Recommendation Statement”). The Advanced Advisors Complaint further alleges that Fidelity aided and abetted the Board’s purported breach of its fiduciary duties. In addition to seeking compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees and expenses, the Advanced Advisors Complaint seeks to enjoin the sale of the Company until the Company remedies certain alleged disclosure deficiencies in its Recommendation Statement. The Company believes the plaintiff’s allegations are without merit, and, if the plaintiff proceeds with litigation, the Company will contest the allegations vigorously.

In addition to the matters described above, the Company is from time to time subject to routine litigation and claims incidental to its business, including actions with respect to federal and state tax matters, labor-related claims and other matters. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties, and outcomes are not predictable with assurance. However, management believes that, based on current knowledge, the final outcome of these other matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, operating results or liquidity. Regardless of the outcome, legal proceedings can have an adverse effect on the Company because of defense costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

Note E – Fair Value Measurements

As of July 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, the fair value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximated their carrying value based on the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of long-term mortgage financing is determined using current applicable interest rates for similar instruments and collateral as of the balance sheet date. The carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s mortgage loan were $17,803,000 and $19,025,000, respectively, as of July 1, 2012 compared to $18,332,000 and $19,644,000, respectively, at January 1, 2012.

There were no assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the half quarter of fiscal 2012 or 2011.

Note F – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs”. This pronouncement was issued to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. This pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a significant impact to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2011-11”). The amendments in this ASU require entities to disclose additional information about certain financial instruments and derivatives that are eligible for offset or subject to master netting arrangements. The objective of this ASU is to facilitate comparison between financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP and financial statements presented in accordance with IFRS. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and interim periods within that fiscal year. Other than enhanced disclosures, the adoption of ASU 2011-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note G – Merger Agreement

On July 30, 2012, the Company, entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Restated Merger Agreement”), with Fidelity, Merger Sub, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity, and certain other affiliates of Fidelity. The Restated Merger Agreement is described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 2, 2012. The Restated Merger Agreement amends and restates in its entirety that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 22, 2012, previously described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2012.

Under the terms of the Restated Merger Agreement, Merger Sub commenced a tender offer to acquire all the outstanding shares of J. Alexander’s common stock at a purchase price of $13.00 per share in cash. The closing of the tender offer is conditioned on the tender of a number of J. Alexander’s shares that represents at least a majority of the total number of J. Alexander’s shares outstanding and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Upon the completion of the tender offer, Merger Sub will acquire all remaining shares of J. Alexander’s through a second-step merger that will result in all shares not tendered in the tender offer being converted into the right to receive $13.00 per share in cash, the same consideration per share as paid in the tender offer. The merger transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012, assuming execution of the tender offer process and satisfaction of the conditions to closing.

Note H – Long-Term Debt

On June 27, 2012, the Company amended its revolving bank line of credit agreement to, among other things, extend the maturity date to June 27, 2015, increase the maximum principal amount available for borrowing from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000, and adjust and modify the interest rate charged on any outstanding borrowings from LIBOR plus a variable margin based on the Company’s Adjusted Debt to EDITDAR Ratio (with such margin ranging from 3.5% to 4.5%) to LIBOR plus 3% with a minimum applicable interest rate of 4.25%. No amounts were outstanding under the revolving line of credit at July 1, 2012, or subsequent to that time through August 14, 2012.

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

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

J. Alexander's Corporation (the “Company”) operates upscale casual dining restaurants. At July 1, 2012, the Company operated 33 J. Alexander’s restaurants in 13 states. The Company’s net sales are derived primarily from the sale of food and alcoholic beverages in its restaurants.

The Company’s strategy is for J. Alexander’s restaurants to compete in the restaurant industry by providing guests with outstanding professional service, high-quality food, and an attractive environment with an upscale, high-energy ambiance. Quality is emphasized throughout J. Alexander’s operations and substantially all menu items are prepared on the restaurant premises using fresh, high-quality ingredients. The Company’s goal is for each J. Alexander’s restaurant to be perceived by guests in its market as a market leader in each of the areas above. J. Alexander’s restaurants offer a contemporary American menu designed to appeal to a wide range of consumer tastes. The Company believes, however, that its restaurants are most popular with more discriminating guests with higher discretionary incomes. J. Alexander’s typically does not advertise in the media and relies on each restaurant to increase sales by building its reputation as an outstanding dining establishment. The Company has generally been successful in achieving sales increases in its restaurants over time using this strategy. However, the Company’s restaurants which opened in late 2007 and 2008 have experienced particular difficulties in building sales and certain of them are having a significant negative impact on the Company’s profitability.

The restaurant industry is highly competitive and is often affected by changes in consumer tastes and discretionary spending patterns; changes in general economic conditions; public safety conditions or concerns; demographic trends; weather conditions; the cost of food products, labor, energy and other operating costs; and governmental regulations. Because of these factors, the Company’s management believes it is of critical importance to the Company’s success to effectively execute the Company’s operating strategy and to constantly develop and refine the critical conceptual elements of J. Alexander’s restaurants in order to distinguish them from other casual dining competitors and maintain the Company’s competitive position.

The restaurant industry is also characterized by high capital investment for new restaurants and relatively high fixed or semi-variable restaurant operating expenses. Because of the high fixed and semi-variable expenses, changes in sales in existing restaurants are generally expected to significantly affect restaurant profitability because many restaurant costs and expenses are not expected to change at the same rate as sales. Restaurant profitability can also be negatively affected by inflationary and regulatory increases in operating costs and other factors. Management continues to believe that excellence in restaurant operations, and particularly providing exceptional guest service, will increase net sales in the Company’s restaurants over time.

Changes in sales for existing restaurants, or same store sales, are generally measured in the restaurant industry by computing the change in sales for the same group of restaurants from the same period in the prior year. Same store sales changes can be the result of changes in guest counts, which the Company estimates based on a count of entrée items sold, and changes in the average check per guest. The average check per guest can be affected by menu price changes and the mix of menu items sold. Management regularly analyzes guest count, average check and product mix trends for each restaurant in order to improve menu pricing and product offering strategies. Management believes it is important to maintain or increase guest counts and average guest checks over time in order to improve the Company’s profitability.

Other key indicators which can be used to evaluate and understand the Company’s restaurant operations include cost of sales, restaurant labor and related costs and other operating expenses, with a focus on these expenses as a percentage of net sales. Since the Company uses primarily fresh ingredients for food preparation, the cost of food commodities can vary significantly from time to time due to a number of factors. The Company generally expects to increase menu prices in order to offset the increase in the cost of food products as well as increases in labor and related costs and other operating expenses, but attempts to balance these increases with the goals of providing reasonable value to the Company’s guests. Management believes that restaurant operating margin, which is net sales less total restaurant operating expenses expressed as a percentage of net sales, is an important indicator of the Company’s success in managing its restaurant operations because it is affected by the level of sales achieved, menu offering and pricing strategies, and the management and control of restaurant operating expenses in relation to net sales.

Because large capital investments are required for J. Alexander’s restaurants and because a significant portion of labor costs and other operating expenses are fixed or semi-variable in nature, management believes the sales required for a J. Alexander’s restaurant to break even are relatively high compared to break-even sales volumes of many other casual dining concepts. As a result, it is necessary for the Company to achieve relatively high sales volumes in its restaurants compared to the average sales volumes of other casual dining concepts in order to achieve desired financial returns.

The opening of new restaurants by the Company can have a significant impact on the Company’s financial performance because pre-opening expense for new restaurants is significant and most new restaurants incur operating losses during their early months of operation. Some of the Company’s restaurants, including the two restaurants opened in 2007 and the three restaurants opened in 2008, have experienced losses for considerably longer periods. No restaurants have been opened since 2008 and none are planned for 2012.

On July 30, 2012, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Restated Merger Agreement”) with Fidelity National Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Fidelity”), New Athena Merger Sub, Inc., a Tennessee Corporation and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity (“Merger Sub”), and certain other affiliates of Fidelity. For more information, see Note G of the Notes to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, (i) the items in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income expressed as a percentage of net sales, and (ii) other selected operating data:

	Quarter Ended								Six Months Ended
	July 1				July 3				July 1				July 3
	2012				2011				2012				2011
Net sales		100.0		%		100.0		%		100.0		%		100.0		%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		31.6				33.2				31.5				33.1
Restaurant labor and related costs		33.7				33.7				32.9				33.0
Depreciation and amortization of restaurant property and equipment		3.6				3.8				3.5				3.7
Other operating expenses		20.6				21.9				19.9				21.2
Total restaurant operating expenses		89.5				92.6				87.9				91.1
General and administrative expenses		9.0				6.2				7.6				6.1
Operating income		1.5				1.2				4.5				2.8
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(1.0	)			(1.1	)			(1.0	)			(1.1	)
Other, net		0.2				-				0.1				-
Total other expense		(0.7	)			(1.1	)			(0.8	)			(1.0	)
Income before income taxes		0.8				0.1				3.7				1.8
Income tax provision		(0.2	)			-				(0.5	)			(0.4	)
Net income		0.5		%		0.1		%		3.2		%		1.4		%

Note: Certain percentage totals do not sum due to rounding.



Restaurants open at end of period		33			33

Average weekly net sales per restaurant (1)	$	93,700		$	89,900	$	96,600		$	92,600
Percent increase		4.2	%				4.3	%

(1) The Company computes average weekly net sales per restaurant by dividing total restaurant sales for the period by the total number of days all restaurants were open for the period to obtain a daily sales average, with the daily sales average then multiplied by seven to arrive at the average weekly net sales per restaurant. Days on which restaurants are closed for business for any reason other than the scheduled closure of all J. Alexander’s restaurants on Thanksgiving day and Christmas day are excluded from this calculation. Revenue associated with reductions in liabilities for gift cards which are considered to be only remotely likely to be redeemed is not included in the calculation of average weekly net sales per restaurant.

Net Sales

Net sales increased by $1,622,000, or 4.2%, in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the second quarter of 2011 and by $3,584,000, or 4.5%, in the first half of 2012 compared to the first half of 2011. For the second quarter of 2012, the Company recorded average weekly net sales per restaurant of $93,700, up from $89,900 in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. For the first half of 2012, average weekly net sales per restaurant totaled $96,600, up from $92,600 in the first half of 2011. The Company’s average weekly same store net sales per restaurant for the second quarter and the first half of 2012 were the same as the average weekly net sales per restaurant for those periods because same store sales calculations are based on restaurants open for more than 18 months and no new restaurants have opened since 2008. The 4.3% increase in average weekly net sales per restaurant for the first half of 2012 compared to the first half of 2011 was less than the 4.5% increase in total net sales because of the exclusion from the weekly average calculation of a total of eleven restaurant days that certain restaurants were closed in the first half of 2011 due primarily to inclement weather, as compared to only two restaurant days that were excluded from the calculation for the first half of 2012.

Management estimates the average check per guest, including alcoholic beverage sales, increased by 6.1% to $27.95 in the second quarter of 2012 from $26.33 in the second quarter of 2011 and by 5.7% to $28.04 for the first half of 2012 from $26.53 for the first half of 2011. Management estimates that the effect of menu price increases was approximately 4.2% and 4.1% in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Management estimates that weekly average guest counts decreased by approximately 2.0% and 1.4% in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2011.

The Company has experienced positive same store sales for the last eleven consecutive quarters. Management is encouraged by recent same store sales trends which it believes are due to improved economic conditions and consumer spending patterns as well as the Company’s continued emphasis on maintaining excellent operations. However, there can be no assurance that favorable trends will continue or that consumer spending patterns will not weaken in the future, which would make it difficult to sustain the current sales momentum.

Restaurant Costs and Expenses

Total restaurant operating expenses decreased to 89.5% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012 from 92.6% in the second quarter of 2011 and to 87.9% of net sales in the first half of 2012 from 91.1% of net sales in the first half of 2011. Restaurant operating margins increased to 10.5% in the second quarter of 2012 from 7.4% in the comparable period of 2011 and to 12.1% in the first half of 2012 from 8.9% in the same period of 2011. These improvements were due primarily to lower cost of sales and restaurant operating expenses combined with the impact of higher sales.

Cost of sales, which includes the cost of food and beverages, decreased to 31.6% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012 from 33.2% of net sales in the corresponding period of 2011 and to 31.5% of net sales for the first half of 2012 from 33.1% of net sales in the first half of 2011. Although beef prices paid by the Company increased by approximately 11% and 15% in the second quarter and first half of 2012, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2011, the Company was able to more than offset these increases with the effect of a combination of menu price increases, lower prices paid for certain other food commodities and other actions taken to lower food costs. Approximately 25% to 30% of cost of sales is comprised of beef purchases which are made at weekly market prices. Management estimates that the effect of higher beef prices was approximately 0.9% and 1.1% of net sales in the second quarter and first half of 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of the prior year. The Company’s beef purchases remain subject to variable market conditions and management anticipates that prices for beef in 2012 will continue to exceed those paid in 2011.

Restaurant labor and related costs totaled 33.7% of net sales in the second quarter of both 2012 and 2011 and decreased slightly to 32.9% of net sales for the first half of 2012 compared to 33.0% for the corresponding period of 2011 as the effects of higher sales generally offset additional incentive compensation expense, increased restaurant management staffing levels, and normal inflationary increases during the 2012 periods.

Depreciation and amortization of restaurant property and equipment decreased by $21,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and $35,000 for the first six months of 2012 compared to the corresponding periods of 2011 primarily due to restaurant equipment which became fully depreciated subsequent to the second quarter of 2011.

Other operating expenses, which include restaurant level expenses such as china and supplies, laundry and linen costs, repairs and maintenance, utilities, credit card fees, rent, property taxes and insurance, decreased to 20.6% of net sales in the second quarter of 2012 from 21.9% of net sales in the second quarter of 2011 and to 19.9% of net sales for the first six months of 2012 from 21.2% in the comparable period of 2011 due to the effect of both higher net sales and reductions in certain operating expenses achieved by the Company.

General and Administrative Expenses

Total general and administrative expenses, which include all supervisory costs and expenses, management training and relocation costs, and other costs incurred above the restaurant level, increased by $1,230,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and by $1,471,000 for the first six months of 2012 compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Expenses related to the evaluation of strategic alternatives by the Company, including expenses associated with the negotiation and execution of a definitive merger agreement for the sale of the Company, and a possible contested election of directors totaled approximately $900,000 and $1,050,000 for the second quarter and first half of 2012, respectively. Incentive compensation accruals and certain other expenses were also higher in the second quarter and first half of 2012 than in the corresponding periods of 2011.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the first half of 2012 has been provided for based on an estimated effective tax rate of 13.3% expected to be applicable for the full 2012 fiscal year. This compares to an effective tax rate of 21.1% used for the first half of 2011.

The Company’s effective annual tax rate has historically been reduced by its ability to utilize FICA tip credits to offset a significant amount of the current portion of its federal tax liability, and the Company will continue to have FICA tip credit carryforwards available to reduce its federal income tax liability in 2012. In addition, because the Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance for substantially all of its net deferred tax assets, its income tax provision consists of income taxes currently payable which include the effect of differences between book and taxable income. The effect of certain tax deductions the Company expects to receive in 2012 as well as changes in certain state income tax regulations are factors which contribute to the reduction of the Company’s estimated effective tax rate for the current year compared to the rate used in the first half of 2011.

Outlook

Based on improvements in sales and operating performance in recent quarters as well as management’s current outlook, management expects continued improvement in restaurant operating performance during the remainder of 2012. There can be no assurance that these results will be achieved, however, given continuing uncertain economic conditions which could affect consumer discretionary spending and have a negative impact on the Company’s sales performance at some point during the year and management’s concerns about the possible impact of increases in food commodity costs, particularly with regard to the impact of current drought conditions across much of the United States which could further increase beef prices as well as other food commodities.

In June of 2012, the Company entered into a merger agreement for the sale of the Company that was subsequently amended and restated in July 2012 by the Restated Merger Agreement to provide for a two step tender offer and merger acquisition transaction. Expenses associated with the completion of this proposed transaction, including the costs of defense of shareholder litigation in connection with the transaction, or the Company’s evaluation of any alternative transaction to the extent allowed under the terms of the Restated Merger Agreement will involve significant legal and professional fees which cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but which will have a significant effect on consolidated operating results. In addition, the Company has and may continue to incur expenses in connection with the activities of an activist shareholder. Costs associated with these matters could be significant.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s capital needs are currently primarily for maintenance of and improvements to its existing restaurants, and for meeting debt service requirements and operating lease obligations. The Company has met its cash requirements and maintained liquidity in recent years primarily through use of cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash flow from operations and the availability of a bank line of credit.

Cash and cash equivalents as of July 1, 2012 totaled $12,810,000 compared to $7,917,000 at the end of 2011. Substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained in bank accounts which are fully insured by the FDIC or in money market funds which invest primarily in short term U.S. Treasury securities. The Company had a working capital surplus of $7,717,000 at July 1, 2012 compared to a surplus of $4,342,000 at January 1, 2012. Management expects that future cash flows from operating activities will vary primarily as a result of future operating results.

Management currently estimates that capital expenditures for the last half of 2012 will be approximately $2,000,000. Management does not plan to open any new restaurants in 2012 and remains cautious about future development. New restaurant development could also be constrained in the future due to lack of capital resources depending on the amount of cash flow generated by future operations of the Company or the availability to the Company of additional financing on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.

A mortgage loan obtained in 2002 represents the most significant portion of the Company’s outstanding long-term debt. The loan had an outstanding balance of $17,803,000 at July 1, 2012. The loan is secured by the real estate, equipment and other personal property of nine of the Company’s restaurant locations with an aggregate net book value of $21,850,000 at July 1, 2012.

The Company believes that cash and cash equivalents on hand as of July 1, 2012 and cash flow generated by future operations will be adequate to meet the Company’s operating and capital needs for 2012. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of its debt agreements as of July 1, 2012. Should the Company fail to comply with these covenants, management would likely request waivers of the covenants, attempt to renegotiate them or seek other sources of financing. However, if these efforts were not successful, the unused portion of the Company’s bank line of credit would not be available for borrowing and amounts outstanding under the Company’s debt agreements could become immediately due and payable, and there could be a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operations.

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

As of August 14, 2012, the Company had no financing transactions, arrangements or other relationships with any unconsolidated affiliated entities. Additionally, the Company is not a party to any financing arrangements involving synthetic leases or trading activities involving commodity contracts.

CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS

From 1975 through 1996, the Company operated restaurants in the quick-service restaurant industry. The discontinuation of these quick-service restaurant operations included disposals of restaurants that were subject to lease agreements which typically contained initial lease terms of 20 years plus two additional option periods of five years each. In connection with certain of these dispositions, the Company remains secondarily liable for ensuring financial performance as set forth in the original lease agreements. The Company can only estimate its contingent liability relative to these leases, as any changes to the contractual arrangements between the current tenant and the landlord subsequent to the assignment are not required to be disclosed to the Company. A summary of the Company’s estimated contingent liability as of July 1, 2012, is as follows:

Wendy’s restaurants (13 leases)	$	1,500,000
Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits restaurants (11 leases)		500,000
Total contingent liability related to assigned leases	$	2,000,000

There have been no payments by the Company of such contingent liabilities in the history of the Company.

The Restated Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Company and Fidelity and provides that in certain specified circumstances, the Company must pay Fidelity a termination fee of $2.16 million (including in the event the Company enters into an agreement with respect to a superior proposal). In addition, under specified circumstances, the Company has agreed to reimburse Fidelity for its expenses incurred not to exceed $500,000.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Critical accounting policies are those that management believes to be the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Judgments or uncertainties regarding the application of these policies could potentially result in materially different amounts being reported under different assumptions and conditions. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies previously reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2012.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In connection with the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company cautions investors that certain information contained in this Form 10-Q, particularly information regarding future economic performance and finances, development plans, and objectives of management is forward-looking information that involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Other risks, uncertainties and factors which could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, the costs and expenses of the Company’s evaluation of strategic alternatives; the costs and uncertainties relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the definitive agreement with Fidelity including uncertainties as to how many of the Company’s shareholders will tender their stock in the tender offer, the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the transaction and any related significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability, and the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied or waived; the Company’s ability to maintain satisfactory guest count levels and maintain or increase sales and operating margins in its restaurants under varying economic conditions, which could worsen, potentially resulting in additional asset impairment charges and/or restaurant closures and charges associated therewith; the effect of higher gasoline prices or commodity prices, unemployment and other economic factors on consumer demand; increases in food input costs or product shortages and the Company’s response to them; changes in consumer spending, consumer tastes, and consumer attitudes toward nutrition and health; the potential impact of mandated food content labeling and disclosure legislation; costs that may be incurred in connection with the contested election of directors; expenses incurred if the Company is the subject of claims or litigation, including matters resulting from complaints or allegations from shareholders or from current, former or prospective employees, or increased governmental regulation; the impact associated with recently passed federal health care reform legislation, including the operating costs necessary to comply with applicable health care benefit requirements; the impact of tax audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax authorities; increases in the minimum wage the Company is required to pay; availability of qualified employees; increased cost of utilities, insurance and other restaurant operating expenses; potential fluctuations of quarterly operating results due to seasonality and other factors; the effect of hurricanes and other weather disturbances which are beyond the control of the Company; the number and timing of new restaurant openings and the Company’s ability to operate them profitably; competition within the casual dining industry, which is very intense; competition by the Company’s new restaurants with its existing restaurants in the same vicinity; fluctuations in the Company’s operating results which could affect compliance with its debt covenants and ability to borrow funds; conditions in the U.S. credit markets and the availability of bank financing on acceptable terms; changes in accounting standards, which may affect the Company’s reported results of operations; and expenses the Company may incur in order to comply with changing corporate governance and public disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and The NASDAQ Stock Market. See “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2012 for a description of a number of risks and uncertainties which could affect actual results.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is a smaller reporting company as defined in Item 10 of Regulation S-K and thus is not required to report the quantitative and qualitative measures of market risk specified in Item 305 of Regulation S-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a)

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

(b)

Changes in internal controls. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Item 6. Exhibits

The Exhibit Index on page 21 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q lists the exhibits that are filed or furnished, as applicable, as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

SIGNATURES

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

	J. ALEXANDER’S CORPORATION

Date: August 15, 2012	/s/ Lonnie J. Stout II
	Lonnie J. Stout II
	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)



Date: August 15, 2012	/s/ R. Gregory Lewis
	R. Gregory Lewis
	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

J. ALEXANDER’S CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.

Exhibit (3)(a)		Charter, as amended (Exhibit 3(a) of J. Alexander’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 16, 2012 (File No. 1-8766) (restated for SEC filing purposes only), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (3)(b)		Amended and Restated Bylaws of J. Alexander’s Corporation (Exhibit 3.1 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 28, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (4)(a)		First Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2012, between J. Alexander’s Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 4.1 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 28, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (4)(b)		Second Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2012, between J. Alexander’s Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 4.1 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (10)(a)		Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 30, 2012, by and among Fidelity National Financial, Inc., New Athena Merger Sub, Inc., Fidelity Newport Holdings, LLC, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, Inc., Athena Merger Sub, Inc., and J. Alexander’s Corporation (Exhibit 2.1 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).*

Exhibit (10)(b)		Omnibus Termination and Release Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2012, by and among Fidelity National Financial, Inc., Fidelity National Special Opportunities, Inc., Newport Global Opportunities Fund, LP, American Blue Ribbons Holdings, Inc., Fidelity Newport Holdings, LLC and J. Alexander’s Corporation (Exhibit 10.1 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (10)(c)		Letter Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2012, by and among J. Alexander’s Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Inc., Fidelity Newport Holdings, LLC, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, Inc. and Lonnie J. Stout II (Exhibit 10.2 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (10)(d)		Letter Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2012, by and among J. Alexander’s Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Inc., Fidelity Newport Holdings, LLC, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, Inc. and R. Gregory Lewis (Exhibit 10.3 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (10)(e)		Letter Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2012, by and among J. Alexander’s Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Inc., Fidelity Newport Holdings, LLC, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, Inc. and J. Michael Moore (Exhibit 10.4 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (10)(f)		Letter Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2012, by and among J. Alexander’s Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Inc., Fidelity Newport Holdings, LLC, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, Inc. and Mark A. Parkey (Exhibit 10.5 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (10)(g)		Second Modification Agreement, dated June 27, 2012, between J. Alexander’s Corporation and Pinnacle National Bank (Exhibit 10.1 of J. Alexander’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 2, 2012 (File No. 1-8766), is incorporated herein by reference).

Exhibit (31.1)		Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit (31.2)		Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit (32.1)		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit (101)		The following financial statements from the Company’s 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 1, 2012, formatted in XBRL: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

*Certain schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

Attached files

ALEXANDERS J CORP Reports

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